Attending the Show
Show logistics
Show info

show services

Take advantage of these great services designed to make your Show experience easy and productive. From getting to the Show to getting online, we’ve thought of you and what you’ll need. Contact Perry Reynolds for more information on these services.

Registration Information(back to top)

There is no charge for trade participants to attend the Show for those who register before 12:01 am on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

However, the International Housewares Association (IHA) does reserve the right to charge up to $500 per Trade Guest/Supplier/ Financial Institution for their 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 a company as a whole. Should it be necessary to change the registration type after their request has been submitted via telephone, fax, email or website, a representative of IHA will contact the individual or company, requesting payment of the amount due. Should a charge be imposed, payment must be submitted in advance of receiving a badge.

Special Clubs Just For Buyers (back to top)

Here’s a place at the Show to catch your breath, relax a little, pick up your e-mail and voice mail. BUYERS ONLY are invited into this club. Buyers Clubs are located in each building at McCormick Place.

Locations are:

  • Lakeside Center Exhibit Hall
  • North Building Exhibit Hall
  • South Building Exhibit Hall

The New Product Showcases are categorized in each of the Buyers Clubs. Don’t miss out on what’s new at the Show! You’ll also find all these services waiting for you in a relaxed environment:

  • Concierge Services
  • Internet Access
  • Complimentary Snacks and Light Refreshments
  • WiFi

Also FOR BUYERS ONLY: Don’t miss the complimentary lunch in each building ($15.00 Value)

New Product Showcase Scanning (back to top)
Buyers who visit the New Product Showcases in the Buyers Clubs can scan products of interest and receive a printout, making it easy to find those products. After the Show, they will receive an email with a link to a list of products they scanned.

Coat and Luggage Check (back to top)

Complimentary coat and luggage check is available in each building at McCormick Place.

Day: Times:
Saturday   7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday   7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Monday   7:00 am - 7:30 pm
Tuesday   6:30 am -  7:00 pm

Locations are:

  • Lakeside Center: E256
  • North Building: N139
  • South Building: S102 & Gate 4

BuyerConnect In-Booth Scanning (back to top)

Remembering what booths you visited at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will be easier than ever with BuyerConnect. Exhibitors who participate in the program will scan the badges of all buyers who visit their booth. After the Show, buyers will receive an email with a link to a listing of all the booths they visited, helping to facilitate post-Show follow-up.

Housewares Connect 365 (back to top)

Get connected to the International Home + Housewares Show year round! In advance of the Show, create a list of exhibitors that you need to visit, keep up on the latest Show events, receive messages from exhibitors, and access that personal briefcase of information while you’re at the physical Show. If you’re looking for a particular product or exhibit, simply type in the product name, category or company name and you’ll find exactly where it’s located on the exhibit floor. Housewares Connect 365 allows you to search for exhibitors, search for specific products or check your Internet-based e-mail. Housewares Connect 365/E-mail Stations are available in all three buildings.

International Business Center (back to top)
Grand Concourse Lobby

The International Business Center, located in the the Grand Concourse Lobby, offers all international visitors general Show information, e-mail access, free internet access via WiFi, refreshments and hospitality areas. Representatives from IHA’s International Offices and the U.S. Department of Commerce are also available to assist buyers and exhibitors with international business questions.

IHRA Hospitality and Business Center (back to top)

Room S101b, Level 1
South Building

Members of the International Housewares Representatives Association are invited to stop by Room S101b, Level 1, South Building, for refreshments and to use the services offered, including Lines Available, a message center and tables for meetings. Manufacturers and non-member reps are also invited to stop in to learn about this association for home, housewares and hardware reps and its services, which include a referral service for manufacturers seeking reps and reps seeking lines.

Exhibit Floor Meeting Rooms (back to top)

Complimentary meeting rooms are located on the exhibit floor of each building and are available to registered exhibitors and retailers. To reserve a room before the Show, contact Erin Magee at 847-692-0133. During the Show, see the receptionist outside of each meeting room to determine availability. Exact locations of meeting rooms are depicted on the floor plans.

