Review The Inspired Home Show From knives and utensils to cookware and storage, the Inspired Home Show in Chicago celebrated its 125th edition this year with an innovative mix of product. PR Direct Limited’s Sarah Selzer reports
Kitchenware
bonanza The Inspired Home Show in Chicago is certainly one of the easiest housewares shows to navigate, with dedicated categories across the two vast halls – South with Dine & Décor, which houses most of the kitchenware and cookware offer, and North with Clean & Contain (storage and cleaning) and Wired & Well electricals (SDA and smart home). These are then interspersed with displays on global innovation (retailers and product design), global design, the Debut section with first-time exhibitors and emerging brands, Pantone Colorwatch, and new areas including a candle pavilion and a trial for a new category,
travel and luggage. There was a total of 2,000 brands and over 300,000 products with visitors from 115 countries. Cookware and bakeware remains one of the largest product categories, with big US
“The show always gives plenty of exposure to new and emerging brands as well as young designers” brands (and corresponding big stands!) like Nordic Ware and Anchor Hocking side by side with European names including The Cookware Company, Kuhn Rikon and Fissler, and other
In numbers 2,000 brands 300,000 products Visitors from 150 countries 26 KITCHENWARE INTERNATIONAL
international brands like Victoria cast iron from Columbia. UK cookware brands were also flying the flag, with firsttime exhibitor Samuel Groves highlighting its provenance and heritage in huge letters on the
stand – ‘Made in British since 1817’. A much newer British exhibitor is Fire Up with cast iron cookware that beat established names to win the Global Innovation Awards (gia) in the Cook & Bakeware category announced at a gala event at the show. Run by husband and wife team Raghav Agarwal and Padmawati Jain, the cookware has gained plaudits from national media in the UK and is being hailed as the first innovation in cast iron for nearly a century. “It’s an iconic design
that offers incredible cooking,” said Raghav. “People like the idea of the different colour lid knobs we can offer – gold is the default but we can do copper, silver or iridescent, and our packaging is zero plastic.” European brands were out in force, with French heritage knife brand Opinel back at the show after a good performance the previous year. International sales director Jerome Le Cainec said there had been a mix of large and independent retailers, all loving the heritage and sustainability on offer from the company. “Sustainability is part of our DNA,” said Jerome. “For the last 40 years we have used cut offs from our wooden handles for heating our factory in Chambery, we keep bees there and we recycle water.” The business is looking towards becoming a B-Corp. The focus at this year’s show was the launch of the Neo 6 folding knife with rounded tip. “It’s a new target customer for us – more urban,” he said.