Housewares Show Brings to the Market E NE RGY
The just-concluded 2011 International Home + Housewares Show experienced a sold-out status for the first time in three years and rang up a 5 percent increase in total buyer attendance, more than 21,000 buyers, with U.S. chain retailer attendance growing at a slightly greater rate. “We are hearing very positive feedback from both exhibitors and attendees,” said Phil Brandl, president of the not-for-profit International Housewares Association, which owns and operates the Show. “With tens of thousands of new product introductions, over 500 new exhibitors and the introduction of a new category, Discover Design, buyers reported that the Show was the most innovative in years.” The completely sold-out Show hosted 1951 exhibitors, reflecting a 5 percent increase in space sold over 2010, Brandl said. Media attendance included a significant increase in bloggers, coverage by The New York Times, CBS’ “Early Show,” PBS’ “Nightly Business News” and several Chicago TV stations, as well as other major publications, including Better Homes & Gardens, Brides, Country Living, Elle Décor, Good Housekeeping, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Dow Jones Newswires, El Paso Times, The Houston Chronicle, The
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The To-
ledo Blade, UPI and Reader’s Digest
publications. The Show will generate
in excess of 350 million consumer im-
pressions through broadcast,
print and Internet coverage.
“We were like kids in a candy
store,” said James Hill, owner of
Boston-based KitchenWares by
Blackstones, of his first visit to the
International Home + Housewares Show.
Hill said he was truly impressed by
the attention given by manufactur-
Homer Laughlin celebrates its anniversary with
a cake created by the Ace of Cakes ... now
that’s a delicious tabletop setting!
ers and buyers alike to domestic
products.
“U.S. origin products garnered
our attention. Our customers are
willing to look past price to focus
on where a product came from
and how far it traveled. We might
have to charge 20 percent more
for that particular product if it came
from the U.S. and our customers
are willing to pay that now. They
are willing to pay more if it comes
from one of their neighbors. There
are too many people out of work
here and so now the U.S. origin is
important.”
Dave Pflieger, general manager
of Cook’s Corner in Green Bay,
Wis., was impressed with new
cookware introductions, including
Woll and Regal.
“Regal is made in America with
an outstanding tri-ply,” he said.
“As for trends, one of the things
we’re seeing here is a lot of family
Pantone reveals is color forecast for housewares
2012, giving retailers a glimpse of what might
be tempting consumers in the year to come.
