Although it has changed names a number of times over the years, the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) annual trade show is still going strong. The 2019 International Home + Housewares Show (IH+HS) was held from Saturday, March 2 to Tuesday, March 5 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and featured thousands of diverse exhibitors. Our team was on-site again this year to provide support to several of our attending clients.
What is the International Home + Housewares Show?
In case you haven’t heard of this major trade show, it is a large gathering of brands that specifically specialize in different areas related to household goods. The show began back in the 1920s, and has provided a way for brands to showcase the latest and greatest offerings to other industry professionals and consumers.
Members of the media also attend IH+HS, sharing details about some of the most innovative merchandise to hit the market. From broadcast news segments to magazine articles and even blog content, exhibitors are able to spread the word about new products to a vast audience.
This year’s trade show featured over 2,200 companies from nearly 50 different countries. The products showcased throughout the expansive halls of North America’s largest convention center fell under a variety of categories, including tabletop/kitchen essentials, cooking/bakeware, cleaning, and smart home products.
What Was Notable About This Year’s Show?
IHA introduced the “smart home” category to IH+HS only two years ago, with just a little more than ten exhibitors at that time. This year, the show featured many more exhibitors in its Smart Home Pavilion, with 34 different companies – including our very own client, ECOVACS. The growing number of exhibitors in this category indicates a move toward incorporating technology into more housewares items as consumers seek high-tech products that can be controlled via phones or smart home devices (i.e.: Alexa). The home is becoming more connected than ever before and it will be interesting to see this category continue to grow and adapt in the coming years.
Another interesting trend of note was the number of products that revolved around health this year. Quite a few exhibitors highlighted the health-related aspects of products, from appliances and tools that can assist in healthy food preparation to air purifiers that improve air quality in the home. It would seem consumers are becoming more interested in making healthy lifestyle choices, and brands are accommodating to those desires.
For some of the highlights from this year’s show, check out the following video:
What Was lotus823’s Involvement This Year?
We had numerous clients attend the show this year, including The Fulham Group, Maverick, and J&H International. Our team members provided on-site support for several clients, from attending Friday night’s Inspired Home Influencer Conference Speed Networking Event to providing daily booth support during the show.
ECOVACS Robotics – This brand exhibited in both the Smart Home Pavilion and Wired + Well Expo. During the show, our team spoke with various journalists and influencers, and gave booth tours to attendees. The ECOVACS booth was particularly exciting, as it featured a Plinko game offering attendees the chance to win a wireless phone charger, and be entered for a grand prize drawing of a baseball bat signed by a former Chicago Cubs player. ECOVACS also ran an #IHHSDeebotADay social media contest, bringing people to the booth for a chance to win a DEEBOT OZMO 930.
The most notable item ECOVACS showcased this year was the DEEBOT OZMO 960, a vacuum and mopping robot that utilizes Artificial Intelligence and Visual Interpretation (AIVI) technology to detect and avoid household items as it goes about cleaning the floor. This robot was a 2019 Global Innovation Award finalist in the “Smart Home” category, while ECOVACS also won Better Homes & Gardens’ “Smart Picks – Best of the International Home & Housewares Show 2019” award.
Photo Courtesy of ECOVACS
Galanz Americas – Also exhibiting in the Wired + Well Expo, our team assisted Galanz Americas by scheduling press meetings prior to the show and welcoming media to the booth as we introduced a number of new products on display.
One of the most notable features of the Galanz Americas booth this year was the new 4-in-1 ToastWave – an appliance that serves as a convection oven, air fryer, toaster oven, and microwave. This product was so impressive that it won the 2019 Global Innovation Award in the “Kitchen Electrics” category.
Galanz Americas also exhibited its new Retro Collection of colorful appliances that creatively combine a classic design with modern features. In order to demonstrate the brand’s concept of Thoughtful Engineering and the latest multi-function appliances, attendees were encouraged to try out a mix of delicious snacks, including french fries, cake, and chicken wings – all cooked to perfection right there in the booth.
Cuisinart – A mainstay at IH+HS, Cuisinart exhibited in the Wired + Well area, where we handled all media appointments, worked with contacts in the press room, and coordinated in-booth videos on the brand’s behalf. Our team also organized and co-hosted a press dinner for Cuisinart the first night of the show, during which top-tier members of the media enjoyed a cocktail hour and a specially curated dinner at the beautiful and newly renovated restaurant, Le Sud.
Offering delicious food prepared by product specialists in the on-site kitchen, Cuisinart’s expansive booth was extremely busy and a favorite among attendees.
Offering a variety of new products, Cuisinart showcased its new Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven and a Rice and Grain Multicooker with Fuzzy Logic technology that senses fluctuations in cooking and makes adjustments accordingly. The Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven won the “Best of International Home & Housewares Show” Award from EatingWell magazine and BestProducts.com’s “Best of IH+HS 2019” Award.
All in all, 2019 was another successful year at IH+HS and we are proud to have represented such innovative, forward-thinking clients among a host of housewares companies. Our team is already looking forward to next year’s show.
What was your favorite part of IH+HS 2019? Let us know in the comments below!