Show Offices (back to top)

Lakeside Center
Room E250, Level 2

North Building
Room N426a/b

Show offices are located in the Lakeside Center and North Building. In the Lakeside Center, the office is in Room E250 on Level 2; in the North Building, it is in Room N426a/b above the Grand Concourse Lobby.

Visa Letters (back to top)

Attendees who require a visa to enter the U.S. should visit the Show’s website at Visa Info Request page for details on requesting an official invitation letter and for general visa information.

Free Shuttle Bus Service (back to top)
Better than ever, our FREE shuttle bus service transports attendees between the hotels and McCormick Place on Show days. Shuttle bus service will be available in all three buildings. Click here to view shuttle schedules and routes.

Free Metra Train (back to top)

Take advantage of Metra—a nine-minute ride from McCormick Place to Randolph Street. The train also stops at Van Buren Street. Cabs are available at both stops to take you to your final destination.

The McCormick Place train station is located under the South Building and can be accessed from the Grand Concourse on Level 2.5. Your complimentary train pass is included in the Transportation Guide mailed with your Show badge and will also be available on-site. Click here to view the Metra Train service schedule.

Free WiFi (back to top)

The International Housewares Association is providing complimentary limited wireless service (WiFi) throughout the McCormick Place facility, including exhibit halls and lobbies. This complimentary service should ONLY be used for non-mission-critical applications such as general web surfing and Internet-based email access. Availability of the WiFi Internet service is subject to to the volume of usage.

Accommodations for the Physically Challenged (back to top)

Wheelchairs, information booths, designated parking, TDD telephones and other services are available. McCormick Place is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and continues to look for ways to accommodate all visitors. For questions regarding accommodations for the physically challenged, please call Scootaround at 888-441-7575 or +1-204-982-0657. To view their services online, go to www.scootaround.com/rentals/m/mccormickplace/. For questions about designated parking, call Standard Parking Hotline at 312-567-8360.

Attendee Code of Conduct (back to top)

For the safety and security of all Show attendees, we ask your cooperation with the following Show policies:

  • The International Home + Housewares Shows is for trade only. Individuals who cannot document their direct, professional affiliation to the trade will not be admitted.
  • McCormick Place is a smoke-free facility, including exhibit halls, meeting rooms, lobbies, food service areas, hallways and parking garages. There are designated smoking areas outside of the North and South Buildings and Lakeside Center.
  • Attendees are not permitted to bring any photographic equipment on the exhibit floor or take photos of any booth or product. Unauthorized photography of any exhibit or product is prohibited and may result in the confiscation of film, memory cards and cameras as well as expulsion from the Show.
  • As a safety issue, use of strollers and/or luggage carts are prohibited on the exhibit floor at any time.
  • On Show days only, individuals under the age of 18 are admitted free of charge, but must be registered as a Trade Guest and accompanied by an adult at all times. A parent or guardian must accept responsibility for the safety and behavior of children. 
  • Only Buyers and Manufacturer Reps are allowed to leave the exhibit floor with product, and only if they have a Sample Merchandise Pass signed by the exhibiting company.
  • Trade Guests are not allowed to remove product from the Show floor. 
  • All Trade Guests are admitted to the Show as guests of the industry and are asked to respect the wishes of exhibitors and buyers as they conduct their business.   
  • The buying of product is strictly prohibited.

Trade Guest Code of Conduct (back to top)

The primary business of attendees of the International Home + Housewares Show is the buying and selling of products for the home.

We ask you, who are invited to attend the Show as guests of the housewares industry, to respect the primary activity of all attendees.

  • Please schedule all exhibitor meetings in advance of the Show.
  • Even if you have an appointment, if exhibitors have a meeting in progress, please respect their privacy.
  • If exhibitors are not engaged with buyers, make certain that they are still able to meet at your scheduled time.

