There were many positives about the just-completed International Home + Housewares Show.

Traffic was clearly higher at this year’s show than last year’s. The exhibit booths were crowded, as was the hall that connects the Lakeside building of McCormick Place to the North and South buildings, and all the areas in between. Attendees and exhibitors said they saw more new and innovative products introduced at this show than at last year’s show as well.

And business was being done—in at least one case, far beyond what was expected.  “I’ve been exhibiting at this show since 1984, and this was the first year that I wrote an order at the show,” said a vendor.

A sign of good times to come?—David Gill