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IHA - International Housewares Association: The Home Authority
Web: www.housewares.org | Ph: 847-292-4200 | Fax: 847-292-4211
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Deborah A.Teschke
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
847-692-0110
IHA Announces Record Buyer Participation at 2008 International Home + Housewares Show
ROSEMONT, ILL (March 26, 2008)--The International Housewares Association announced today that the recently concluded 2008 International Home + Housewares Show set record retailer registration with an overall growth of 6.5 percent. Total registration was over 61,700 including more than 23,000 buyers. As previously announced, the Show also featured more than 2,000 exhibitors from over 40 countries. More than 400 of those exhibitors were new to the Show.
"We are pleased to report these outstanding results," said Phil Brandl, president of IHA, the Show’s not-for-profit owner and operator. "In contrast to other economic news, we were pleased to see the optimism and energy among Show exhibitors and attendees. Based on their input, this bodes well for the industry’s immediate future."
U.S. buyer registration was up 6.2 percent across all retail channels with 16,400 registrants. The Show once again saw a sharp increase in U.S. independent specialty retailers with 75 percent of the U.S. retail buyers coming from specialty channels.
Internationally, buyer registration grew 7.3 percent to 6,992 registrants. Those buyers said that the positive currency conditions drew them to Chicago. Buyers visited from over 100 countries, solidifying the Show as a key event in the global homegoods business.
Expectations are that the Show will once again grow its media impact, creating over 150 million consumer impressions. News media registration was on par with the 2007 Show. National television coverage included CBS Early Morning, The Today Show, PBS’ Nightly Business Report, Univision, and significant regional and Internet coverage. International media attendees came from 25countries outside the U.S.
The 2009 International Home + Housewares Show will be held Sunday, March 22 through Tuesday, March 24 at McCormick Place in Chicago. For more information, please visit www.housewares.org/show/info/.
IHA is the 68-year-old voice of the housewares industry, which accounted for (US$) 306 billion at retail worldwide in 2006. The non-profit, full-service association sponsors the world's premier housewares products exposition, the International Home & Housewares Show, and offers its 1,700 member companies a wide range of services, including industry and government advocacy, export assistance, State-of-the-Industry reports, point-of-sale and consumer purchase data through Housewares MarketWatch, executive management peer groups, a unique Web-based community at www.housewares.org and group buying discounts on business solutions services.
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