Coronavirus concerns reach The Inspired Home Show 2020

The Coronavirus outbreak and after consulting with the Chinese pavilion organisers and exhibitors, the International Sourcing Expo will not take place at The Inspired Home Show 2020, the International Housewares Association has announced. “This decision comes in the wake of the outbreak to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the industry from concerns about exposure to the virus,” says Derek Miller, IHA president. 

“The rest of The Inspired Home Show, which will take place from March 14-17 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Centre, will continue as planned. The show will host the Dine + Décor, Clean + Contain, Wired + Well and Discover | design expos showcasing the latest and most innovative home and housewares products to key, speciality and independent retailers and distributors,” Miller says.

Show attendees coming from China will also be subject to US customs and immigration policies that temporarily deny entry into the United States of foreign nationals who have visited China within 14 days of arriving in the US. 

IHA will continue to follow the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is working with the City of Chicago and McCormick Place officials on the development of precautionary measures to further reduce health risks at the Show. 

The Inspired Home Show 2020 will feature 2,000 exhibitors from around the world, including 400 new companies exhibiting for the first time. More than 51,000 total attendees, including buyers from 130 countries, are expected. Additional information on Show events, exhibitors and attendee registration are available at TheInspiredHomeShow.com.

The International Housewares Association is the 82-year-old voice of the housewares industry, which accounted for $394.3 billion at retail worldwide in 2018. The not-for-profit, full-service association sponsors the world’s premier exposition of products for the home, The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s Global Home + Housewares Market (TheInspiredHomeShow.com).