Leading retail executives, market data analysts and consumer trend and colour forecast experts will share their home and housewares industry vision in special keynote presentations during the show.
In the show’s opening keynote, Julie Barber (pictured right), executive vice president, general merchandising, Walmart UK, and Justine Van Buren (pictured left), general manager, home goods, Walmart Marketplace, will examine how Walmart has adapted to meet the needs of its customers, in a presentation entitled Winning in an evolving retail landscape.
Julie and Justine will look at Walmart’s growth as an omnichannel retailer; explain how the brand is using both owned and marketplace-offered merchandise to become even more relevant for customers; and describe how to be successful in today’s omni world.
Other keynotes will focus on IHA data on consumer values, insights on consumer expectations that drive purchasing and a look at the inspiration, clarity and meaning to future trends.
The sessions feature veteran IHA trend forecasters and keynoters Leatrice Eiseman, director of the Eiseman Center for Colour Information and Training and executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute; and Tom Mirabile, principal of Springboard Futures, along with industry experts Joe Derochowski, vp and home industry advisor for the NPD Group, Leana Salamah, vp of marketing at the IHA, and Peter Giannetti, editor-in-chief of HomePage News.
Held from 4 – 7 March at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex, the keynotes are set for Saturday, Sunday and Monday in room S102 in the South Building. The hour-long sessions will be held at 1pm on Saturday and Monday and 10am on Sunday. Admission is free to all show attendees.
For more information on the keynotes, visit www.theinspiredhomeshow.com/education
