RETAILOBSERVER.COM JUNE 2017
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T
he 2017 International Home + Housewares Show has
garnered rave reviews from buyers and sellers. The show
was sold out with 2,204 exhibitors from 47 countries and
featured a focus on the smart home and connected products.
"We are very pleased with buyer attendance, which was on par
with last year's near record numbers, particularly international,
which was very positive with buyers coming from over 125
countries," said Phil Brandl, president & CEO of the not-for-profit
International Housewares Association, which owns and operates
the show. "In addition, senior-level representative attendance
from both retailers and suppliers was particularly strong."
This year saw a concerted focus on smart and connected
products with the inaugural IHA Smart Home Pavilion, featuring
18 new and current exhibitors displaying emerging technologies
and the latest in smart and connected products, as well as 70
other exhibitors throughout the show. The Discover Design Expo,
in its second year in the North Building, was the design destination
at the show, Brandl added.
"All in all, the 120th International Home + Housewares Show
was a successful marketplace for the industry," he said.
The new exhibitor preview attracted more than 600 buyer and
media attendees, increasing attendance over last year. The
event offered buyers and media the opportunity to meet with 90
first-time exhibitors, up from 60 last year, in advance of the
official 10 a.m. show opening. "Response from the buyers is
very positive about the new exhibitor preview, and we anticipate
attendance to continue growing as more buyers want to begin
their day earlier," Brandl said.
Media attendance included a significant increase in bloggers
and Internet media, coverage by NBC's Today Show, Xinhua News
Agency, home-focused YouTube channels and influencers and live
remotes by Chicago TV stations. Other major publications
included America's Test Kitchen, Better Homes and Gardens,
BRIDES, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, CNET,
Consumer Reports, Fine Cooking, HGTV Magazine, Good
Housekeeping, Hearst Design Group, Inc.com, O—The Oprah
2017 INTERNATIONAL HOME + HOUSEWARES SHOW
