IHA’s Miller: Smaller Housewares Show Led to Bigger Benefits

Buyers from 84 countries arrived in Chicago for The Inspired Home Show 2022 along with 1,016 exhibitors from 40 countries according to Derek Miller, president and CEO of the International Housewares Association, in an open letter to housewares executives.

“While the Show was smaller than in previous years, the benefits for those attending were tremendous,” Miller wrote.

“when you hear something once and then twice and then again, it begins to turn into a trendline, and while that may not have been everyone’s experience, it certainly was for many Show participants. Many exhibitors expressed they connected with key retailers like never before – they received meetings, and those meetings lasted longer than anticipated. Retailers expressed that they found new companies, brands and products not seen in the past. Yes, 2022 was different, but different can be good – quality over quantity as they say.

“That’s not to imply that those who chose not to exhibit were not missed because they were. While roughly half of the industry came back, there is a need for the entire industry to pull together in 2023 so that we can once again showcase everything we collectively have to offer,” he wrote.

IHA board and staff met with members of the Retail Advisory Council (11 national retailers) and Specialty Retail Advisory Council (10 independents) to discuss what well and constructive feedback for improvements.  They will be meeting with the Global Retail Advisory Council (10 international retailers) soon, Miller wrote, and with the Exhibitor Trade Show Advisory Council (15 exhibitors) in April.

In May, the board and staff will meet for two days to discuss The Inspired Home Show 2023, The Inspired Home Show 2024 & Beyond and IHA Member Service Offerings. 

IHA released a special report – Rising to the Occasion, an in-depth look at the life moments that consumers expect to celebrate in 2022 and the types of products they are likely to buy for each. Later this month, IHA will release the 2022 Consumer Outlook, a comprehensive study of planned home and housewares purchases across 15 product categories. In early April, IHA will publish the 2022 edition of the IHA Market Watch Report, an overview of consumer values and how they impact purchasing decisions. 

The Inspired Home Show 2023 is set for March 4-7 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

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