2018 International Home + Housewares Show Sells Out in Chicago’s McCormick Place
January 31, 2018
The 2018 International Home + Housewares Show sold out in late December, more than 10 weeks before opening day March 10 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, according to the International Housewares Association, the show’s owner and operator.
“The high demand to be a part of our world-class marketplace continues for our IHA member suppliers,” said Phil Brandl, IHA president & CEO.
He added, “We look forward to bringing the industry together at the premier global housewares industry event.”
The Show will host more than 2,100 exhibitors from around the world, including 400 new companies exhibiting for the first time.
This year the Show will feature a new pre-Show event, an expanded IHA Smart Home Pavilion and a focus on building careers in the housewares industry through an increased Experience Day program for college students.
Buyers and news media will have another opportunity to view products and exhibitors before the show opens March 10, with the new Trending Today Preview, featuring up to 60 exhibitors highlighting a trending merchandise category. For 2018, Trending Today will feature A Marketplace for Hydration, a key product category driven by the consumer trends of health and wellness. Through technology, fashion and design, hydration and hydration-related products continue to drive the category to record levels.
The Show continues its emphasis on the smart home and connected products by expanding the IHA Smart Home Pavilion to more than 25 exhibitors presenting the future of housewares and offering increased education and networking opportunities.
The Smart Talks stage will feature presentations, panel discussions, interviews with industry leaders and more all Show days.
Tech experts Mike Wolf, founder and curator of the Smart Kitchen Summit, and Carley Knobloch, digital lifestyle expert, will be at the pavilion, located in the Hall of Global Innovation in the Lakeside Center, to answer questions and discuss the emerging technology and trends.In addition, exhibitors with smart and connected products throughout the Show will have booth signage indicating their smart home products.
IHA is helping to encourage the next generation of housewares suppliers by bringing college students to the industry’s premier event with an Experience Day. Through Experience Day, the students are exposed to the housewares industry by seeing the industry marketplace and meeting executives.
This year, Experience Day will be increased to two days, Sunday and Monday, and 150 to 200 students are expected to participate. They will walk the Show floor, hear presentations from CEOs and have lunch roundtables with members of IHA’s Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC). Last year, about 70 students from colleges nationwide participated in the inaugural Experience Day on Monday at the Show.
The Excellence in Booth Design Award, honoring exhibitors for their booth presentation, has been incorporated into the IHA’s Global Innovation Awards (gia) this year. The awards are based on creativity in design, merchandising and messaging, and will be divided into two categories -- exhibitors with booths over 300 sq. ft. and exhibitors with booths 300 sq. ft. or less. Eight GIA finalists will be named, two from each expo, with two Global Honorees announced March 11.
The Discover Design Expo in the North Building will feature nearly 200 companies and brands from all Show categories, along with Design Debut, which allows 11 new-to-the-Show exhibitors whose product demonstrates high-design and innovation to come and experience the International Home + Housewares Show without having to create an entire display.
Other Show highlights include the New Exhibitor Preview with 90 first-time exhibitors; the Hall of Global Innovation featuring the Show’s special exhibits, including Pantone ColorWatch, IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) and the IHA Student Design Competition, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018; the Innovation Theater with 21 presentations exploring important issues including the smart home, consumer shopping preferences, branding and global marketing; and the standing-room-only educational seminars led by IHA’s color expert Leatrice Eiseman and lifestyle guru Tom Mirabile
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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