Highlights from The Inspired Home Show 2024

From informative education sessions, the Pantone 2025 forecast and a series of competitions, the show was nothing short of inspiring.

Photo: The Inspired Home Show.

The Inspired Home Show 2024 wrapped on March 19 at McCormick Place in Chicago after three full days. The show featured 1,648 exhibitors from 38 countries. Nearly 30,000 home + housewares professionals from over 120 countries came together to discover new products, connect with colleagues and advance the industry.

“The 2024 show built on the success of last year’s show with total square feet of exhibition space being slightly higher. The change to the format was very positive, making the Show incredibly efficient – moving between the three primary Expos, now consolidated into two halls rather than three, was very well received by both exhibitors and buyers,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the International Housewares Association.

Throughout the show, there were numerous presentations, learning opportunities and award ceremonies.

The Inspiration Theater sessions explored topics such as omni-channel marketing strategies, supply chain insights; intellectual property law; merchandising best practices and global consumer and retail trends. The Inspiration Theater presented 14 sessions during the show.

Colour expert, Lee Eiseman shared insights on Pantone View Home + Interiors 2025 forecast. Eiseman highlighted that the inspiration for the 2025 palettes came from a variety of sources and industries, but nature played a significant role. That’s largely due to the beauty in nature that surrounds us and people’s general desire to be “thoughtful, congruent and compatible with the Earth we inhabit,” she said.

“Harmony is a beautiful word that conjures up certain pictures in your mind…being in tune with ourselves and with others within our immediate surroundings and the greater world around us. It also conveys a sense of balance, a sense of equilibrium and a much sought-after need and aspiration of humans,” said Eiseman. “When it comes to design, much of the harmony that is created is certainly because of the educated and creative use of colour.”

Six inventions secured top prizes at the International Housewares Association’s 31st annual Student Design Competition. This year, IHA received 358 entries from 31 schools around the world.

The winning products were an ultrasonic thawing device for quick and safe meat thawing; a sophisticated light therapy lamp for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder; a wobbling plant holder that aids both mental health and plant health; a combined air filtration and vacuum appliance; a rainwater recycling system for sustainable water use; and a tooth-brushing companion for kids.

The Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA) announced the 2024 Global Innovation Awards (gia) Global Honorees for Retail Excellence. The global honorees are:

·        Eastern Europe – Potten & Pannen – Stanek, Czech Republic

·        France – Maison Empereur

·        Germany– Kustermann

·        Netherlands – Kookx

·        United Kingdom – Divertimenti

Fourteen housewares suppliers ranging from well-established brands to first-time exhibitors were honoured as for the Excellence in Product Design. Global Honorees are:

·        Bath + Personal Care:  Dorai Home Inc, Large Bath Stone™ Mat

·        Cleaning: Cuisinel, Cuisinel Cast Iron Scrubber Set

·        Cook + Bakeware: Joseph Joseph Inc., Space 10 piece cookware set

·        Home Décor + Gifts: Umbra LLC, Cubiko Wall Planter

·        Home Organization + Storage: Delta Cycle Corp., Pivot Bike Storage Rack

·        Household + Home Electrics: Cricut, Cricut Joy Xtra™ Smart Cutting Machine

·        Kitchen Electrics: FinaMill Co., FinaPod GT

·        Kitchen Hand Tools + Cutlery: Dreamfarm, Ozest

·        Kitchenware: Dreamfarm, Corpeel

·        Luggage, Travel Goods & Accessories: Talus – High Road Organizers, Luggage Cup Holder

·        Pet Products: Paikka, PAIKKA Glow leash and collar bundle

·        Smart Home: Tramontina USA, Inc., Tramontina Guru

·        Sustainable Products: The Peacock Vacuum Bottle Co., Ltd., Cooler Bucket

·        Tabletop: Gourmet Kitchen Works LLC, Leopold Vienna Otto