FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Deborah A.Teschke
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
847-692-0110
Housewares Show Signals Upswing in U.S. Economy: Buyers and Sellers Getting Down to Business
ROSEMONT, IL (March 22, 2010)—The just-concluded 2010 International Home + Housewares Show is bringing rave reviews from exhibitors as they assess their experience at the Show. Buoyed by double digit increases in both exhibitor participation and buyer attendance, the Show was a clear signal that the U.S. and global housewares and homegoods business is among the leaders in the economic recovery.
“Our exhibitors have reported brisk business in their booths and a positive response from buyers to the innovations they had readied for the Show,” said Phil Brandl, president of the not-for-profit International Housewares Association, which owns and operates the Show. “We were encouraged by the significant increase in international buyer attendance this year as well as by the reports that U.S. retailers and senior executives were present in large numbers.”
Exhibitors Speak
“Traffic was very high! It was one of our best shows!”
- Bruce Kaminstein, Casabella Holdings LLC.
“The highest quality attendance I have ever experienced at a trade show.”
- Jeff Siegel, Lifetime Brands Inc.
“The Show was the best we’ve ever had for Select Brands.”
- Mark Krasne, Select Brands, Inc.
“We received over 300 visits from different retailers. International retailers exceeded 100. We wrote a number of large orders. Our sales staff ranked the activity at the booth as outstanding. It was an A.”
-Sheldon Goodman, Spectrum Diversified Designs, Inc.
“Very productive; we were busy right thru Tuesday afternoon. We actually wrote orders at the Show.”
- Rich Boynton, Jura Capresso, Inc.
“Customers came in buying moods as the consumer is coming back strong.”
- Steve Fraser, SAI Home Products, Inc.
“The Show was an unqualified success for Quickie. We connected with many of our existing customers and made some new ones as well.”
-Michael Magerman, Quickie Mfg. Corp.
“The 2010 Show was a huge success. We were able to see all of our major USA customers and spend time with senior management. We also met several new gourmet independent accounts and some meaningful International distributors from Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.”
- Evan Dash, Prepara
“The International Home & Housewares Show is simply the most effective and efficient venue for us to reach the global housewares marketplace. This show always pays dividends.”
- Bill Reibl, Progressive International Corp.
For more commentary on the Show, please visit IHA’s website at www.housewares.org/show/info/quotes.aspx
The Show hosted 1960 exhibitors, a 13 percent increase over 2009, and including 550 new companies, Brandl said. In addition, total buyer participation increased 10.5 percent, including a 20.7 percent increase in international buyer participation. Media attendance included an increase in bloggers, coverage by the Today Show, Good Morning America and several Chicago TV stations, as well as major print publications including Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Bride’s, Bridal Guide, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Cooks Illustrated, El Paso Times, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Houston Chronicle, UPI, Associated Press and Reader’s Digest publications. The Show will generate in excess of 200 million consumer impressions through broadcast, print and Internet coverage.
The 2011 International Home + Housewares Show will be held March 6 – 8 at McCormick Place, Chicago USA, and also feature co-location with The Travel Goods Show, which will be located on Level 1 of the North Building. Attendee registration and additional Show information are available at www.housewares.org.
IHA is the 72-year-old voice of the housewares industry, which accounted for (US)$300.3 billion at retail worldwide in 2008. The not-for-profit, full-service association sponsors the world's premier exposition of products for the home, the International Home + Housewares Show, and offers its 1,700 member companies a wide range of services, including industry and government advocacy, export assistance, State of the Industry report, category consumer purchase data through Housewares MarketWatch, executive management peer groups, complete access to industry information at www.housewares.org and group buying discounts on business services.
