The International Housewares Association held its Inspired Home holiday event in New York yesterday, June 9. The event showcased fresh faces and fresh ideas pacing a changing market with new housewares solutions in food prep, kitchen electrics, food storage and beverageware.

Restoration Hardware said it was continuing to be pressured by headwinds in the luxury market, posting a first quarter net loss as the company worked to roll out its RH Modern collection and membership program.

Vietri Inc. has appointed Bill Roberts CEO. He succeeds Vietri founder Susan Gravely, who will remain on the executive team and board of directors as chairman and head of product development.

Michaels increased its net sales and income in the first quarter, beating estimates, but comps lagged. The retailer also launched a search for a new chief financial officer.

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to be mostly down through the summer but should see an uptick just before the winter holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Keurig has put its Kold system on ice.

West Elm stores across North America will host the company’s first Local Showcase, designed to provide a forum for makers to share their stories and present products at their local West Elm stores.

Sales should increase in the 2016 back-to-school shopping season, market research firm eMarketer stated, with online revenue gains significantly outpacing the rest of the market.

The Housewares Design Awards, presented by HOMEWORLD BUSINESS® to honor product design excellence and innovation, returns with a new host partner and awards gala venue.

A year ago, Target debuted a store concept the company dubbed Target Open House in San Francisco, designed to function as part retail space, part learning lab, part meeting venue for the connected home technology community. Now, the company is taking an example of what it has initiated there and testing it in a traditional Target store.

The Legacy Companies has acquired EdgeCraft Corporation, owners of the Chef'sChoice brand.

In his presentation today, June 3, at the Wal-Mart Stores annual shareholders meeting, Brett Biggs, evp and CFO, said internal investments the company is making are paying off. He also declared that the company's omnichannel strategy will prove critical to its ability to continue serving consumers in a more diverse retail marketplace.

DeLonghi Group is relaunching the Braun brand into the kitchen electrics segment with an appliance assortment that includes a hand blender, countertop blender and drip coffeemaker.

After ending its acquisition of Office Depot, Staples has announced that its board of directors and CEO Ron Sargent have mutually agreed that he will step down from his position after the company’s annual meeting of shareholders on June 14.

The Las Vegas Market continues to expand its gift-oriented housewares, tabletop and specialty food resources for the summer market. The expansion on C11, a floor in the World Market Center complex devoted to gifting housewares, tabletop and specialty food, will encompass nine new showrooms and 25 new product lines.

After refocusing its product development and marketing efforts in recent years on sparkling water, SodaStream is tapping into a new beverage segment with the launch of its Beer Bar.

Fox Run Brands has acquired Tops Manufacturing Company, a vendor known for its coffee and tea accessories. Tops and its various housewares lines will now be sold by Fox Run.

Off-price retailer Burlington Stores boosted its outlook for the fiscal year after strong sales in its first quarter.

First quarter sales at Big Lots were up moderately as the company reported its ninth consecutive quarter of comparable store sales growth.

Ulta Beauty has reported another strong quarter, with the beauty retailer reaching sales over $1 billion along with a big rise in comps and net income.

Dollar Tree reported a modest same-store sales increase for the first quarter as the company continued with its plan to integrate Family Dollar stores.

First quarter sales at Dollar General were up 7%, driven by positive results in consumables and home products.

As Sears Holdings posted a wider net loss and continuing comp declines in the first quarter, the company said it was closing more stores, weighing options for its Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard brands and announced the impending departure of its chief financial officer.

Costco's earnings were up but comps were flat in the warehouse club's third quarter.

First quarter sales at Williams-Sonoma were up 6.5% as net revenues from e-commerce sales once again outpaced sales at its brick-and-mortar stores.

With the race for the White House expected to remain a focal point for many Americans throughout the summer and fall, the International Housewares Association will focus a portion of its annual Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS) event on what impact the next president could have on the housewares industry.

Amazon.com continues to open fulfillment centers across the country, and on Wednesday, May 25, announced the addition of three new facilities— two in California and one in Illinois.

Renowned chef Gordon Ramsay is teaming up with Philips in an effort to educate consumers on how to use the company’s airfryer to make healthy meals.

First quarter sales at home décor retailer Kirkland's was up nearly 10% as the company reported strong gains in e-commerce revenues.

As Best Buy's chief financial officer prepares to step down, the retailer reported strong earnings and a slip in sales for the first quarter.

Groupe SEB has acquired WMF, a German cookware and coffeemaker manufacturer, from private equity firm KKR for $1.14 billion. In addition, Groupe SEB said it signed an agreement to acquire the Emsa kitchenware company.

What’s hot and what’s not in the world of home beverage?

For the fourth quarter and fiscal year, hhgregg narrowed its losses as the retailer continued to work on improving its performance.

Lowe's Companies has completed the acquisition of Canadian home improvement retailer Rona Inc., in a transaction valued at $2.4 billion.

Bon-Ton has joined the list of department store retailers that reported sales and income declines in the first quarter.

Following the court issued ruling that quashed its proposed merger with Office Depot, Staples reported declines in net income and sales while making some progress in its retrenchment and strategic goals.

Hudson's Bay Company is expanding its European presence with plans for up to 20 new stores in the Netherlands over the next 24 months.

Wal-Mart reported positive developments for the company overall in its first quarter, with home goods providing a boost to Walmart's stores in the United States but e-commerce lagging expectations.

Rogan Donelly has been named president of Tervis Tumbler Company. Donelly assumes the role from Pat Redmond, who will assist with the transition and remain on the board of directors.

As the company gets ready to finalize its acquisition of Canadian home improvement retailer Rona, Lowe's posted a solid first quarter, producing strong net earnings and sales increases.

Target's first quarter results reflected what the retailer called a volatile consumer environment and the impact of the sale of its pharmacy business, with comps gaining but overall net sales slipping.

Target has named Mark Tritton evp/chief merchandising officer. In this role, he will oversee enterprise buying, product design and development, sourcing, visual merchandising strategy, and merchandising transformation and operations for the retailer.

The Home Depot built a strong first quarter in both overall sales and earnings.

Kmart is throwing itself a brand party in New York as the retailer introduces new home goods, fresh marketing efforts and a revisitation of its now 50-year-old Bluelight Special to media and marketing influencers.

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, being held this week at the Javits Center in New York City, demonstrated that a twist on classic furniture designs and styles is the epitome of hip today.

As a number of leading U.S. retailers struggled through the first quarter of 2016, TJX Companies bucked that trend and reported solid gains for the first three months of its fiscal year.

Robinson Home Products has debuted the Oneida Terrace collection. The line is Oneida’s first branded tabletop collection for “upscale outdoor entertaining,” and spans dinnerware, flatware and drinkware segments.

Lowe's Companies has been granted approval under the Investment Canada Act, and clearance from the country’s Competition Bureau, for its pending acquisition of home improvement retailer Rona Inc.

In the first quarter ended April 30, Nordstrom recorded net earnings of $46 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, versus $128 million, or 66 cents per diluted share, in the year-earlier period. Comparable store sales slipped 1.7%.

Newell Brands has named Ralph Nicoletti executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective June 8.