Frequently Asked Questions


1.  What is IHA Connect COMMERCE? 

 IHA Connect COMMERCE is an online, year-round B2B marketplace, open exclusively to all IHA members that exhibit at The Inspired Home Show and verified retail buyers.

 

2.  When will IHA Connect COMMERCE launch?

IHA Connect COMMERCE is scheduled to launch in May 4th, 2021. 

 

3.   Do I have to be an exhibitor to participate on IHA Connect COMMERCE? 

IHA Connect COMMERCE is open to all IHA members that also exhibit at The Inspired Home Show. 

 

4.  What are the definitions to key terms used within IHA Connect COMMERCE?

Brandwise:  Brandwise is IHA’s technology partner that operates the e-commerce platform.

 

Passport:  Passport is the single sign-in to the IHA Connect COMMERCE marketplace that all participating suppliers and approved retailers use to access the system. Everyone must create a Passport account to access the IHA Connect COMMERCE marketplace.


Stream:  Stream is a tool used to process and transmit orders.

 

Reach:  Reach is the web-based B2B platform designed for retailers to place orders online with participating product suppliers.  The IHA Connect COMMERCE marketplace operates on the Reach platform.

 

Play:  Play is an advanced digital presentation and order capture platform for remote and in-person selling and serves as a seamless extension of the IHA Connect COMMERCE marketplace.

 

5.  How are retailers approved to be on the platform?

 Retailers complete a registration application to receive Brandwise Passport credentials, which will be reviewed and accepted by IHA, much the same as when a retailer registers to receive a buyer badge for The Inspired Home Show.  Retailers must be approved by IHA to enter the marketplace. 

 

6.   How does an approved retailer order product on IHA Connect COMMERCE? 

 Retailers enter the IHA Connect COMMERCE marketplace and view products offered by participating brands.  Each product page contains purchasing requirements and details.  Ordering is done directly from the product’s webpage.   

 

7.   If I am on IHA Connect COMMERCE, can I control access to which retailers can see my products? 

 Yes, at your discretion, you have the option for a secondary approval process where you can approve retailers before they access your products. If you activate this control, your products will not appear in the search function unless you have already granted access to the retailer. 

 

8.  Who controls access to IHA Connect COMMERCE?

 The International Housewares Association controls access to the marketplace for retailers, suppliers and salespeople. 

 

9.   Can a company have multiple team exhibitors log in?   For example, will a manager and sales associate have different log in credentials? 

 Yes. Every individual will have their own personal Brandwise Passport connected to their business. 

 

10.   How do I load my product data and company data onto the site? 

 After you complete the required agreements, you will be emailed a full onboarding guide that will walk you through the process step-by-step. 

 

11.   In order to promote my company’s page on IHA Connect COMMERCE, will I be able to copy hyperlinks and include them in my marketing materials and on social media? 

 Yes. This functionality is included at both the Brand and Product level. 

 

12.  Can an exhibitor link IHA Connect COMMERCE to their website?

 Exhibitors can include a link anywhere they’d like with a simple hyperlink to either their company or to a specific SKU. Buyers will then be directed to IHA Connect COMMERCE. If the buyer already has a Passport, they will go directly to that exhibitor’s brand listing or to the specific SKU. If they do not yet have a Passport, they will be walked through the process to create one. 

 

13.  What payment methods are accepted?   

 Exhibitors determine their own payment terms including credit card, Net-30, Net-60, etc. The platform provides a secure credit card structure. The retailer enters their credit information which is tokenized. This token is then available through Stream or Stream Lite in a PCI compliant manner. 

 

14.  How is contact information maintained within IHA Connect COMMERCE?

 All stakeholders, including retailers, salespeople and suppliers, maintain their own contact information through their Brandwise Passport. Your Brandwise Passport is separate from your IHA exhibitor profile, and changes between the two programs will not be reflected. It is your responsibility to keep your IHA exhibitor profile updated as well. 

  

15.   Can suppliers access IHA Connect COMMERCE to see what other suppliers have listed? 

Suppliers can see only their own products – they cannot see other suppliers’ products. When viewing their own products, they see the exact view that a retailer sees, but they cannot add anything to a cart.
 

16.   If I am a supplier who has our own Brandwise Play or Reach system for our business, will I need to do anything extra to join IHA Connect COMMERCE? 

 It depends on what mechanism you use to upload data into your Brandwise system. Please reach out to the Support Team at  support@markettime.com to confirm that you’re sharing this product data most efficiently with IHA Connect COMMERCE. 

 

17.  Who will be purchasing on IHA Connect COMMERCE?

Approved retailers from the U.S., Canada and other international markets.

 

18.  How are salespeople involved in IHA Connect COMMERCE?

IHA Connect COMMERCE has been designed to preserve the vital role that salespeople play. As a wholesale company, within your settings in IHA Connect COMMERCE, you will have the option to assign your salespeople to their territories. Orders placed by retailers in their territory will be delivered either to the agency or directly to the salesperson. More detail on this mechanism will be available in the next few weeks. 

 

19.  How do the costs and payments work for suppliers?

a.  Who is my contract with?

The contract for this service is administered by Brandwise.

b.  What does it cost to participate?

 A 3% transaction fee will be charged on all orders placed through IHA Connect COMMERCE. 

c.  Does the transaction fee apply only to shipped orders?

 The 3% fee applies to the order value at the time the order is transmitted to you via Stream/Stream Lite. 

d.  Does a supplier still get invoiced for the 3% fee if a retailer cancels an order after it has been placed?

 The 3% is a fee associated with the capture and transmission of the sales order to the supplier. Any dealings past that stage are beyond the control of IHA Connect COMMERCE. As a result, credits and returns are also not subject to a refund of fees. 

e.  In the case of a large mistake coming through IHA Connect COMMERCE, i.e., a retailer means to order a quantity of 10 units and, in error, enters a quantity of 1000 units, will the supplier get billed for the 3% fee?

 In rare and exceptional cases such as these, the supplier should contact Brandwise at finance@markettime.com to adjust their account accordingly

 

20.  How am I billed?

 Quarterly based on the orders delivered during the previous quarter. 

  

21.  How does the pricing and the billing work? 

Everything to do with IHA Connect COMMERCE is in U.S Dollars. Customers will place orders in U.S. Dollars, and the 3% transaction fees will be billed by Brandwise in U.S. Dollars.

 

22.  Who do I contact for support?

a.  Who do I contact for Technical Support?

Brandwise:
marketplace@markettime.com 

support@markettime.com
https://support.brandwise.com 
Text BWSUPPORT to 33777 to get signed up for system wide messaging
 Call 303-788-9970 x1 - 8am to 4pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. 

 *support available in English only 

b.   If I am having trouble registering to participate in IHA Connect COMMERCE or if I have lost access to my account, whom should I contact?

 Reach out to  marketplace@markettime.com 

c.  Whom should I contact if I have questions about my bill?

The Finance Department at Brandwise:  finance@markettime.com  

 

23.  Does Brandwise offer additional integrated services?

Yes. To learn more please visit  www.brandwise.com, or email  sales@markettime.com  

 

24.   How can I learn more about setting up my company information on IHA Connect COMMERCE?

We are offering designated webinar sessions and one-on-one consultations with Brandwise experts to help you get started and learn how easy the platform is to use. More information to come.