Sunday, March 6
7:30-8:30
Grand Ballroom, South Hall S100
State of the Housewares Industry
Join the authors of the IHA Market Watch report for a lively discussion of the consumer values and demands that are driving purchases as we evolve from pandemic to endemic in 2022. Coupled with hard data from the extensive IHA/HomePage News Consumer Outlook survey, this session will provide suppliers with insights to help prioritize product development and rethink marketing/positioning of products and provide retailers with insights to drive sourcing decisions and merchandising strategies in the year ahead.
Joe Derochowski, VP, The NPD Group
Tom Mirabile, Principal, Springboard Futures
Leana Salamah, VP, Marketing, IHA
Peter Giannetti,
Editor-in-Chief, HomePage News
9:30-10:20
Innovation Theater: Lakeside Center Lobby E350
No Regrets? Pandemic-Driven Impulse Purchases & Consumer Usage Post-Lockdown
Through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, social-distancing measures led to significant lifestyle changes for the average consumer. Whether because they were cooking at home more or adopting a new pandemic hobby to fight off boredom, many purchases were made specifically aimed at coping with life in lockdown. However, as we continue our return to a new normal, how has usage of these items shifted as consumers resume their pre-pandemic lifestyles? In this presentation, we’ll explore trends in pandemic-related impulse purchases and how those items have– or have not– been integrated into everyday life. Specifically, we’ll cover questions like: Which products saw the biggest pandemic boost, and what ancillary items did those purchases drive? Which shoppers were new to the category, and which were upgrading existing items? Which items have become kitchen staples and which are collecting dust— and how will that affect future buying decisions in the category?
Peter Greene, Numerator
10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Cooking Theater: South Building S5027
Kelsey Murphy & Gerron Hurt
Kelsey Murphy specializes in Modern American Cuisine, bringing together flavors from all ethnicities that make up this country. She focuses on respecting ingredients for what they are and letting their pure flavors shine on the plate. Her elegant and inventive plating styles elevate her dishes to works of art. As the Season 11 winner of MasterChef, Murphy is jumping head-first into her culinary career, leaving her job as a physical therapist to focus on food full-time. Her first project will be a partnership with MasterChef and Grubhub, launching this year. Gerron Hurt is a former teacher turned MasterChef Season 9 winner. He grew up in Louisville, Ky., with a huge influence from his late mother’s cooking inspiration. When the opportunity came to audition for MasterChef, with family support, he decided to take his chances. Months later Hurt found himself being announced by Gordon Ramsey as MasterChef Season 9 winner. It has been a rapid road ever since his win. Hurt loves incorporating his cooking skills and educational background with influencing others to have fun cooking and creating their own unique recipes through his subscription-based website. Sponsored by Arovo, S1019.
10:30-11:20
Innovation Theater: Lakeside Center Lobby E350
Merchandising and Messaging in an Omni-Channel World
Consumer demand for a seamlessly integrated experience is blurring the boundaries between physical and digital retail. Meanwhile, new expectations grow for service, convenience, and the integration of social media. That means benchmarking against the competition is more important (and more challenging) than ever and must include a 360-degree scan of an ever-expanding shopping landscape. Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf, marketing and licensing consultant to companies ranging from startups to The Fortune 50, shares new insights into retail reconnaissance, and how to bring new speed and focus to your perspective on the competition. Along the way, expect a sampling of clever products, modern messaging, licensing opportunities and trend topics, along with best practices that can make both everyday and seasonal assortments more profitable.
Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf, Founder, Project Partners Network
1 p.m.-1:50 p.m.
Innovation Theater: Lakeside Center Lobby E350
Essential Elements: Design, Décor and Consumer Insights for 2022 and Beyond
Max Wilker, Style Director for the Better Homes and Gardens brand at Dotdash Meredith, will present home design and décor trend predictions for 2022 and beyond along with exclusive consumer insights from the research experts at Dotdash Meredith Data Studios. Dotdash Meredith is America’s largest digital and print publisher with unparalleled first-party data and insights.
