In addition to what can be found at The Inspired Home Show, Chicago is a great destination for housewares retail benchmarking.
Leading home and housewares retailers such as Williams Sonoma, Crate and Barrel and The Container Store all have Chicago flagship stores where visitors to the Show are able to discover innovative merchandising, store branding and unique ideas.
To make visiting the inspiring Chicago retailers easy, the Show offers Chicago retail brochure and maps to help with self-guided housewares store visits in central Chicago as well as a Retail Tour to visit some of the most exciting home and housewares retailers in suburban Chicago.
Examples of Chicago’s must-see retail stores and shops include:
gia USA winner and Global Honouree in 2004/2005, Crate & Barrel contemporary home furnishings store has set a standard in home retailing.
Crate & Barrel has a unique point of view to home products and they carefully select the products to be sold, based on how they read the trends for home. Each store and its product assortment represent Crate & Barrel’s interpretation on colour, material and functionality trends.
CB2 is a modern destination from Crate and Barrel.
Visit both Crate & Barrel and CB2 and see how this company has successfully transferred the trusted branding and image over, adapted to the needs and interests of a younger target group. Products offered, promotions and displays—everything that CB2 does speaks the Crate & Barrel language, just with a younger accent.
gia USA winner and Global Honouree in 2011/2012, Sur La Table has an over 35-year legacy of knowledgeable and passionate service. Its stores and website are a celebration of quality tools that set the standard for excellence in the industry.
From the moment you step up to Sur La Table’s doors you are inspired to cook and like great cooking, the store design is all about hand-finished details. From custom-made rolling pin door handles to finials, which are repurposed juicers, the signature storefront is one of a kind with its own special touch.
Bed Bath & Beyond combines superior service and a huge selection of items at everyday low prices within a constantly evolving shopping environment that has proven to be both fun and exciting for customers.
Heralded for its ability to offer customers tableware combinations they can’t find anywhere else, P.O.S.H. is an inspiration for retailers seeking differentiation from their competition. Balancing vintage products sourced from around the world with new merchandise, this imaginative retailer offers customers tabletop settings that ‘tell a story’.
gia USA winner in 2003/2004, The Container Store has an exceptional mix of products based on the central theme of storage and organisation, making the task of getting one’s home in order both fashionable and fun.
Continuously listed as one of the best companies to work for, The Container Store emphasises employee (training and motivation) programs—and with that, has superior customer service.
Setting the example to follow in lifestyle retailing, Whole Foods puts forth a careful, high-quality organic and natural foods selection as well as the wellbeing of people and the planet at the forefront of its everyday operations. Whole Foods is a master of beautiful, inspiring displays and sales-provoking in-store marketing activities.
Known as the premier specialty retailer of gourmet cookware in the US, Williams-Sonoma offers everything possible for preparing and serving food and drinks, in the highest quality. The company also owns the home furnishings retailer Pottery Barn.
Visit the website to register for your FREE entrance badge. For more information, please contact the IHA Australia & New Zealand representative Robert Parker, +61 419 330 447, robert@rpmi.com.au
Chicago Retail Tour—free for international attendees of the Show
The Chicago Retail Tour on Wednesday, 8 March, allows international visitors experience first-hand leading retail stores in the Chicago area. The tour will begin with a complimentary continental breakfast and US Retail overview.
Throughout the day, the tour will visit some of the most exciting home and housewares retailers in suburban Chicago. To learn more and to pre-register for the Chicago Retail Tour, please click here.
