Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
New branding, graphics and several category changes are planned for the 2016 International Home + Housewares Show.
The event, which will be held March 5-8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, is owned, organised and operated by the International Housewares Association (IHA).
The new branding focuses on an ‘It’s smART’ theme, which ‘combines smart business decisions directly with the art used to design, create and market products’.
Show signage and visuals will reflect the melding of smart thinking and smart design. Attendees will see large mobiles and portals with intersecting coloured bars and semi-transparent panels showing designer drawings of products.
IHA president/ceo Phil Brandl said: “The International Home + Housewares Show truly is a place where solid business relationships intersect with wonderfully designed products and thus, attending becomes a ‘smART decision.
“Over the years, as design and innovation have become important to the products the consumer wants, this trend has been reflected through special displays and programmes to help attendees find new and innovative products. The new look with ‘smART’ innovation and ‘ARTistic’ design tells our story very directly.”
Along with the new show look, IHA is refining the Expo names and making adjustments to some categories to address the supply and demand for stand space.
The Dine + Design Expo is now called Dine + Décor and will include tabletop, kitchen accessories + accents and cook + bakeware. The Gourmet Food/Savor Home category will be integrated into other appropriate show categories.
The Discover Design category will become an Expo and will move to the North Building. This new Expo will encompass design-focused exhibitors from all show categories in one location. Participation in the Discover Design Expo requires a review by a jury of retailers and designers.
The Clean, Contain + Sustain Expo has been renamed Clean + Contain and will remain in the North Building. Category lines will be realigned.
The Global Crossroads Expo will be renamed the International 
Sourcing Expo and will move to Level 1 of the North Building.
