Celebrating 80+ Years of Housewares History - International Housewares Association

The International Housewares Association and the Housewares Industry have a rich history dating back more than 80 years. In honor of IHA’s 80^th Anniversary, here is a look back at some of the highlights:

1906	First house furnishing exhibition in the U.S. is held in New York’s Madison Square Garden. It is conceived by Isbon Scott, editor of House Furnishing Review, who founded the trade publication in 1892. Scott also creates the House Furnishing Exhibition Company to manage the show, which ends after its 1908 event.
1912-1927	Numerous promoters and groups of manufacturers or merchants attempt to stage trade shows at Chicago venues.
1928	The *National House Furnishing Manufacturers Association* *(NHFMA)* organizes the “First Annual Chicago House Furnishing Exhibit” with 115 exhibitors, held at Chicago’s Stevens Hotel, January 3-7. (The Stevens Hotel, on Michigan Avenue at 8^th Street, is later renamed the Conrad Hilton.)
1932	East Coast manufacturers establish the rival American Housewares Exhibit in New York City, held July 24-30.
1934	Organizers of the East Coast show incorporate as *The New York Housewares Manufacturers Association (NYHMA)*.
1938	Conflicts within the NHFMA cause some manufacturers to incorporate a new organization, IHA’s predecessor, the House Furnishing Manufacturers Association of America *(HFMAA).*
1939	Both NHFMA and HFMMA sponsor shows in Chicago. NHFMA holds its Show at the Stevens Hotel, January 8-14. On the same days, *HFMMA* hosts its first Show at the Palmer House; its six-day Show is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday and Thursday.
1940	The *NHFMA* and the *HFMMA* merge to create the *Housewares Manufacturers Association (HMA).*
1941	The newly formed *HMA* holds its first joint Show in January at Chicago’s Palmer House hotel.
1946	*HMA* merges with the *NYHMA* and the name of the combined trade group becomes the National Housewares Manufacturers Association (NHMA)
1947	*NHMA* holds its first Show at the Philadelphia Convention Hall, April 27 through May 2, marking the end of the “hotel era” and moves into the modern exhibition era.
1948	*NHMA’s National Housewares and Major Appliance Exhibit* is held at Chicago’s International Amphitheater, January 15-22.
1948-1960	NHMA manages its January Show in Chicago and its July Show in Atlantic City.
1949	The January Show moves to Chicago’s Navy Pier to accommodate a growing number of exhibitors, eventually reaching a maximum of 649 in 1956. The Show runs from Thursday, January 13 to Thursday, January 20 and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all days, except on Sunday, when it is closed.
1950	The Show’s name changes to the *National Housewares and Home Appliance Manufacturers Exhibit*.
1961	The Show moves to Chicago’s new exposition center, McCormick Place on the Lake. The expanded Show attracts more than 900 exhibitors.
1961-1991	With the new McCormick Place, NHMA holds both semi-annual Shows in Chicago.
1967	On Saturday, January 15, the night before the opening of NHMA’s *National Housewares Exhibit*, a fire spreads rapidly from one exhibitor’s booth and destroys McCormick Place.
1967	After the catastrophe, the Show is held at Chicago’s International Amphitheatre from June 12-16, where it continues for three years.
1971	In January, the Show returns to the rebuilt McCormick Place.
1973	NHMA publishes The Housewares Story, a book written by veteran industry journalist Earl Lifshey.
1979	“Bigger and Better than Ever,” the Show expands to occupy space in the West/Donnelley Hall building.
1985-1986	NHMA experiments with Show dates in April and November in Chicago. The November 1986 Show celebrates the additional space available in the newly opened North Building.
1990-1991	NHMA stages September shows in Atlanta. In September 1991, NHMA’s Lifestyle Show is held at the same time as the National Gourmet Show and the National Fall Gift and Accessories Show in Atlanta.
1991	NHMA relocates its headquarters from Chicago’s Merchandise Mart to Rosemont, near O’Hare Airport. The Show occupies three levels of the East building and two levels of the North building.
1992	The Show’s name changes to the International Housewares Show, and NHMA announces it will host one Show per year.
1994	NHMA introduces the winners of NHMA’s first annual student design competition and the Design Oasis display to spotlight design’s importance and add educational programming to the Show.
1997	The opening of the new South Building at McCormick Place dramatically increases available space, allowing the Show to reorganize exhibitor locations according to product categories to increase buying efficiency. NHMA commemorates its 100^th Show with the publication of America at Home: A Celebration of Twentieth-Century Housewares.
1997	NHMA forms the Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) and hosts its first annual Charity Gala in 1998. Since then, HCF has raised more than $48 million and has been credited with donating more than $27 million to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
1998	NHMA premiers www.housewares.org, the Online Show, allowing access until March 15 to exhibitor information from the January 11-14 Show.
2000	To better represent the growing global industry, the *NHMA* changes its name to the *International Housewares Association (IHA).*
2001	IHA, with 13 international magazine sponsors, inaugurates the Global Innovation Award (gia) for retail excellence.
2002	IHA partners with the Pantone Color Institute to create the ColorWatch, an annual display at the Show that illustrates the impact of color in the housewares industry.
2004	The *International Housewares Show* is renamed the *International Home + Housewares Show.*
2004	Responding to changing retail buying patterns, IHA reschedules the Show from its traditional January to March. The three-day Show is open Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In 2005, it changes to Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
2011	IHA enters social media with a presence on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
2012	The Show responds to buyer interest and adds a fourth day, opening on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and closing on Tuesday at 5:00 pm. The 2013 Show opens at 10 a.m. Saturday and closes at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The Show also introduces its mobile app.
2012	IHA introduces its Innovation Awards recognition, which becomes the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) for Product Design in 2016.
2015	IHA launches The Inspired Home to help members connect directly with consumers through http://TheInspiredHome.com and various social media platforms.
2017	At 816,000 ft², The International Home + Housewares Show is the largest annual trade fair in Chicago and the 14^th largest in the United States.