The Inspired Home Show is set to open on March 5, 2022 with halls at McCormick Place expected to be filled with new products and innovations.
International Housewares Association (IHA) president and CEO, Derek Miller says it will be an opportunity for the home and housewares community to come together for product discovery and networking, two activities sorely missed over the past 18 months.
“With five months before opening, space sales for The Inspired Home Show are currently at 82% of space sold for the pre-pandemic 2020 Show numbers and include more than 240 new exhibitors,” he said.
“Exhibitors are enthusiastic about getting back to business as is the retail community. Retailers across the country and around the world tell us that digital product discovery is challenging at best and finding new and innovative products is extremely difficult – they see the Show as the most efficient and effective method and best opportunity to explore and engage with the industry.”
The Show will once again feature a variety of home and housewares products in five expos including Dine + Design in the South Hall, Discover Design and Clean + Contain in the North Hall, Wired + Well in the Lakeside Centre and International Sourcing on Level 1 of the North Hall.
McCormick Place has installed the latest air filtering technology and implemented hospital grade sanitation throughout the buildings, receiving a GBAC Star certification, the highest award a building can receive for sanitation specifically related to disease prevention.
Additionally, to ensure a safe gathering, the IHA has commissioned a study by health and safety advisory firm, Epistemix to prepare an in-depth study on The Show and McCormick Place. Once complete, the study will provide the IHA board of directors, peers and IHA Staff with data backed by science needed to properly assess and implement important safety measures throughout the campus.
“When you arrive at the Show, you’ll see many changes since we last came together with The Inspired Home Show branding, a project started back in 2018 will finally be revealed featuring lifestyle imagery to help focus our industry’s creativity on the consumer,” Miller said.
“The Pantone Color Watch display returns this year in a new location in the Grand Concourse near the main entrance to the South Building. The New Products and gia Global Innovation Award Display as well as the Discover Design Display, now located at the entrance to the North Building, have also been completely reimagined to provide an inspiring home for product discovery.
“And we haven’t forgotten about the Lakeside Center Lobby, which will be filled with new Smart Home and Inventor’s Corner exhibits along with several other displays focused on innovation.
“We look forward to seeing you in Chicago in March and will be in touch in the coming weeks as we continue to prepare for your arrival.”