Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
The respective Boards of the Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN) and the International Hardware Association (IHA) have announced the IHA, representing hardware associations from around the world, is set to merge with the GHIN as of Oct. 1.
This merger means GHIN will represent all global home improvement retailers and all IHA members to create a mega network of retailers committed to the cause of helping consumers all over the world improve their homes.
Today GHIN has 216 members around the globe operating in 74 countries with over 32,000 stores and members’ sales in excess of $390 billion. It will now also represent the IHA with its thousands of hardware stores throughout the world through the country associations of Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S.
The IHA will remain an independent network administered by GHIN, but with its own president.
“On behalf of the EDRA/GHIN Board, I am truly delighted to welcome the International Hardware Association into our global network,” Sergio Giroldi, says president of EDRA/GHIN. “This merger will strengthen our network and raise our profile internationally. We, the home improvement retailers and the hardware stores, all have our place in the home improvement retail community, sharing the same values and offering consumers the best possible service and safe, quality products.”
“If we have learned anything over the past 18 months, it is that our industry is stronger when we come together to share interests, ideas and concerns with other partners throughout the channel,” says president of the IHA Jean-François Dubost. “It is in this spirit that we welcome this new alliance and feel confident that the interests of our member organizations will be well represented on the global stage.”
For the past two decades, the GHIN Network has been hugely successful in bringing members together to learn from each other on strictly noncompetitive issues and defending our members’ interests. The latest example of this was ensuring that home improvement retailing globally was seen as an essential business, which has been exceptionally important during the pandemic.
GHIN is also committed to working closely with HIMA, the Home Improvement Manufacturers Association, and with Global Trade Fairs to give retail members as much support and information as possible so that they are able to offer the best possible products and service to consumers all over the world to improve their homes.
Today, EDRA/GHIN represents 216 home improvement companies operating over 32,000 stores in 74 countries.
