Are you part of the 300 million consumer impressions the Show generates?

The News Center is the first place the trade and consumer news media will head for when they arrive at the 2012 International Home + Housewares Show. Located in Room N228 on Level 2 of the North Building at McCormick Place, the News Center is the central communications area for the working media attending the Show—and it's a terrific resource for free publicity for all exhibitors. Last year the Show generated more than 300 million impressions through print, broadcast and Internet coverage.

The News Center includes:

  • A display area for exhibitors' press kits.
  • A small conference room that exhibitors can use for interviews with editors.
  • Message boards where exhibitors can leave notes for the media.

These services are provided by IHA as part of exhibitors' booth space fees, and there is no charge for using any or all of them. Exhibitors are invited and encouraged to visit the News Center for a tour and to learn more about News Center services. For the safety of your information,
exhibitors are not allowed unescorted in the press kit
display area—this is strictly enforced by News Center staff.

News Center Hours >

Creating Media Materials >

News Releases >

Press Kits >

Send Press Kits to the News Center >

New Product Information for News Media >

Special Events and Product Demonstrations >


 


News Center Hours

The News Center will be open from:

Saturday thru Monday, March 10-12
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 13
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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Creating Media Materials

You can maximize your success at the 2012 Show by working with the trade and consumer media to get coverage of your company or product through timely news releases to convey your information. Create a press kit for distribution at the Show with all the background details about your company and products. Editors and reporters attending the Show use the kit's materials for stories they develop throughout the year.

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News Releases

News releases should announce real news—a new product introduction, appointment of a new executive, news of a technical or marketing breakthrough or items of interest to the publication's readers.

Announce your news in the "lead" or first paragraph, including the "who, what, where, when, why and how." In following paragraphs, explain the features and benefits of your news and quotes from company reps. Keep your news releases short; no more than two typed pages, double-spaced. Also make sure that your company name, address, phone number and contact name to call for further information appear on the release.

A sample press release you can follow (PDF) >




IHA is offering a new service that will write a press release for you!
Virtual Press Release Writer >



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Press Kits

The difference between an individual news release and a press kit is the volume of information provided to the news media. While a news release may cover one product or news item, a press kit is a compilation of news releases on your company, key personnel, product lines, color photographs and other pertinent information. Make sure that your company name, logo and booth number are placed on the cover of each press kit for easy identification. If you are going digital with a CD or USB drive, make sure the company name and booth number are on the cover sleeve or drive holder.

How to Put Together a press kit tips (PDF) >


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Send Your Press Kits to the News Center

Send your press kit to the trade publications at least six weeks prior to the Show and be sure to include IHA in your mailing.

For the Show, send 75-100 press kits directly to the News Center at McCormick Place for display during the Show. Press kit distribution is provided by IHA as part of exhibitors' booth space fee. IHA also provides complimentary shipping of exhibitors' press kits to editors' or reporters' offices after the Show.

Press kits need to arrive at McCormick Place no later than March 9 and no sooner than March 5. Use this address to ship kits via ground or overnight shipping. Do not send via the U.S. Post Office.

News Center
Room N228, North Building
McCormick Place on the Lake
2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616

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New Product Information for News Media

Enter your New Product Information for the News Media as part of your Housewares Connect 365 listing, and be sure to include photos. This year, when you enter the listings through the Housewares Connect 365 portal, you can enter the information once and decide if it can be viewed by all attendees or media only. The listings will be available to the news media beginning February 1.

More info on New Product Information for the News Media >


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Special Events and Product Demonstrations

Celebrity appearances, guests and product demonstrations are of great interest to the news media and can help attract them to your booth.

If you notify us in advance, these special events will be posted daily in the News Center. All special events or demonstrations must comply with Show Management's Rules and Regulations, which are included in the Exhibitor Services Manual (available November 15th). Please review these rules to ensure your event is in compliance.

Complete the special events & demo form >



Some exhibitors hold news conferences during the Show to announce new products, company developments and other information. A news conference can be held at your booth, in a hotel, at a restaurant or in a meeting room at McCormick Place if your company has obtained one. Topics for a news conference include:

  • new products developed
  • new top executives, dealers or distributors introduced
  • export agreements signed
  • expanded manufacturing and distribution facilities
  • new pricing plans

It's important to invite editors and reporters to your news conference before the Show, and to have background material on the topic and company available when they arrive. Also, have a reliable, quotable source at the news conference to answer questions from the media.

Read the tips How to Plan a News Conference (PDF) > for further guidance.



The Show's News Center staff is ready and eager to work with every exhibitor to help you make the most of the public relations opportunities for your trade show dollar.

For more information about News Center operations, or call 847-692-0110.

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