Only the very best trade shows reach their 50th edition. Fewer still are able to evolve alongside their industries and remain relevant enough to reach the 100-show mark. And so it is a tribute to the lasting impact and value that the Inspired Home Show brings to the global housewares sector that this March it opens its doors for the 125th time.
It’s a staggering achievement that Derek Miller, President and CEO of the show’s organiser, the International Housewares Association (IHA), credits to a passion for delivering newness and innovation, year after year. Little surprise then that more than 10,000 new products were introduced at the 2024 show, a figure he expects will increase again this year.
“New products are the lifeblood of the industry, and the show is a destination for retailers to find new products and innovations that set them apart from the competition,” he said.
Celebration plans are in place to mark the occasion, including displays to highlight the show’s 125th edition, providing a graphical representation of the show’s history and what it has achieved since its first edition way back in 1939. HomePage News will also highlighting key milestones, people and stories that epitomise the show’s history.
Returning to Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex, the Inspired Home Show 2025 will run for three days between 2-4 March, benefitting again from last year’s efforts to refocus the show over a shorter time period, and across a consolidated two-hall footprint. Those changes led to a more efficient experience that “was very well received by both exhibitors and buyers”, said Miller.
As ever, that trademark newness will be apparent throughout the show floor, including the return after a short hiatus of major brands including Bodum, iDesign, Bormioli Luigi, US Merchants, Arovo, Azzure Home, Regal Ware, and many more. They join global brands who returned to the show in 2024, such as Scanpan, Cuisinart and Tramontana, and will contribute to the 1,600-plus brands who choose to showcase their latest and greatest at the show.
For many brands, the Inspired Home Show remains the only venue to reach a growing contingent of buyers who opt not to visit the industry’s other leading trade events.
“The Inspired Home Show is the most important trade event of the year for the home and housewares industry in the Western Hemisphere,” says Miller. “From a buyer perspective, the show features exhibitors that simply don’t exhibit at other trade fairs, and if they do, they often only display a small portion of their full product lines. From an exhibitor perspective, the show attracts buyers that simply don’t attend other trade fairs.”
Beyond exhibitor innovation, the IHA has partnered with adjacent industry bodies to breathe fresh life into the variety of product categories visitors can gain direct access to at the show. Announced last summer, the Travel Gear + Luggage Expo will debut this March, adding further opportunities for retailers to connect with a broader range of categories and brands that are complementary to their core houseware categories.
Travel goods are just one of the product sectors buyers have expressed interest in in exploring at the Inspiring Home Show, and a number of pavilions will add additional ways for both speciality and general retailers to expand their horizons. A curated selection of pet products on show at the Pet Pavilion is a new showcase for 2025, organised in partnership with the American Pet Product Association. Plus, a tie-up with the National Candle Association will bring additional opportunities to source one of the best-performing gifting categories over at the Candle Pavilion, found in the South building among the Dine + Décor Expo.
These extensions are natural fits for the show, said Miller: “Gift and specialty retailers specifically are looking for trade events that offer a wide assortment of brands and products, and pet product suppliers are looking for access to those buyers—both can be found at The Inspired Home Show.”
The Debut section, a showcase of new and emerging companies that has become a staple of the show floor in recent years, has also been expanded upon. The refresh will give 24 up-and-coming brands with newly released products the chance to stand out from the crowd. It’s just one of the many product spotlights strategically installed throughout McCormick Place, including the New Exhibitor Gallery, which can be found in the North and South Hall cafes, and the New Product Showcases in the Buyers Clubs in the North and South Halls. All three promise to highlight fresh, trending and brand-new products for buyers and media.
Of course, no visit to the Inspired Home Show would be complete without stopping by the Inspiration Theatre. Located in the South Building, it plays host to dozens of executive-level educational sessions, seminars and presentations, giving visitors insight into everything from retail, e-commerce and technology, to marketing, branding, product development, supply chain, social media, consumer behaviour and how to spot trends in emerging categories like connected smart homes.
Peter Giannetti, Director of Editorial, Content and Education for IHA, said: “The show has long been a leading platform for executive-level industry education across a wide scope of topics. The 2025 Show education program promises to be one of the most valuable ever with its focus on expert insights that can be put into action for success in a changing marketplace.”
The future of inspiration
Ahead of this year’s show, the IHA has announced a number of additional ways it is thinking about the future of the event. The biggest change will be a move from the weekend to the midweek from 2026. Next year’s event will eschew the traditional Sunday-Tuesday format, instead running from Tuesday, 10 March to Thursday, 12 March. The IHA confirmed the change will remain in place for at least the next three years. Polls showed that 68 per cent of exhibitors and 84 per cent of key retailers are in favour of the move.
“The decision to move the show to a Tuesday–Thursday schedule was made after polling the industry and having conversations with key constituents to determine the most desirable day pattern,” said Miller. “It was clear that there has been a shift in our culture and workforce that directly impacts when we must come to market.”
