International Housewares Association President and CEO Derek Miller, in a letter thanking participants in the recent Inspired Home Show 2022, outlined forthcoming IHA initiatives as planning begins for the 2023 show.
Miller, noting buyers from 84 countries came to Chicago to meet with 1,016 exhibitors from 40 countries, said the recent show, while smaller than previous shows in its return from a three-year pandemic hiatus, proved to be very beneficial to attendees.
“‘Best show ever’ — 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,” Miller said in the letter. “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,” Miller continued. “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.”
The Inspired Home Show 2023 is set for March 4-7 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
Miller said IHA management met during the recent show with 11 national retailers on its Retail Advisory Council and 10 independents on Specialty Retail Advisory Council to assess the 2022 show and invite ideas on how to improve the show in the future. Similar meetings are planned with IHA’s Global Retail Advisory Council and Exhibitor Trade Show Advisory Council (15 exhibitors) for an in-depth discussion about the Show from their perspective in April, he said.
IHA’s board and staff will convene at a strategic planning meeting in May, Miller said, to discuss three primary topics: 1) The Inspired Home Show 2023, 2) The Inspired Home Show 2024 & beyond and 3) IHA member service offerings.
Miller cited in the letter ongoing IHA networking opportunities through its CORE executive share groups; its CHESS conference for members planned for the fall of 2022 in-person; and its Global Forum set for later in 2022 to give IHA members who sell internationally the opportunity to learn and network in order to increase global sales.
IHA also plans to continue its digital “Connect” events for industry education and product discovery opportunities throughout the year, Miller said. He added several of the educational and keynote sessions recorded at the recent Inspired Home Show will be released on the show’s website in the coming days.
Miller also cited the special reports revealing and analyzing results of exclusive market research commissioned by IHA. These include two recent collaborations with HomePage News: 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; and the 2022 Consumer Outlook, a comprehensive study (set for release later this month) of planned home and housewares purchases across 15 product categories. In addition, 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.
“Again, thanks to everyone who helped make The Inspired Home Show 2022 a great success!” Miller said. “We needed critical mass to get back on track, and with the support we received from both our members and retailers, we were able to create a valuable experience for all who participated.
“An impactful chapter for IHA and the show has now closed, and thankfully the page has been turned. The future for the home and housewares industry continues to look bright, and I look forward to moving ahead with you through the rest of 2022 and beyond.”
