Experts speaking about a wide range of critical home and housewares industry topics will be featured in the Inspiration Theater during The Inspired Home Show 2024, March 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
The Inspiration Theater sessions continue the show’s longstanding industry education program previously presented as the Innovation Theater. The 2024 program marks a commitment to bringing relevant, topical and actionable content to the show at a time when the housewares industry wants and needs such information, direction and inspiration, according to the International Housewares Association, which presents The Inspired Home Show.
With the 2024 Show’s consolidation to the McCormick North and South buildings, the Inspiration Theater (formerly the Innovation Theater) is now located in Room S101A in the South Building. It is adjacent to the S102 keynote ballroom to form an industry education hub at the show.
The Inspiration Theater will present 14 sessions during the show. Sessions begin each day at 9 a.m. and run until 4 p.m., with breaks at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the Keynote sessions. Inspiration Theater sessions will explore such topics as omnichannel marketing strategies, supply chain insights, intellectual property law, merchandising best practices and global consumer and retail trends. Sessions are open to all show attendees and exhibitors.
Refurbished Housewares Products: Unlocking New Markets, Not Cannibalizing Sales
Chris Lubick, Verdi Commerce
Sunday, March 17, 9 a.m.
Refurbished products can enable brands to reach new customers and create incredible value when marketed effectively. The first step towards doing so is acknowledging two simple facts about refurbished goods: First, refurbished electronics consumer behavior has shifted dramatically over the last decade; refurbished goods are now in high demand, specifically by Gen Zs and Millennials. Second, remanufacturing and remarketing returns rather than contributing to landfills make a tremendously positive impact on the environment, an impact that every brand’s and retailer’s stakeholders are demanding more than ever. Learn how brands must rethink how they value refurbished goods and, in doing so, help accelerate the circular economy.
How Influencers, AI and Amazon Are Shaping the Home & Housewares Category in 2024 and Beyond
John LeBaron, Pattern
Sunday, 11 a.m.
Take a deep dive into the world of how generative AI, social commerce and the ever-growing world of Amazon are reshaping the industry. Pattern, the industry’s leading e-commerce accelerator (and Amazon’s largest marketplace seller), maintains a data lake of more than 300 trillion data points and enables the active brand endorsements of 100,000+ creators. Learn what’s possible when you transform data into real-time generative AI, craft targeted influencer strategies and harness Amazon’s ecosystem to propel unprecedented growth.
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Tableware 2024: Where is the Business Going?
Laurie Burns, Burns Consulting, Paul Yeomans, Tableware International; Martha Nading, The Extra Ingredient
Sunday, March 17, 12:10 p.m.
This session will explore what is happening in the tableware industry — who are the leaders; where and how it is being sold; and what are the shifts and opportunities for suppliers. On the retail side, discussion will include how retailers are buying product, what they are buying, what is selling now and how vendors can work with them in this fast-paced, changing world as the next generation moves into needing and purchasing this category.
Learning to Listen: Satisfying the Insatiable Consumer
Tom Mirabile, Springboard Futures
Sunday, March 17, 2:10 p.m.
This encapsulated review of the new 2024 Value Equation Index™* reveals an ever-changing kaleidoscope of the demands, desires and sometimes conflicting expectations of today’s consumer. They want maximum experience with minimal effort, expect products with strong durability and flexible technology, demand privacy, and insist on transparency. Staying in step with these shifting definitions of value means learning to listen in new ways. This session explores the latest intelligence on what will matter most to consumers through 2024 and beyond, including unique comparisons of the industry’s perceptions of consumer opinion and the true opinions of consumers. *The 2024 Value Equation Index™ is a collaborative research project of IHA, Springboard Futures, Project Partners Network and The Trend Curve.
Branding Is Storytelling
Adrienne Weiss, Adrienne Weiss Corporation
Sunday, March 17, 3:10 p.m.
Brand guru Adrienne Weiss will walk through her vision of what a compelling brand story is and how to communicate it to customers. Retailers and suppliers who want to have an emotional connection to their customers, regardless of whether they are a B-to-B company or are talking directly to consumers, need to think about what they say, how they say it and where the opportunities are to create a lasting bond. Whether a company is a startup, a multinational, a well-known brand or anything in between, everyone can benefit from Weiss’s lessons.
The Future is InSight
Dawn Evans, IHA; Tom Mirabile, Springboard Futures; Moderated by Peter Giannetti, HomePage News
Monday, March 18, 9 a.m.
Powerful trends go beyond color, style, materials and even technology to connect suppliers and retailers with consumers. They inspire meaningful innovation, compelling new solutions and enhanced experiences. The logic sounds simple, but evaluating trends successfully can be challenging and time-consuming. The HomePage News InSight® Trend Index features emerging and enduring trends curated across global markets and presented through an expanding collection of informative and inspiring portfolios. Each delivers fresh intelligence on the lifestyles, products and market shifts driving consumer engagement and demand. Learn about the trends of 2024: Which will grow? What will slow? And which are poised to steal the show. The new 2024-25 InSight season is set to launch in April.
Growing Together with Walmart Marketplace: Customer Trends in the Home Category
Karima Popatia, Walmart Marketplace; Melissa Faurest, Walmart Fulfillment Services
Monday, March 18, 11:10 a.m.
Karima Popatia and Melissa Faurest discuss customer behavior and how Walmart Marketplace works to not only serve customers shopping for furniture and home items but also help sellers in these categories grow. They’ll walk through recent trends in buying and share the benefits of selling on Walmart Marketplace and taking advantage of Walmart Fulfillment Services. Hear best practices for succeeding on Walmart Marketplace, stories from current home sellers and more.