Max Wilker, Dotdash Meredith
11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Cooking Theater: South Building S5027
Tia Mowry
Tia Mowry, a multi-talented actress, producer, author and entrepreneur, has had a career spanning three decades after becoming a pop culture icon starring in the hit sitcom Sister, Sister. She currently stars in the hit Netflix series Family Reunion, which won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children’s Program. She hosts her own YouTube channel, Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix, with weekly videos that help viewers solve life’s little dilemmas FAST. She has published several books and her second cookbook, “The Quick Fix Kitchen,” was released last September. Her new homewares collection with Gibson, “Spice by Tia Mowry,” launched in 2021 featuring cookware, bakeware, cutlery, dinnerware prep and more. Mowry has a devoted and strong social media presence of over 20 million followers. Sponsored by Gibson Homewares, S201.
Noon-1 p.m.
Grand Ballroom, South Hall S100
Fireside Chat with Amanda Hesser, Founder & CEO of Food52
Food52 Founder & CEO Amanda Hesser will sit down with Peter Giannetti, editor-in-chief of HomePage News, for an in-depth look into the development and growth of Food52 as the first-of-its-kind, next-generation cooking and home company built on a unique blend of content, community and commerce. Hesser, revealing how the pandemic has reaffirmed its founding mission to serve its expanding community, will share insights into how the Food52 brand pioneered the convergence of new consumer media with innovative merchandising and marketing to create an untraditional, yet authentic, dynamic and highly influential content-driven marketplace. The session will also examine the impact of recent strategic moves by Food52, including acquisitions of Dansk cookware and tableware and Schoolhouse décor, the creation of the Home52 vertical and brick-and-mortar retail plans — and how they are among the core building blocks for the future of Food52.
Amanda Hesser, Founder and CEO, Food52
Peter Giannetti, Editor-in-Chief, HomePage News
Noon-12:45 p.m.
Cooking Theater: South Building S5027
Shauna Sever
Shauna Sever is a baker, cookbook author, TV and radio contributor and a daughter of the great Midwest. As a writer, Sever’s work is best defined by several baking-centric cookbooks, including the IACP award-nominated “Midwest Made.” She has also contributed food stories, recipes and expert tips for numerous outlets including Better Homes and Gardens, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Food52, The Kitchn, Family Circle, Real Simple, Midwest Living and many more. Sever’s career began in broadcast journalism and branched out into a former life as an entertainment news host and reporter. Though she now talks about pie instead of Hollywood, she uses the same skill set for her regular television appearances, which include the Today Show, Food Network and on-camera branded content, and is a contributor for the beloved and long-running public radio show The Splendid Table. After more than 12 years of California living, Sever, her husband and their two children returned to her hometown of Chicago, where she now bakes, writes and is always on the hunt for great old-school Midwestern bakeries. Sponsored by ShaunaSever.com.
1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Cooking Theater: South Building S5027
Andrew Rea/Binging with Babish
Andrew Rea is one part chef, one part filmmaker and a generous dash of irreverent YouTube personality. Self-taught both behind and in front of the camera, his channel, Babish Culinary Universe, featuring his series Binging with Babish, is enjoyed by over 9 million burgeoning chefs and foodies around the globe. His passion for teaching and experimenting in the kitchen is rivaled only by his love of film and television. The channel has expanded its initial series to include shows like Basics with Babish and Being with Babish. His New York Times best-selling book, “Binging With Babish: 100 Recipes Recreated from Your Favorite Movies and TV Shows” was released in 2019. He recently released his first cookware line, Babish, higher-end culinary products produced by Gibson Homewares that encompass a wide range of cookware, cutlery, kitchen tools, dinnerware and serveware. Sponsored by Gibson Homewares, S201.
2 p.m.-2:50 p.m.
Innovation Theater: Lakeside Center Lobby E350
How Micro Fulfillment Enables Growth
With an increased “need for speed,” consumers are disrupting retail. Brands are left scrambling to try and meet demand utilizing fulfillment methods designed for another era. To compete and thrive, retailers and brands need the ability to fulfill closer to customers, and deliver products in minutes and hours, not days or weeks. Retailers and brands need micro-fulfillment.
