Expect a busy day two at the International Home + Housewares Show.
A show of such large scale can challenge where to start and how to explore the three vast McCormick Place exhibit halls thoroughly— making sure to meet with existing resources and top prospects while leaving time to hunt for less obvious new opportunities.
Good Start
A good way to start is with a thorough read of the national show edition of HomeWorld Business, the year’s largest single housewares business publication; and the HomeWorld show daily editions for today, Sunday, March 19 (the one you’re reading now) and tomorrow, Monday, March 20.
These three editions deliver the most comprehensive coverage and analysis of new products and marketing strategies on display at the show. And they are the most widely distributed housewares publications (along with sister publication Gourmet Insider) at McCormick Place and Chicago hotels.
Be sure to check HomeWorldBusiness.com and GourmetInsider.com for breaking news during the show. The HomeWorld Business and Gourmet Insider daily e-newsletters will recap each day’s big news.
Remember to follow us on Twitter @HomeWorldNews and Facebook @HomeWorldBusinessMagazine.
The IHA’s Home + Housewares Smart Guide at housewares.org is another useful tool for mapping out an effective plan for the show and its core expos— Dine + Décor in McCormick South; Wired + Well in McCormick Lakeside; Clean + Contain in McCormick North; and Discover Design in McCormick North.
Surprising Discoveries
Surprising discoveries could be brewing in the Global Design Points international pavilions throughout the show for Japan, France, Turkey, Brazil, Korea, Hong Kong and India; as well as the International Sourcing Expo with China and Taiwan pavilions now on McCormick North’s lower level.
The next big items also might be simmering at the Inventors Corner and Review, a North Hall exhibit of more than 60 developers of just-market-ready inventions.
The show’s educational program highlights two installments of the annual Color Trends forecast by Pantone’s Lee Eiseman: Monday and Tuesday at noon in the McCormick South grand ballroom.
I look forward to joining Susan Yashinski of trend and innovation consultancy Sphere Trending on the 2017 Top Trends panel moderated by Tom Mirabile, IHA’s consumer trend forecaster and Lifetime Brands’ svp/global trend and design: Monday at 7:30 a.m in the McCormick South grand ballroom.
Smart Thinking
The Smart Home pavilion debuts at this year’s show in the Lakeside Lobby’s Hall of Global Innovation, connecting buyers to a curated collection of smart home companies, brands and products.
The Cooking Theater in McCormick South will spotlight demonstrations by more than two dozen celebrity chefs.
And don’t forget to explore displays showcasing award-winning student design and global retailing innovation.
It’s a challenge to know where to start and how to explore so much. But new opportunities await those who look closely.
