The International Housewares Association released the schedule for the industry education program at the Inspired Home Show 2025, set for March 2-4, at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
Market analysts, retail leaders, trend forecasters and experts on wide range of industry topics will appear on the Keynote and Inspiration Theater stages to reveal growth opportunities, business strategies, trends and consumer insights for suppliers, retailers and other industry affiliated attendees. Sessions are available to all Show participants at no charge.
“Our robust education program is designed to help Show participants gain a competitive edge in the year ahead,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the International Housewares Association (IHA), which operates the Inspired Home Show. “Whether you’re a manufacturer, brand company, retailer, buyer or other industry professional, we’ve brought together some of the best in the business to share the latest insights you need to succeed.”
Keynote sessions are slated for the first two days of the Show inside McCormick South Building, Room S102:
Lessons from the Front Lines: An Insider’s Guide to Winning in Today’s Hyper-Competitive Retail Marketplace
Sunday, March 2 – 10 a.m.
Jeff Evans – Retail Leader, Advisor, Board Member
With over three decades of retail leadership across department stores, warehouse clubs, mass retailers and home specialty retailers, Evans — former president and chief merchandising officer of At Home and executive vice president at Walmart — will discuss the importance of winning partnerships, products and programs in a complex, fast-evolving retail marketplace. He will focus on how to create optimum value – what he calls “shocking value” – for today’s consumers.
Thinking Outside the Box: Growth Opportunities for the Housewares Industry
Sunday, March 2 – 1 p.m.
Joe Derochowski – Circana
Circana Home Industry Advisor Joe Derochowski will lead an interactive session featuring experts from industries including food, technology, beauty, sports and toys. Each will discuss growth drivers in their industries and explore how these insights can be applied to home and housewares. Topics will include how social media and health are driving beauty, how toys and entertainment might impact licensing, how technology will impact smart appliances and how changes in eating habits are driving trends in the foods we eat.
The 2025 Home and Living Survey: New Insights on the Everyday Realities Driving Consumer Demand
Monday, March 3 – 10 a.m.
Tom Mirabile – Springboard Futures
Tom Mirabile, principal of Springboard Futures, will unveil The 2025 Home and Living Survey, a new research collaboration between IHA and Springboard. This survey probes consumers’ everyday realities, priorities and pain points, exploring how these factors impact product choices and purchase decisions. It also reveals where the lifestyles of key generations converge, where they divide and why it matters. Attendees will leave with meaningful and actionable insights to create informed product and service offerings that attract ideal customers.
Color & Design Future Trends: Welcome Home
Monday, March 3 – 1 p.m.
Leatrice Eiseman (pictured above) – Pantone Color Institute
Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and color/design forecaster for The Inspired Home Show, will guide attendees through color and design trend directions for 2025 and beyond. The title for the 2026 Pantone View Home forecast is “Welcome Home,” which encompasses everything home means to consumers whether a “roof over their heads,” a place to escape, a place to find respite or rest, a place for entertainment, a place for play and a place to work.
Inspiration Theater sessions will take place throughout the three days of the Show in the McCormick South Building, Room S101A. Topics will include consumer lifestyle trends (in areas including pets and foods/flavors); retail opportunities (online marketplaces; omnichannel growth and other best practices); growth strategies (such as cross-industry collaboration and brand licensing); and other timely topics (AI, supply chain technology and PFAS legislation).
Details on the Show’s education program can be found at: https://www.theinspiredhomeshow.com/education/
