IHA News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Deborah A.Teschke
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
847-692-0110

Design, DÉcor Take The Spotlight at 2006 International Home & Housewares Show

New Exhibitors, Lifestyle Vignettes Put Focus on New Gift and Décor Options 

ROSEMONT, Ill. (Feb. 13, 2006)— Buyers looking for unique design and the latest in décor will be right at home at the 2006 International Home & Housewares Show, to be held March 12-14 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Although buyers will find suppliers of décor throughout the Show, the center of attention will be located on the burgundy carpet in the Dine & Design Expo in McCormick Place’s South Building. There, buyers will find more than 165 trendsetting exhibitors recognized for their excellence in design, leading retailers and working designers speaking on the importance of design and innovation.    

 “The Show’s retailer audience has told us that they are seeking more sophisticated, differentiated merchandising sources for home décor,” said Phil Brandl, president of the not-for-profit International Housewares Association, which owns and operates the Show. “We believe that the 2006 collection of suppliers we have assembled speaks directly to that need.”

Traditions Expanded; Innovation Delivered
The Show will feature a broad representation of home décor exhibitors and, sprinkled between, buyers will find many newcomers whose bright ideas and additional energy are driving the latest styles and products. 

  • Candles – Colors, new looks and heavenly new scents will be on display from over 60 suppliers including new exhibitors Agis, Dayu Gifts & Crafts, For Every Body, Huta Szkla and Siam Quality.
  • Framing & Wall Decor- Buyers will discover more than 50 makers of the latest styles including Show newcomers BCI Baocheng Industries, Designstyles, Framecrafters, Inter-Governmental Philatelic, MIA Int’l, Royal Gem Collection and TRADEeasy.
  • Gifts & Home Décor – Those who are searching for innovation in decorative home products including furniture and lighting will find clever, new ideas from hundreds of suppliers featuring new exhibitors Aussie Pillows Sleepwear, Calderoni Fratelli, Carlisle Home Products, C. A.
Roberts, Everly Originals, Fairestware, FPC,  Home Essentials & Beyond, Itoya of America, NewYorkHomeLa, Mr. & Mrs., Natco Products, Shanxi Beigao, Sunny Gifts, Sunrise Global, The Sarut Group, Universal New York and Valley Forge Flag Company. Furniture, Rugs & Lighting – A key component of any home assortment, furniture, rugs and lighting products will be well represented. New to the category in 2006 will be  Designstyles, Gonzales & Associates, Gradwhol Homeworks, H&K Steel Structures, KingKong USA, KNG America, LPK Int’l, Maxs Wholesale, Natong YIFA Lighting, NeXtime, Oasis Concepts, Rabbit Tanaka, Rubber Board, Timekeeper Products, TRADEeasy and Vinotemp Int’l.
  • Outdoor Décor – Growing in importance to the consumer, clever ideas for decorating the newest room of the home, the backyard, will be on display from many exhibitors including several new to the Show, Bird Brain, Echosphere Associates, Exhart, Marta Mikey, Systems Trading, Two Dogs Designs and Whittier Wood Products.
  • Elements of Style – These exhibitors have been hand selected from around the world for their dedication to design and innovation and are appearing at the Show for the first time. They include Calderoni Fratelli S.p.A. (Italy), Empresas Quttin S.L. (Spain), Grestel – Productos Ceramicos (Portugal), Nexus Marketing representing Piacenza (Italy)  and Ruffoni S.r.l. (Italy).
Lifestyle Vignettes– New to the Show in 2006, Maxim Living will present a concept room setting depicting Maxim’s interpretation of the well-dressed dorm room.  In an additional new display HOME PORTUGAL will offer home vignettes using creative designs from Portugal, a country known for its craftsmanship and innovation in ceramics, cookware, giftware, textiles and decorative accents.

Designers Speak on Design

Another display making its Show debut, DesignALIVE,the Show’s on-floor TV studio, will host hourly interviews with leading designers and retailers from the world of homegoods. At DesignALIVE, adjacent to the Home Décor District, buyers are welcomed to take a break and expand their knowledge as these experts share their wisdom on the ever-growing importance of design. 

The 2006 International Home & Housewares Show will feature more than 2,000 exhibitors from around the world, including more than 350 new companies, showcasing home goods, gourmet specialty foods and innovative products for every room in the home, inside and out. To see a complete list of participating exhibitors, visit www.housewares.org. To register at no charge for the Show, visit www.housewares.org or call the Housewares Travel Desk at 800-752-1052 or 312-527-7294 (non-U.S.) prior to March 11, 2006.