Mar 14, 2019

International Home + Housewares Show welcomes new name

The just-concluded 2019 International Home + Housewares Show was sold-out with 2,205 exhibitors from 43 countries and featured a focus on influencers/bloggers, smart/connected products and the specialty beverage movement.

“Over and over we heard from exhibitors that the quality of the buyers and attendance of key retailers was the best in years. Senior-level attendance from both retailers and suppliers was particularly strong,” said Derek Miller, president of the not-for-profit IHA, which owns and operates the show. “Exhibitors also noted strong international buyer attendance as well.”

After 122 shows and 15 years after being renamed “International Home + Housewares Show,” IHA’s premier marketplace is being rebranded to “The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s Global Home + Housewares Market” next year. The new name — and March 14-17 dates — were well-received by buyer and exhibitor attendees as the show moves to a more lifestyle-focused event, Miller said.

“Consumers drive retail purchases, and their lifestyles drive the things they buy,” he explained. “Design and function are no longer the sole reasons people purchase housewares products. The Inspired Home Show is taking things a step further to help retailers understand how design and function fit into their customers’ lifestyles and to find ways to inspire them to purchase products that complement those lifestyles.”

The 2019 show began early on Friday, March 1, with the inaugural “The Inspired Home Influencer Conference,” bringing more than 145 high-quality social media influencers and bloggers to McCormick Place for educational sessions and speed-dating with more than 100 exhibitors. The influencers then stayed for the show and were impressed with the brands they could partner with to bring product information to the consumer.

Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and IHA’s color expert, presented her annual color forecast keynote at the show. On the show floor, a wide range of hues from the Pantone forecast are usually found, appealing to different customer segments in different parts of their homes. This year, robin’s egg blue appeared the most, followed by other pastel-like shades of mint green, light coral, pale pink and lemon yellow. Living Coral, Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year, was also prominent in exhibitors’ booths.

Next year, The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s Global Home + Housewares Market, will be held March 14 to March 17, 2020, at McCormick Place, Chicago. Registration for 2020 is available on both The Inspired Home Show  and Housewares websites.