    Other things to remember:

  • Removal of product samples from the exhibit hall is strictly prohibited.
  • Food samples offered by exhibitors are intended for their buyer customers.
  • Cameras and video equipment are prohibited.
  • As a safety consideration, wheeled carts and luggage are prohibited on the Show floor. Please use the complimentary coat and luggage check.
  • There is no smoking allowed inside the convention center.
  • Trade guests should not enter a booth unless invited by exhibitor personnel.

Attendee Code of Conduct (back to top)

For the safety and security of all Show attendees, we ask your cooperation with the following Show policies:

  • The International Home + Housewares Shows is for trade only. Individuals who cannot document their direct, professional affiliation to the trade will not be admitted.
  • McCormick Place is a smoke-free facility, including exhibit halls, meeting rooms, lobbies, food service areas, hallways and parking garages. There are designated smoking areas outside of the North and South Buildings and Lakeside Center.
  • Attendees are not permitted to bring any photographic equipment on the exhibit floor or take photos of any booth or product. Unauthorized photography of any exhibit or product is prohibited and may result in the confiscation of film, memory cards and cameras as well as expulsion from the Show.
  • As a safety issue, use of strollers and/or luggage carts are prohibited on the exhibit floor at any time.
  • On Show days only, individuals under the age of 18 are admitted free of charge, but must be registered as a Trade Guest and accompanied by an adult at all times. A parent or guardian must accept responsibility for the safety and behavior of children.  Childcare services are available at the Show and must be arranged at least 60 days prior to the Show.
  • Only Buyers and Manufacturer Reps are allowed to leave the exhibit floor with product, and only if they have a Sample Merchandise Pass signed by the exhibiting company.
  • Trade Guests are not allowed to remove product from the Show floor. 
  • All Trade Guests are admitted to the Show as guests of the industry and are asked to respect the wishes of exhibitors and buyers as they conduct their business.  

Exhibitor Code of Conduct (back to top)

Rules by which every exhibitor must abide.

  • Given the reasons for exhibiting at the Show, outside activities or meetings by any housewares affiliated company during Show hours that would draw attendance away from the exhibit floor or McCormick Place are prohibited.
  • Be considerate of other exhibitors. Under no circumstance should you enter any other exhibitor's display area uninvited or when unattended.
  • Interference with, or disruption of, another exhibitor's personnel or legitimate activities is prohibited.
  • 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.
  • 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.” Non-exhibiting companies are prohibited from conducting any meetings including retailer and supply chain meetings, during the Show period, including move-in, Show days and move-out. Violators may be suspended from exhibiting or attending all future IHA Shows.
  • 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.  If payment is not received, IHA reserves the right to cancel all hotel rooms and meeting rooms.
  • 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 credentialed 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.
  • Exhibitors and their company representatives must wear their official identification badges at all times while on the Show floor and in meeting rooms. These badges are issued for protection and identification and must not be loaned or given to other persons. Avoid discarding your badges in common areas or facility receptacles. This will prevent unauthorized attendees from assuming your identity to remove product from the Show floor. Also, refrain from bringing Show badges for personnel who did not attend the Show. Badges should not be accepted or worn if they do not accurately represent the exhibitor’s identity or company. Badges must be obtained through the Show’s authorized registration company only. Unauthorized badges that are manufactured or copied will be confiscated; violators may be barred from the Show premises. Exhibitors are prohibited from ordering exhibitor badges for anyone other than their company representatives exhibiting in the booth.  Exhibitors may not order badges for Exhibitor-Appointed Contractors and manufacturer’s reps. Exhibiting companies that cancel their booth space must return their Exhibitor badges to IHA. If a refund is due, it will not be issued until all badges are returned. If cancelled companies want to attend the Show, they must register as trade guests.
  • 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/or 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.
  • Exhibitors are not permitted to dismantle their exhibits or do any packing before 3:00 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.
  • The selling of product is strictly prohibited.

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.

  1. 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.
  2. Immediately contact the Floor Manager, Security or Show Management to report the incident.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.