For the 124th time, the International Housewares Association (IHA) will bring the home and housewares community together at The Inspired Home Show 2024 from 17 – 19 March, 2024.
The organiser of the show is expecting more than 1,700 exhibitors to be in attendance at this year’s show at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex.
The newly configured layout sees the Wired + Well Expo moving from the Lakeside Centre to the North Hall, co-locating with the Clean + Contain Expo. Exhibits in the Lakeside Centre Lobby, including the Smart Home Pavilion and Inventors Corner, will move to the North and South Halls. The International Sourcing Expo will return to level 1 of the North Hall.
Derek Miller, IHA president and ceo, commented: “We’re excited about the new configuration as it creates the most vibrant, productive and efficient trade show experience possible for buyers and sellers.
“Positioning the three primary expos, which also includes Dine + Décor, together in the North and South Halls, brings the industry’s core categories into a central location that is much easier and more efficient to navigate with quick trips between two halls now being possible.”
Visitors will find innovation throughout the show from 300 first-time and returning companies, of which more than 100 well-known brands are returning following an absence. These companies include Artland, BergHOFF, BSH Bosch, Cool Gear, Corkcicle, Cuisinart, Emile Henry, Fissler, J.K. Adams, Everplush-Tricol Clean, Jean Dubost, Joseph Joseph, Keurig/Dr. Pepper, Lotus Sustainables, Midea, Opinel, Range Kleen, Scan Pan, Stolzle Lausitz Glassware and Tramontina.
The show will also feature thousands of new products across all categories of housewares, along with several displays, events and opportunities to discover innovation:
The New Exhibitor Preview Gallery in the North and South Hall cafes will feature product displays showcasing new exhibitors. Debut, a new incubator programme in Booth S3262 in the Dine + Decor Expo, allows buyers to interact with 12 exhibitors who are new to the show.
New product showcases in the Buyers Clubs in the North and South Halls present new products by their respective expos. Buyers and media will be able to scan products to receive a print-out for follow-up.
The IHA Global Innovation Award for Product Design Excellence is highlighted in a display in the Hall of Global Innovation (gia) in the Grand Concourse Lobby, featuring 70 finalists in 14 categories.
Educational sessions will feature at the Inspiration Theatre each day in its new home in S101a, next to the Keynote sessions in S102, both on level 1 of the South Building.
Inventors Revue will hold daily programming, including Pitch to the Pros sessions in its new location on the South Hall floor near S3565.
Special events include:
- Independent retailers will be invited to a reception – A Celebration of Independents – on Saturday 16 March.
- Housewares Young Professionals Event will run on Sunday from 5.30 – 7pm.
- Gia Gala on Sunday night recognises and honours the best in home and housewares retailing, product design and student innovation.
- Networking After Dark Reception – All buyers, media and International Business Council members are invited to network over cocktails on Monday 5.30-7pm.
- Housewares Charity Foundation Housewares Cares Gala – Honouring Herb Landsman, executive vice president (retired), The TJX Companies, Lifetime Humanitarian of the Year, and Kristen Stevens, vice president/GMM of Home, Culinary and Electronics at QVC, Humanitarian of the Year. Tickets to support the charity and to attend the gala, being held Monday, 6 p.m., at the Four Seasons Hotel, are available online at HousewaresCharity.org.
