For retail inspiration at the Show, the 32 national Global Innovation Award (gia) retail winners from 31 countries around the world are introduced in a special display highlighting innovation.
The gia program was created by IHA and The Inspired Home Show to foster innovation and excellence in home and housewares retailing throughout the world. Since the launch of gia in 2000, there have been over 550 gia retail award winners, from 55 countries on six continents.
This year, retailers such as Granite Lane from Australia, The Cook’s Shop from the US and Smith & Caughey’s from New Zealand will all be competing for one of five Global Honourees, which will be announced at a gala dinner on Sunday evening 17 March.
The gia Global Honourees are chosen by a global gia jury, consisting of a rotating group of co-sponsoring trade publication editors from around the world as well as an expert jury including Anne Kong, Wolfgang Gruschwitz, Scott Kohno and Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen, representing Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The four expert judges will also present a special session in the Show’s Inspiration Theatre on Monday 18 March called ‘Innovate, elevate, captivate: reinventing the retail experience’, offering insights into the latest retail trends as well as practical tips for retailers.
In addition to what can be found at the 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 and store branding and unique ideas.
To make visiting the inspiring Chicago retailers easy, the Show offers a Chicago retail brochure and maps to help with self-guided housewares store visits in central Chicago.
Also, a very special service free of charge for international buyers visiting the Show, the Chicago Retail Tour allows international visitors of the Show to experience first-hand leading retail stores in the Chicago area.
Taking place on Wednesday 20 March, 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 + housewares retailers in suburban Chicago including Best Buy, The Container Store, Crate & Barrel, Target, Walmart, Williams-Sonoma and more.
To learn more and to pre-register for the Chicago Retail Tour, please click this link.
Although the tour is free, pre-registration is required as space is limited.
For more information on The Inspired Home Show 2024 and to register for your FREE entrance badge, visit the website.
