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IHA - International Housewares Association: The Home Authority
Web: www.housewares.org | Ph: 847-292-4200 | Fax: 847-292-4211
Select a question below to learn more. If you do not find the answers to your questions here, please
contact us at (847)292-4200 and ask to speak with a Show Team
Representative.
What is the International
Home + Housewares Show?
What companies
are exhibiting at the 2008 International Home + Housewares
Show?
Where is the Show
held?
What are the current and future Show
Dates?
How can I Contact IHA about Exhibiting at the Show?
How do I become an Exhibitor at the Show?
What happens after I turn in
all the required information for Prospective Exhibitors?
What value will the Show deliver
for my company?
How much does it Cost to Exhibit at the Show?
What is the standard booth
size?
What does the Cost of booth space include?
Are there special Rules
and Regulations I should be aware of?
Who is the Official
Contractor?
Am I allowed to Share
Booth Space with another company?
What is the Deadline for companies to submit a space application
to IHA?
What Product Categories are covered at the Show?
How do I Register for Badges?
How do I Make Travel and
Housing Reservations at a discount rate?
Is there a preferred airline carrier for the Show offering discounted airfare?
Who Attends the
Show?
What is Included after I become an exhibitor?
Where can I look at Floor
Plans for the upcoming Show?
Where and when can I download information
on Show Services e.g. labor, furnishings, utilities,
exhibit structures etc.?
What is there to do in Chicago?
How should I Market my Company before, during and after the
Show?
Who are the Show sponsored International
Travel Agencies?
What is the Exhibitor Code of Conduct?
How can I become a Member of the International Housewares Association?
What is the International Home + Housewares Show?
The International Home + Housewares Show is your opportunity
to join the world's largest marketplace of Home + Housewares
professionals. Every year more than 60,000 of the world's most important
Home + Housewares professionals gather to do business in Chicago's
state-of-the-art McCormick Place Exposition Center. They come to
explore new, creative business opportunities as well as strengthen
existing relationships.
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What companies are exhibiting
at the 2008 International Home + Housewares Show?
View the 2008 Exhibitor lists here.
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How can I contact IHA about exhibiting
at the Show?
For exhibiting questions, please contact:
Dawn Wittmann
Trade Show Sales Coordinator
(847) 692-0140
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Where is the Show held?
The Show is located in Chicago, IL USA at:
McCormick Place (Directions)
2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60616
312-791-7000
312-791-6543 fax
www.mccormickplace.com
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What are current and future Show dates?
For information on Show dates please visit our Show Dates page.
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How do I become an exhibitor at the Show?
To join the world's largest home and housewares marketplace you
must first complete and submit the following:
- 2009 Show Corporate Profile
- Company Biography or Company History
(We would like to know more about your company. Tell us your story.)
- Catalog Sheets - Original Catalog Sheets showing the products you intend to display. Make sure the catalog sheets include the name of your company.
- If available, a photo of your booth display from a previous Trade Show
- If available, a photo of your product in consumer packaging
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What happens after
I turn in all the required information for prospective exhibitors?
- The Trade Show Sales Team will review the information submitted
by your company and determine which category is best suited for
your company and its products. This review takes approximately
5-10 business days.
- All companies approved to exhibit will be mailed a space application,
membership application and floor plans.
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What value will the Show deliver for
my company?
- More than 20,000 buyers from around the world!
- Value-Added Events, Special Exhibits and Marketing Opportunities.
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How much does it cost to exhibit at the
Show?
- The Show is operated by the not-for-profit International Housewares
Association for the benefit of the global home products and housewares
industry.
- Value-priced booth space. Association members will receive
a significant
discount on booth fees at the 2008 International Home + Housewares
Show. IHA membership is $350 per year for regular members and
$450
per year for Associate members. The membership rate for booth
space is $12.00 per square foot. The non-member rate is $16.50
per square foot.
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What is the standard booth size?
Booth lengths (widths) are available in increments of 10 feet. Booth
depths are either 10 feet or 15 feet. The smallest available booth
is 10 feet wide by 10 feet deep, totaling 100 square feet.
goho, gourmet home and food category:
Booths are available in widths of 10 feet and depths of 5 feet or
10 feet. The smallest booth available is 50 square feet.
Metric equivalents
5 feet = 1.5 meters
10 feet = 3 meters
50 square feet = 4.5 square meters
100 square feet = 9 square meters
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What does the cost of booth space
include?
