Every year, the housewares industry flocks to Chicago to attend a huge conference called the International Home + Housewares Show. If you are in the kitchenware, home furnishings or cleaning products business, you’re probably either exhibiting your products or looking for what’s new at this show, walking the halls of the enormous, multi-level McCormick Place convention center. Since my day job is marketing and PR for a major kitchen gadget manufacturer, I’ve been going to Chicago for the past 7 years. Want a tour of what the Show looks like? Read on!
Oh, and at the end, find out how to win a Zojirushi FreshBrew Coffee Maker! THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.
“My kind of town, Chicago is.”
As Frank Sinatra used to sing, Chicago is a cool town, and I love it. It’s a big city in every sense, and people move with a purpose and seem to work hard. Maybe it’s the weather; you can’t be soft and live here.
Scenes from Chicago: (left) Mr. Lincoln discusses the Gettysburg Address with a modern day man. (right) The Chicago River with a peek of Lake Michigan beyond.
Getting around Chicago at night—either catch a carriage or catch a cab.
It’s starting to get hectic.
Day One, and people are just starting to stream in.
McCormick Place is awesome.
A bank of coffee servers greets the guests.
The escalators get a lot of work.
Entrance to the great South Hall, where all the kitchenware manufacturers are exhibiting.
So many exhibitors!
With over 2000 exhibitors in 3 different halls, it’s nearly impossible to see what everyone has to offer in just 4 days. There are also panel discussions, seminars, cooking demonstrations and live events happening everywhere!A bird’s eye view of the floor.
Our favorite brand…
This is a smaller booth that Zojirushi has in this section of the Show, to show their line-up of travel mugs and lunch jars. So many manufacturers had some kind of hydration product this year, it was as if everyone finally got on the same train Zojirushi has been engineering for decades!The girls are making sure everything is perfect for when the doors open.
Rick Bayless and Ming Tsai
Rick Bayless is about to do a cooking demonstration at the KitchenAid Station. Ming Tsai, who also is scheduled to do one here, jokes around and is giving Rick a hard time. Chef Bayless is famous for his modern takes on traditional Mexican cuisine. Almost every renowned chef comes to this Show, either to promote their own restaurant or to show off their brand of kitchenware. All the chefs greet each other at the Show by their titles, which is always, “Chef”.Cooking demos are held everywhere at the Show, including at individual booths sponsored by the manufacturer, onstage and in banquet rooms for invited guests.
The North Hall
This hall is mainly for home furnishings and cleaning products. If you want to see the latest in vacuum cleaner technology or self-opening trash cans, this is where you want to do your research. One of my favorite companies, SimpleHuman, who design really nice high-tech furnishings for the kitchen and bath, had a booth this year completely enclosed in a shiny black cargo container. Awesome!A familiar icon: Mr. Clean!
Lunchtime!
Food at any convention center always leaves a lot to be desired. My vote for best bet at McCormick is Connie’s Pizza. They’re pretty good and it’s better than the McDonalds right across it.A quick slice of veggie pizza and a salad.
The Pantone Exhibit
Color trends are important in our industry. And who better than Pantone to set the trend, right?
The Pantone Color Watch exhibit
Announcing the Color of the Year at the Pantone presentation. Gasp! It’s going to be GREEN!
Zojirushi at IHA 2017
Zojirushi has their main booth in a section called the Lakeside Center, along with other small electrical appliance manufacturers like Kreurig, Cuisinart, KitchenAid, etc. I like the open airiness and stylish design of their booth, don’t you? The girls out front are busy the whole day cooking and passing out samples.
Inspirations from everyday life.
A line-up of rice cookers on display.
A shelf of NEW products being introduced to the world. Be sure to follow Zojirushi to learn more!
On My Way Home
On my last day in Chicago, I decided to try Chef Rick Bayless’s Frontera Grill. This is his tortas stand inside O’hare airport. The food was excellent, by the way.For airport food, this is an impressive and extensive menu.
Taqueria salad, Corn & Poblano Chowder, Guacamole and Chips. Everything was really tasty; his guacamole is outstanding!
Reporting from the 2017 Housewares Show…
Hopefully you enjoyed the peek inside the workings of the housewares industry; it’s a huge conference and cannot be covered in a single article. This year’s show featured 2204 exhibitors from 47 countries, attended by over 62,000 housewares professionals in 4 days.
THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.
30 Days For 30 Years Giveaway!
Write a comment on my post for a chance to win this Fresh Brew Coffee Maker from Zojirushi! That’s all you have to do—so easy! Good Luck!
