The Inspired Home Show 2022 opened Saturday to a strong retailer turnout focused on new product and vendor discovery.
Retailers covering a wide range of segments, including major chains, top e-commerce platforms, mid-size operators and independent storeowners, were seen throughout the McCormick Place exhibit halls on day one of the show’s return from a two-year COVID 19 hiatus.
Adam Marland, senior director of business development for Qurate Retail (QVC and HSN), said his team came to the show expecting to spend more time prospecting for new vendor resources, ideas and products.
“It’s all about the discovery,” Marland told HomePage News. “You can’t bump into someone on Zoom.”
The chief merchandising executive for a major discount chain said his buying team, which committed to attending the show weeks earlier, arrived at the show Saturday with an opportunistic game plan. He said he was focused as much, if not more, on meeting with exhibitors outside of the retailer’s usual vendor base as he was renewing face-to-face connections with existing vendors.
Exhibitors, meanwhile, set up shop at the show encouraged by a steady gain in recent weeks of retailers saying they would attend the show. Several exhibitors reported a full slate of retail meetings for all three days of the show.
“It has been refreshing to reconnect with retailers,” said Mike Otterman, president and CEO of Lodge Cast Iron. “It was evident immediately when the retailers came through. They were here, including many senior-level decision-makers, anxious to have quality conversations about business.”
Otterman added he was pleasantly surprised to see buyers from Europe, the Middle East and other international regions.
David Trigiani, managing director of Ekco Brands, the U.S. operation of Mexico cookware maker Vasconia, noted the appearance by retailers on the first day of the show that only a few weeks earlier were reluctant to commit to attending as Omicron surged through the country.
“We’re able to spend more time with the retailers who are here,” said Trigiani.
Day one also marked the notable return to the show of lifestyle and cooking authority Martha Stewart (pictured above L-R, Gibson’s Laurie Gates and Sal Gabbay, IHA’s Derek Miller and Peugeot’s Yvette Laugier). Stewart toured the Gibson Homewares booth (Gibson licenses and markets Martha Stewart housewares) before taking the stage at the show’s Cooking Theater for a demonstration. Stewart discussed the importance of the show as an expansive forum for bringing together the industry and cultivating inspiration.
