The Inspired Home Show 2025 concluded with positive momentum, reinforcing its position as the premier marketplace for home and housewares. Hosted at Chicago’s McCormick Place, the 125th edition of the Show showcased 2,000 brands and 300,000 products, attracting attendees from 115 countries. The event facilitated high-level networking, trend discovery, and business expansion opportunities.
Robust Industry Engagement
Retailers and suppliers alike praised the event for fostering strategic business discussions and unveiling cutting-edge innovations. Senior executives from leading retailers and distributors engaged in top-tier meetings, exploring new products and partnerships that will shape the industry’s future.
Establishing the positive momentum of growth for the industry Joe Derochowski, Circana Home Industry Advisor highlighted in his keynote, “There’s no place like home—and that’s why the housewares industry is poised for steady growth through 2030.”
The Show welcomed buyers representing over 100,000 retail locations in the U.S., with a collective purchasing power exceeding $64 billion. International participation was equally strong, with leading retailers from North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America actively sourcing products and forging new supplier relationships.
Innovation and Market Trends Take Center Stage
A key highlight of this year’s Show was the unveiling of more than 20,000 new products, reflecting shifting consumer preferences and emerging market trends. The event also featured dedicated pavilions for specialized categories, including the Travel Gear + Luggage Expo, the Candle Pavilion in partnership with the National Candle Association, and the Pet Products Pavilion in collaboration with the American Pet Products Association. The Debut incubator, doubling in size from previous editions, spotlighted emerging brands and startup innovations.
The Show also hosted the Pantone ColorWatch Display, offering insights into future design aesthetics, and the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia), which recognized excellence in product design, retailing, and student achievement.
Knowledge Sharing and Industry Insights
A series of keynote addresses and Innovation Theater sessions delved into critical topics shaping the home and housewares industry. Discussions covered artificial intelligence in retail, PFAS legislation, evolving consumer behaviours, and licensing strategies. The Inspired Women in Housewares initiative provided a dedicated platform for networking and mentorship among female industry leaders.
Commitment to Social Responsibility
The Housewares Cares Foundation (HCF) charity gala and auction raised funds for multiple philanthropic initiatives, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the James Beard Foundation, World Central Kitchen, and Feeding America.
Global Innovation Awards (gia) Celebrates Excellence in Home and Housewares Retailing
The Global Innovation Awards (gia) program, established by the International Housewares Association (IHA) and The Inspired Home Show, has been fostering innovation and excellence in home and housewares retailing since 2000. Over the years, nearly 600 gia retail award winners from 57 countries across six continents have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
The competition operates on a two-tier structure—national and global—evaluating retailers based on key criteria. Each year, IHA partners with leading housewares trade publications worldwide to sponsor national gia programs, ensuring that top retailers from various countries are identified and celebrated. For the 2024-2025 edition, 31 national winners from 30 countries were selected by these publications including IMAGES RETAILME and automatically entered into the global competition at The Inspired Home Show in Chicago.
The winners are showcased prominently at The Inspired Home Show, with a special display in the Grand Concourse Lobby, allowing visitors and exhibitors to learn more about their achievements. The festivities also included a grand awards dinner on March 2 at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, honouring the winners and their contributions to the home and housewares retail industry.
Looking Ahead
In a significant shift, The Inspired Home Show 2026 will adopt a mid-week format, scheduled to take place from March 10-12, 2026, in Chicago. Exhibitor and attendee registration is now open.
For more details, visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com.
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