RICHMOND, Va.–Hamilton Beach has announced that it will not exhibit at the International Home & Housewares Show in March.
“Given the size of the show investment and the uncertain economic conditions, we feel it is in the best interest of our stakeholders to redirect resources into other strategic efforts,” Mary Beth Perreault, senior manager of corporation communications, said in a statement. Perreault also praised the show, which “has provided a showcase for us to demonstrate the important role our brands and products play with consumers around the world, and most importantly, it has been an important venue for quality discussions with our retail partners.”
Perreault also said Hamilton Beach “will reconsider our participation in 2010 at the appropriate time.”
“We are sorry to learn of their (Hamilton Beach’s) decision to skip the ’09 Show,” said Phil Brandl, president of the International Housewares Association, the show’s sponsor. “Today our attention and energy are focused on delivering a quality show experience for all of our attendees, who are registering in strong numbers. We are also pleased that over 250 new exhibiting companies will be joining the show this year. Now’s the time for buyers and sellers to take an aggressive and creative approach to the challenges ahead. The show is the place to meet those challenges.”
Housewares giant Jarden withdrew from the show earlier this week.
