News
Center Hours
Creating
Media Materials
News
Releases
Press
Kits
Send Press Kits to the News Center
New
Product Information
Special
Events and Product Demonstrations
Are you part of the 200 million consumer impressions the Show
generates?
The News
Center is the first place the trade and consumer news media will head
for when they arrive at the 2010 International Home + Housewares
Show. Located in Room N228 on Level 2 of the North Building at McCormick
Place,
the
News Center is the central communications area for the working media
attending the Show—and it's a terrific resource for free publicity
for all exhibitors. Last year the Show generated more than 200 million impressions through print, broadcast and Internet coverage.
The News
Center includes:
- A display
area for exhibitors' press kits.
- A small conference
room that exhibitors can use for interviews with editors.
- Message
boards where exhibitors can leave notes for the media.
These services
are provided by IHA as part of exhibitors' booth space fees, and there
is no charge for using any or all of them. Exhibitors are invited and
encouraged to visit the News Center for a tour and to learn more about
News Center services. For the safety of your information, exhibitors
are not allowed unescorted in the press kit display area—this is
strictly enforced by News Center staff.
>
back to top
News Center Hours
The News Center will be open from:
Sunday & Monday- March 14 & 15
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday - March 16
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
>
back to top
Creating Media Materials
You can maximize your success at the 2010 Show by working with the trade
and consumer media to get coverage of your company or product through
timely news releases to convey your information. Create a press kit for
distribution at the Show with all the background details about your company
and products. Editors and reporters attending the Show use the kit's
materials for stories they develop throughout the year.
>
back to top
News Releases
News releases should announce real news—a new product introduction, appointment
of a new executive, news of a technical or marketing breakthrough or items
of interest to the publication's readers.
Announce
your news in the "lead" or first paragraph, including the "who,
what, where, when, why and how." In following paragraphs, explain
the features and benefits of your news and quotes from company reps. Keep
your news releases short; no more than two typed pages, double-spaced.
Also make sure that your company name, address, phone number and contact
name to call for further information appear on the release. Click
here for a sample press release you can follow (pdf).
>
back to top
Press Kits
The difference between an individual news release and a press kit is
the volume of information provided to the news media. While a news release
may cover one product or news item, a press kit is a compilation of news
releases on your company, key personnel, product lines, color photographs and other pertinent
information. Make sure that your company name, logo and booth number are placed
on the cover of each press kit for easy identification. If you are going digital with a CD or USB drive, make
sure the company name and booth number are on the cover sleeve or drive holder. For further
details on putting together a press kit, read the How
to Put Together a press kit tips (pdf).
>
back to top
Send Your Press Kits to the News Center
Send your press kit to the trade
publications at least six weeks prior to the Show and be sure to include
IHA in your mailing.
For the
Show, send 75-100 press kits directly to the News Center at McCormick
Place for display during the Show. Press kit distribution is provided
by IHA as part of exhibitors' booth space fee. IHA also provides complimentary
shipping of exhibitors' press kits to editors' or reporters' offices after
the Show.
Press kits need to arrive at McCormick Place no later than March 12 and
no sooner than March 8. Ship kits to:
News Center
Room N228, North Building
McCormick Place on the Lake
2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
>
back to top
New Product Information
The first question trade and consumer media ask upon arriving at the
Show is, "What new and trendy products are showing this year?" In
response to these inquiries, IHA provides listings of new products as
submitted by exhibitors. Participation in this listing is free. To help
the media identify products of interest, the listings are organized by
product category. This list is also used by the Show's PR Team to find
product for demonstration in the many live TV segments from the Show.
Don't miss out on this great opportunity.
To have
your products included in the list of new products given to the news media,
complete the New Product
Information for News Media Form (pdf). With the completed form, please
include one product catalog sheet.
>
back to top
Special Events and Product Demonstrations
Celebrity appearances, guests and product demonstrations are of great
interest to the news media and can help attract them to your booth.
If you notify
us in advance, these special events will be posted daily in the News Center.
All special events or demonstrations must comply with Show Management's
Rules and Regulations, which are included in the Exhibitor Services Manual
sent to the Show Contact at each exhibiting company. Please review these
rules to ensure your event is in compliance.
News about celebrity appearances in a booth is also used for the Appearance
Boards located on Level 2.5 of the Grand Concourse and in the Lakeside
Center Level 3 Lobby. Gain additional exposure for your company by letting
us know about your celebrities in the booth.
Some exhibitors
hold news conferences during the Show to announce new products, company
developments and other information. A news conference can be held at your
booth, in a hotel, at a restaurant or in a meeting room at McCormick Place
if your company has obtained one. Topics for a news conference include:
- new products
developed
- new top
executives, dealers or distributors introduced
- export
agreements signed
- expanded
manufacturing and distribution facilities
- new pricing
plans
It's important
to invite editors and reporters to your news conference before the Show,
and to have background material on the topic and company available when
they arrive. Also, have a reliable, quotable source at the news conference
to answer questions from the media. Read the tips on How
to Plan a News Conference (pdf) for further guidance.
To have
your special events, celebrity appearances, product demonstrations or
news conferences posted in the News Center, complete the Special
Event/Product Demonstration Form (pdf).
The Show's
News Center staff is ready and eager to work with every exhibitor to help
you make the most of the public relations opportunities for your trade
show dollar.
For more
information about News Center operations,
or call 847-692-0110.
>
back to top