The cost of booth space includes the raw booth space for
the duration of the Show. Exhibitors are responsible for providing
an acceptable exhibit structure, floor covering, an identification
sign and furniture.
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Are there special
rules and regulations I should be aware of?
- Chicago is a union city; however, exhibitors with 300 square
feet or less can set their own booth provided that no power tools
or ladders are used.
- IHA requires all exhibitors to use an acceptable solid backwall as an exhibit
structure. The backwall must be a minimum of 8’ in height
and extend the entire length of the booth space.
- To improve the appearance of the Show, “standard pipe & drape,”
tabletop displays and pegboard used solely as exhibit structures
are prohibited.
- To assist buyers in identifying booth numbers, exhibitors are
required to indicate their booth number on exhibit signage.
- All exhibitors are required to provide floor covering for their
entire exhibit area.
- To enable the use of all the available space in your booth,
IHA has adopted the “Cubic Content” rule. The rule allows
companies to build or place display elements right up to the front
of the booth and up to the maximum height permitted.
- Attendees and exhibitors may not bring photographic equipment
on the exhibit floor or take photos of any booth or product during
Show hours.
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Who is the official contractor?
Freeman is the Show’s official general contractor.
They provide labor services, booth rental and design, transportation
and furnishings.
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Am I allowed
to share booth space with another company?
Only companies that are legally affiliated are allowed to share booth space.
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What is the deadline
for companies to submit a space application to IHA?
IHA accepts applications throughout the year. Potential exhibitors
who return their applications and payment early will have a better
opportunity to obtain booth space in the Show. If the Show is sold
out when the space application is received, a waitlist will be compiled.
If no booth space is assigned, a full refund (minus membership dues)
will be issued.
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What product categories are covered at the Show?
Product Expos at the Show:
clean + contain - including promotion in motion: retail promotions + continuities
dine + design - including goho: gourmet
home and food
wired + well
global crossroads (international pavilions)
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How do I register for badges?
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Who attends the Show?
23,000 buyers from more than 100 countries representing the world’s
leading retailers:
16,000 U.S. Buyers
- These buyers represent the largest single
home products and housewares market in the
world. U.S. consumers purchase over $75 billion
of the products displayed at the Show annually.
- U.S. Buyers represent diverse retail channels including the fast-growing
specialty channels. Retailers such as Linens' n Things, Bed, Bath and Beyond,
Federated Department Stores and other specialty focused independent retailers attend
in large numbers. In 2008, these channels represented 75% of retail buyers
at the Show.
- 99% of the top 150 U.S. retailers are represented
at the Show. Wal*Mart,Target,
Walgreens, Lowe’s
and many other mass channel retailers
view the Show as a key marketplace.
- U.S. distributors and wholesalers send
over 2,500 representatives to the Show
each year.
 More than 7,000
Non-U.S. Buyers
- Reflecting the accelerating globalization
of the home goods industry, international
buyers from all continents represent
nearly one-third of the total number of
buyers attending the Show.
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What is included after I become an Exhibitor?
Maximize your Show by taking advantage of the following Free Show
Services:
- A Show Service Team ready to assist you in planning your Show
and
answer your questions about the housewares industry.
- Registered buyer list. Includes all registered U.S. buyers,
non-U.S. attendees
and news media personnel from the 2007 Show. Use this data to
invite buyers to your booth!
- A year-round listing on the Housewares Industry Website,
www.housewares.org, with a link to your company’s website
and
e-mail address.
- An Exhibitor Marketing Kit including many complimentary services
for
increasing buyer attendance at your booth at the Show and receiving
media recognition.
- Exhibitor Services Information for displaying efficiently and
cost-effectively.
- Complete Show Directory, Show online and industry website listings.
- Exhibitor badges.
- A free lead retrieval unit.
- Buyer invitation postcards that you can customize.
- Signs to highlight what’s new and innovative in your booth!
- Complimentary meeting rooms located on each exhibit floor.
- E-mail access at the Show. E-mail computer stations are located
on each
exhibit floor.
- Shuttle bus service to all official Show hotels.
- Targeted program for attracting Specialty Retailers.
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Where can I look at floor plans for the upcoming Show?
View Floorplans for the 2008 Show
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Where and when can I download information on Show
Services, e.g. labor, furnishings, utilities, exhibit structures etc.?
The online Exhibitor Services Manual is available here.
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How do I make travel and housing reservations at a discount rate?
