ROSEMONT, Ill.–Manufacturers of small electric kitchen appliances have expressed optimism about their prospects at the upcoming International Home & Housewares Show.
Scheduled from March 22-March 24 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, the show is expecting more than 20,000 retail buyers from around the world.
The international aspect is one of the key draws to the show, according to Mark Bissell, chairman and chief executive officer of Bissell. In a statement from the International Housewares Association, the show’s sponsor, Bissell said, “We will meet with our international associates, distributors and customers in addition to those from North America. In the difficult economic environment, this initiative takes on an even greater importance.”
The hope is that the show will provide a booster for the housewares industry in the troubled economic environment. “Seeing how vibrant our industry really is will reinforce to the retail community that housewares is a category that can lead us out of a recession and drive traffic, like it historically has,” said Marty Armstrong, vice president of sales for KitchenAid.
Along with vendors of small kitchen appliances, the show will feature exhibitors from the cookware, gourmet-products, bakeware, home-decor, space-organizer, personal-care and healthcare industries.
“Now is the time to step up and infuse confidence in our industry,” said Ron Diamond, president of Conair.