For official rules, go to this page: RULES
Photos: Pantone Color of the Year courtesy IHA, FreshBrew by Zojirushi. All others by Bert Tanimoto
Seriously loving all of the updated and new products! (I’m also continuing to eye those hot water dispensers, though trying to figure out which one best suits my needs is the trickiest bit). Would adore the coffee maker for now though. XD
Once you get a hot water dispenser, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without one–especially if you’re a big tea drinker like me! Thanks for reading!
Tea is what I would mostly use it for, but I can also see how useful it would be for when my boyfriend needs boiled water for cup/bowl ramen and other treats like that.
After having my zoji rice cooker I’ve been hooked, looking into the small bread machine too. (So many fantastic products to choose from!)
Oh, this coffee maker would look fantastic on my kitchen counter…or anywhere else for that matter!
I would love to go to this show! But there would be too many things I would want to purchase later. Better to have the retailers curate them for me!
Is that the new mini bread maker under the E in NEW at the Zojirushi booth??? <3
Yes it is! So compact, isn’t it?
Looks like a great show! I would love a new coffee maker as well.
wish the international houseware show would come to portland!
Nike should host a shoe convention in Portland!
Looks pretty sharp!
I’d love a nice coffee maker Bert 🙂
and Zojirushi make the best items…
Janis Williams,
Congratulations, you are the winner of the Fresh Brew Stainless Steel Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker EC-BD15! We will be sending you an email shortly, so please be on the lookout (and check your spam folder if you’re not seeing it!).
Sincerely,
The Team at Zojirushi
I did a double-take at the Gettysburg Address statue because that same one is on the square in Gettysburg, PA.
I love my Zoji travel mug. I hope to slowly collect other products in the future!
I did not know that! The last time we were in Chicago, the artist had done a giant Marilyn statue in her flying skirt pose.
Zoj rice cookers and insulated bottles are the best ever!!!!
Oh man, that looks like a whole lot of fun
This looks like a great convention! I would have loved the chance to see the new products that are out — but especially would have liked to visit the Zojirushi booth!
Oh wow! I’d love to have my whole kitchen outfitted in all Zojirushi small appliances! I bought my first Zojirushi rice cooker after years of drooling over them and use it at least 3 times a week. It is AMAZING! I have my eye on the Zojirushi Electric Skillets, Hot Water Boilers, and of course the coffee pots next! Thanks for the chance!
Thanks for reading–good luck!
Really cool look at the Housewares Show! This Jersey girl says thinks McDonald’s would’ve been a better option that that “pizza” though! 😉
LOL! You might be right, but I get enough McDonald’s at home, so…
I’m not in the industry but I would have LOVED going to this show! I am a huge houseware geek and love keeping up with the latest products and I’m totally going gaga over all the colors of the zojirushi insulated travel mugs – I have a light pink one but I desperately want that coral version! Am I greedy? Maybe just a little!
Thanks for a fun post, and for the contest!
Yep, Zojirushi’s color selection is impressive…thanks for reading!
Can’t wait to see the new Zojirushi products!
Oh my goodness the convention looks like it’s THE place to be right now!!
This would be right at home with my Mr. Bento!
Looks like a great time was had at the show! Chicago is amazing!
I’ve never been to these shows but love this post and pictures !! It was like attending without leaving the couch
#ZojirushiHappy30thGiveaway
Thank you! I’m glad I was able to paint the picture for everyone!
The Chicago Home Show looks gigantic and fun. Chicago is one of my favorite towns to visit.
i need a new coffee maker
count me in
very nice coffee maker
This is a good looking coffee maker! I love my Zojirushi Stainless Steel Travel Mug and know the coffee maker would be as good.
Excellent article – that show is enormous!
Terrific blog!
THank you for giving me a glimpse of the IHA show. I enjoyed the
behind the scenes commentary and pictures and of Chicago.
Glad you enjoyed the post!
would love to win today
Going to a show that big must be so fun and overwhelming.
I miss living in Michigan, we would head to Chicago in the Summer and at Christmas. So many great restaurants and the culture is amazing. Hoping you have an amazing time while you are there!
Chicago is a great town. The only thing I missed this year was that I was too late to see the river dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day!
This would be amazing! Our coffee machine is on it’s last leg and we’ve been looking to replace it.
Great company and great products! Would love to win!
I would have so much fun checking out all the latest and greatest kitchen products at the IHS! I’ve tried other brands of rice cookers but Zojirushi is the gold standard. Thanks for the chance to win!
Oh wow! That looks like a heaven with all the household products. Im a coffee addict and dying for one of this Coffee brewer 😀
You attended a conference full of awesome cooking gadgets and chef’s, yet had poor quality food?
Sounds like the Conference hall needs work…..
😉
Yes, they really do need work–don’t even get me started on their “Asian Cuisine” section in their cafeteria!