Reserve
Discount Hotels Online
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Is there a preferred airline carrier for the Show offering discounted airfare?
You can find discount airfare with American Airlines for both Domestic and International flights. Learn more: Domestic | International
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What is there to do in Chicago?
Look in the About
Chicago section of our site to find info on Chicago attractions and information.
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How should I market my company before,
during and after the Show?
IHA offers exhibitors a complete online marketing kit to promote
your company before, during and after the International Home +
Housewares Show.
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Who are the Show-sponsored international
travel agencies?
IHA has partnered with numerous International Travel Agencies to
help make your travels to our Show easier.
Please view the complete
list of travel agencies here.
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Exhibitor Code of Conduct (back to top)
Rules by which every exhibitor must abide.
- Be considerate of other exhibitors. Under no circumstance should you enter any other exhibitor's display area uninvited or when unattended.
- Unauthorized photography of any exhibit or product is prohibited and will result in expulsion from the Show. Exhibitors and Attendees are not allowed to bring photographic equipment on the exhibit floor during Show hours. Exhibitors may photograph their own exhibit/products prior to Show opening or after the Show closes. Only IHA, an approved photography company or news media will be allowed to photograph exhibits during Show hours. Please immediately notify IHA or security of any unauthorized photography. Arrangements can be made to have your exhibit photographed during Show hours with the recommended Show photographer. Or, if you choose to use another vendor, please complete the Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor form.
- Interference with, or disruption of, another exhibitor's personnel or legitimate activities is prohibited.
- Demonstrators must be properly clothed at all times and must confine their activities to their exhibit space.
- Exhibitor's sound level shall not intrude and violate the rights of any and all adjacent exhibit areas.
- Any raffles, prize drawings or promotional contests of any kind must be approved by Show Management in writing prior to the Show.
- Given the reasons for exhibiting at the Show, outside activities during Show hours that would draw attendance away from the exhibit floor or McCormick Place are prohibited.
- Exhibitors are not permitted to dismantle their exhibits or do any packing before 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the Show. If observed tearing down early, the exhibitor may be subject to a series of substantial fees and/or other penalties including the loss of seniority or expulsion from future Shows.
- Exhibiting companies that cancel their booth space and want to attend the Show must cancel their hotel and McCormick Place meeting rooms, return their Exhibitor Badges and re-register as “Trade Guests.” The International Housewares Association (IHA) reserves the right to charge $500 per Trade Guest Supplier badge and limit the number of badges per company to five (5), solely at its discretion, to enhance the quality and overall experience of the Show for all participants. IHA also reserves the right to make changes, as necessary, to the category of badge registration-type submitted by an individual or company. Should it be necessary to change the registration type after the request has been submitted by any means, a representative of IHA will contact the individual or company and request payment of the amount due. Should a charge be imposed, payment must be submitted in advance of receiving a badge.
- Exhibitors are not permitted to behave in a manner which, in the sole discretion of IHA, is objectionable. You must comply with all additional rules established by IHA. If you have any questions concerning your exhibit or activities within your booth, please contact IHA.
Follow these steps when exhibitor code of conduct violations occur: The following is a list of steps for exhibitors to take on-site when they encounter an Exhibitor Code of Conduct violation. Exhibitors are cautioned against taking the matter into their own hands with the use of force or threats of force. There is less exposure for company or personal liability if the matter is turned over to Show Management and Show Security.
- If a violation occurs, such as a theft from the exhibitor's booth or unauthorized photography of the booth or its contents, attempt to stop the violation by talking to the violator. It is critical to identify the violator and write down the violator's name and company information.
- Immediately contact the Floor Manager, Security or Show Management to report the incident.
- If the violator attempts to leave the scene before the Floor Manager, Security or Show Management arrives at the booth, do not use physical means to restrain the violator. If the violator has not yet been identified, continue trying to do so. This may involve following the violator to see if he or she goes to his or her own company's booth, which may help later to identify the violator.
- When the Floor Manager, Security or Show Management arrives at the booth, explain the incident, providing as many details as possible about the violator's identity, company and violation. Ask for a copy of the Violation Notice or Show Security Incident Report and keep it for future reference in connection with any disciplinary action by Show Management or IHA's Board of Directors.
- If more information about the violation or the identity of the violator is obtained later during the Show, give it to the Floor Manager, Security or Show Management.
How can I become a member of the International
Housewares Association and receive discounted booth space and other
member benefits?
Membership information is available in the member section.
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