PFAS Regulatory Update for the Housewares Industry
Fran Groesbeck, The Cookware and Bakeware Alliance; Tom Lee, BCLP Law; Tobias Gerfin, Kuhn Rikon AG
Monday, March 18, 12:10 p.m.
This update on PFAS regulation and what the housewares industry needs to know will explain the latest legislative requirements related to PFAS and how housewares suppliers need to adapt.
Innovate, Elevate, Captivate: Reinventing the Retail Experience
Anne Kong, Wolfgang Gruschwitz, Scott Kohno, Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen, gia expert jurors
Monday, March 18, 3:10 p.m.
As the housewares industry navigates through the changing tides of consumer behavior, technological advancements and market trends, it dissects the intricate ways in which retailers are embracing innovation. From augmented reality shopping experiences to AI-powered personalization, this presentation unveils the cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping the retail ecosystem. The concept of elevation goes beyond just products on shelves. The gia Expert Jurors will delve into how retailers are elevating their spaces, services and overall brand image to create an immersive and unforgettable customer journey. From sustainable practices to community engagement initiatives, discover how retailers are enhancing their impact on both individuals and the world around them.
The Lacey Act & The Home & Housewares Business
Ashley Amidon, International Wood Products Association; Craig Brightup, Rafe Morrissey, IHA Government Affairs Office
Monday, March 18, 3:10 p.m.
The Lacey Act makes it unlawful to “import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any plant, with some limited exceptions, taken or traded in violation of the laws of the United States, a U.S. State, or a foreign country.” In this session, learn how the Lacey Act applies to the housewares supply chain and about new federal Declaration paperwork requirements that will soon be required for every imported product using wood, including kitchen tools, tableware and serveware, cutting boards, spice mills, baskets, cloth, bamboo products, cork, essential oils and olive oil. Lacey covers everyone in the supply chain. Whether you are an importer of record or simply using imported wood inputs in a finished product, this session will explain the information you need today to prepare your compliance program for the Declaration later this year. Not sure if the Lacey Act applies to your company? If you’re using imported wood, it does. Also, in this session, representatives from IHA’s government affairs office will share updates on other key regulatory issues impacting the home and housewares industry.
North American Housewares Market Trends: Identifying Opportunities for Growth in Canada & Mexico
Pam Wood and Renee Badioloa, Circana Mexico & Canada
Tuesday, March 19, 9 a.m.
North American marketing is a unique challenge because each country has its own unique needs. Post-pandemic recovery and macroeconomic trends have resulted in distinctive market trends and consumer needs across Canada and Mexico. This presentation will review the housewares trends in Canada and Mexico from 2023, the lessons learned and provide perspective on growth opportunities for 2024.
How to Tell Your Company Story in Media’s Changing Landscape
Susan Jardina, Jardina Communications; Kristyn Fuller, Field Marketing + Media; Erica Finamore, home director, Real Simple; Nicole Papantoniou, Kitchen Appliance Lab, Good Housekeeping; Moderated by Emily Cappiello, Emily Jane Communications
Tuesday, March 19, 11:10 a.m.
Has your company thought about investing in public relations or are they looking to create a better strategy? How will your brand cut through the clutter of SEO, affiliate marketing and the ever-changing media world to tell its story efficiently? What investments does a company have to make and what platforms should it be on? Emily Cappiello will lead a panel discussion about the shifting dynamic in media and what housewares suppliers need to do to secure quality placements for their brands. The panel will cover the basics of public relations and discuss how important meaningful relationships with members of the media are. Panelists include Susan Jardina, owner, Jardina Communications; Kristyn Fuller, managing director, Field Marketing + Media; Erica Finamore, home director, Real Simple; Nicole Papantoniou, director, Kitchen Appliance Lab, Good Housekeeping.
Restaurant Delivery, Grocery Shopping & The Future of Home Cooking
Nick Stene and Catalina Flores, Euromonitor International
Tuesday, March 19, 12:10 p.m.
Delivery and take-out from restaurants skyrocketed through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued with solid growth into 2023. Meanwhile, smart dishwasher usage data points to a more frequent wash use under the latest hybrid home-working regime. Use and abuse trends are visible for in-home dining and eating on the go, and it is pointing to an ever-rising need for material innovation and better sustainability via durability. Revenues from grocery for food and drink reveal that meal preparation activities within U.S. homes are also proving robust, with food sales growing again in 2023 beyond inflation. This presentation will analyze and overlap data from the consumer foodservice industry and grocery food shopping sector with the industry performance in homewares and cookware.
Retailer Replenishment Systems Don’t Work: Why You Need to Mine Your Retailers’ Point-of-Sale Data for Growth
Doug Murless, Krunchbox Inc.
Tuesday, March 19, 1:10 p.m.
Known as the “Point-of-Sale Data Guy,” Murless will expose the flaws in traditional retailer replenishment systems that annually cost brands thousands of dollars in lost sales. Uncover the game-changing potential of mining retailers’ point-of-sale data to reclaim these losses. This presentation will highlight replenishment system flaws, such as phantom inventory, misallocated stock, dropped product/store combinations, etc. It also will provide actionable ideas and concepts suppliers can implement to secure newfound orders and uncover the profitable elements within their retailers’ point-of-sale data.
The full Inspiration Theater lineup is available on The Inspired Home Show website.
For more information about the 2024 show and to register for a badge, please visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com. To search for new products that will be at the Show, visit Connect 365, the show’s online directory.
