New Exhibitor & Trending Today Previews, HYPE, Toast to Trends Among Activities
ROSEMONT, IL (October 22, 2018)–Buyers, exhibitors and other attendees will have several opportunities to network on and off the show floor during the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show, March 2-5 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex. In addition to the more than 2,200 exhibitors and thousands of new products on display, the Show will offer value-added activities including two pre-Show events on Saturday, several networking receptions for attendees and a focus on building careers in the housewares industry.
The 2019 Show will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 2 and close at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5. Nearly 60,000 total attendees, including buyers from 130 countries, are expected, according to the International Housewares Association, the Show’s owner and operator.
Buyers and news media will have two exclusive opportunities to view products and meet exhibitors before the Show opens on Saturday with the New Exhibitor Preview and the Trending Today Preview–A Marketplace for Specialty Beverage. The events will run concurrently from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom/Room S100, just inside the entrance of the South Building. The New Exhibitor Preview will feature up to 90 first-time exhibitors from all Show categories. For 2019, the Trending Today Preview will focus on the specialty beverage movement, highlighting the various types of craft beverage trends, including coffee, beer, cocktails, tea and water, along with specialty glassware and accessories, craft beer & cocktail kits and more. Up to 60 exhibitors will participate.
Several Show-sponsored networking receptions will provide buyers, exhibitors and other Show attendees opportunities to renew acquaintances or meet new colleagues and customers. These special events include:
- Housewares Young Professional Event (HYPE) on Saturday from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom Lobby (S100), South Building. Young home and housewares professionals are invited to join their industry peers in a casual and lively setting to network and build their connections with other young colleagues. Guests are welcome to bring other young executives from the industry and enjoy cocktails and conversation. The event is hosted by IHA’s Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC), a group of members actively engaged in the housewares industry to ensure a vibrant future.
- Toast to Trends reception in the Discover Design Expo, North Building, Sunday from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Discover Design will feature nearly 200 innovative and design-oriented companies and brands from all Show categories, along with Design Debut, which allows 12 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. The Toast to the Trends reception offers buyers and news media attendees an opportunity to mingle with Discover Design exhibitors in the Grand Concourse Lobby near the 23rd Street Bistro.
- Networking After Dark Reception on Monday from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. is a Show party for U.S. and international buyer attendees. This year’s theme is “The ‘60s” and will feature food, drinks, music and fun from the era of “Peace & Love,” along with plenty of networking. The reception is in S406a, Level 4, South Building, and is hosted by the International Business Council (IBC), a group of IHA members actively engaged in international business.
Additionally, 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 on Sunday and 150 to 200 students are expected to participate. Last year, about 150 students from colleges nationwide participated.
To register for a Show badge, visit www.housewares.org.