Corey Apirian, Davinci Micro Fulfillment
2 p.m.-3 p.m.
Cooking Theater: South Building S5027
Kelsey Murphy & Gerron Hurt
Kelsey Murphy specializes in Modern American Cuisine, bringing together flavors from all ethnicities that make up this country. She focuses on respecting ingredients for what they are and letting their pure flavors shine on the plate. Her elegant and inventive plating styles elevate her dishes to works of art. As the Season 11 winner of MasterChef, Murphy is jumping head-first into her culinary career, leaving her job as a physical therapist to focus on food full-time. Her first project will be a partnership with MasterChef and Grubhub, launching this year. Gerron Hurt is a former teacher turned MasterChef Season 9 winner. He grew up in Louisville, Ky., with a huge influence from his late mother’s cooking inspiration. When the opportunity came to audition for MasterChef, with family support, he decided to take his chances. Months later Hurt found himself being announced by Gordon Ramsey as MasterChef Season 9 winner. It has been a rapid road ever since his win. Hurt loves incorporating his cooking skills and educational background with influencing others to have fun cooking and creating their own unique recipes through his subscription-based website. Sponsored by Arovo, S1019.
3-3:45 p.m.
Cooking Theater: South Building S5027
Erick Williams
Owner and Executive Chef at Virtue Restaurant & Bar in Chicago, Chef Erick Williams describes his passion for cooking in the simplest context. “It was once said to me by my father that the search for equality is found through common ground, and sharing a meal is a universal expression of respect and dignity.” With an incredible amount of persistence and incomparable drive to attain standards in food and overall dining experiences, Williams has continued to create a niche within the restaurant industry. Opening in November 2018, Virtue, his first solo concept nestled in the heart of Hyde Park, melds Williams’ background in fine dining and his love of southern cuisine. As a Chicago native with a storied career, Williams has imbedded himself into the culinary scene beginning with his time as executive chef at mk The Restaurant in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Under his direction, the menu retained its farm-to-table seasonal approach.
3 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
Innovation Theater: Lakeside Center Lobby E350
Is Your Microwave Listening? Privacy and other Legal Issues in the Smart Home
Is a Smart Home manufacturer liable if its customer base is hacked? Must it share such data with the government or law enforcement? Which privacy and cybersecurity regulations govern Smart Home technology? This session will answer those questions, focusing on legal issues in the Smart Home, including privacy and cybersecurity. We will explore examples of hacking, and how IOT technology has been used by law enforcement in major cases. We will also look at recent FTC enforcement actions against manufacturers whose lax security standards resulted in exposure of their customers’ private data. Finally, we will discuss how companies can use Smart Home data advantageously to better tailor their products and offering to their customers in compliance with the law.
Michael R. Graif, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.
4 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Cooking Theater: South Building S5027
Caitlin Wise
Presented by Dash L12902 Caitlin Wise is the resident foodie and a brand spokesperson for Dash, the social media-famed brand behind the viral Dash Mini Waffle Makers. Dash is committed to helping people cook at home by providing the tools and content to support them as they make efforts to prepare and eat more delicious healthy meals. A Southern California beach-town native with red hair, sprinkled with freckles and in love with all things food, Wise can be found creating healthy family-friendly recipes on Dash’s @UnprocessYourFood social media channel, where she is known as Ms. Dash to an audience of more than 300,000 followers. In her nine years of cooking and sharing recipes using Dash appliances, not only has she been able to share her passion for real, unprocessed foods that are both delicious and healthy, she also became a mom and brought her two little baby Dashes into the Instagram world with her. Wise strives to connect to others through healthy clean food.
Networking After Dark
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
South Building, Level 4, Vista Ballroom S406
All U.S. and International Buyers and News Media are invited to end their day on Sunday, March 6 at the Networking After Dark reception. Live blues, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. This event is hosted by the International Business Council (IBC), a group of IHA members actively engaged in international business. In accordance with the City of Chicago’s mandate, proof of vaccination will be required to attend this event where food and beverage are served. Badge will be checked before entry to the reception.
