The annual Inspired Home Show, hosted by The International Housewares Association (IHA), returned to its home at McCormick Place in Chicago this past week. The show offered face time with retailers, vendors, media contacts, and industry leaders while keynotes spoke about omnichannel growth, the state of the housewares industry, and consumer trends. Read on for more insights we gained from this year’s trade show.
IHA Market Watch Authors Break Down 2023 Consumer Drives
Peter Giannetti, Editor-in-Chief of HomePage News, was joined with IHA Market Watch authors Leana Salamah, Tom Mirabile, and Joe Derochowski to discuss their findings in the 2023 HomePage News Consumer Outlook Survey, the 2023 IHA Occasions Report, and a sneak peek at the 2023 IHA Market Watch Report.
They found that there are five driving forces for consumers when buying housewares items: wellness (47%), time (19%), experience (14%), space (11%), and responsibility (9%). The panel also discussed consumers’ higher interest in purchasing smart home products, challenges when it comes to home entertaining, and much more demographic specific trends.
Amazon Announced Climate Pledge Friendly Program
Amazon’s Zac Ludington took the stage at the Inspired Home Show to outline the company’s sustainable shopping initiative. The Climate Pledge Friendly Program is free and rewards products that qualify with a 10% increase in page views. Amazon is working to promote the certification and companies by making products more conspicuous on the platform and in search.
The gia judges held a panel discussion where they agreed that elements of entertainment, information, and a sense of community brings success into retailing today. They advised retailers to be authentic and kind to create a positive atmosphere for employees and customers, making every experience at your store a positive one. With people looking to go out and have fun again, the goal is having customers want to come into the brick-and-mortar stores, plan to return, and spread the word.
At the Inspired Home Show 2023, the leading professionals of the home and housewares industry came together to share the latest products and ideas with the world. We learned about the state of the industry and what consumers are looking for when shopping in the home and housewares space. Now that this year’s event has come to close, attendees will have the opportunity to put these lessons into practice and use the connections that they made. We are already looking forward to what next year will bring!
Having attended IHA’s housewares show for 25+ years, we know the on-site and integrated strategy your company needs to stand out in a crowded exhibitor space and marketplace. Interested in learning more about our trade show support? Contact us today and let’s get you closer to your goals!