ROSEMONT, Ill. — The strong performance of The Inspired Home Living Room— billed as the world’s largest home and housewares trade show — reflects the recovery seen across the sector, according to its organizers.
Following its initial return in 2022, the show, owned and operated by the International Housewares Associationsaw a significant increase in exhibitors and attendees year-over-year in 2023. More than 1,600 exhibitors and nearly 30,000 home and housewares professionals from 125 countries gathered for four days, March 4-7 McCormick Square in Chicago.
“The 2023 edition was an incredible milestone in the post-pandemic recovery of in-person events for the home and housewares industry,” said Derek Miller, President and CEO of the International Housewares Association. “The enthusiasm and positive feedback we saw reminds us all of the importance of bringing the industry together in person each year.”
This year’s list of attendees included DMMs and GMMs from dozens of major retailers, ranging from online giant Amazon to high-end cookware brand Williams Sonomawho came to meet exhibitors from 125 countries. Among the consumer brands present at the show were Westinghouse, Thermos and SodaStream.
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Keynotes focused on the future of home and housewares trends, including one from Walmart’s head of housewares and the general manager of Home Marketplace. Innovation Theater sessions featured industry experts, including TikTok’s head of home and living and Joe Derochowski, VP and home industry advisor at Circana, who sees this period as one of great opportunity for the industry, despite the economic uncertainty.
“There are many opportunities that the home and housewares industry can take advantage of despite or in light of economic headwinds: helping consumers save money by eating at home; helping them save time and establish routines associated with hybrid work and returning to active lifestyles; and helping them make inexpensive improvements to their home environment,” Derochowski said.
Other highlights of the show include: Global Innovation Awards and the Housewares Cares Charity Gala, benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the James Beard Foundation, Winning with Wyatt and the V Foundation.
THE Inspired Home Show 2024 will take place March 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Contact Derek Miller at (847) 292-4200 or dmiller@housewares.org; Joe Derochowski at (516) 625-0700