What International Housewares Association does

International Housewares Association (IHA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association serving the global home and housewares industry. Founded in 1938 as the National Housewares Manufacturers Association and later renamed to reflect its international membership, IHA is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, with 11-50 staff and a Board of Directors drawn from major housewares manufacturers and retailers. Its core offering is The Inspired Home Show, an annual trade exhibition held at McCormick Place in Chicago that is recognized as North America's largest housewares trade show and draws thousands of attendees from 60+ countries.

IHA's platform extends well beyond the annual show. Members access year-round services including the Connect 365 digital marketplace, the Global Innovation Awards (gia) program across retailing, product design, and student design, the gia (Excellence in Student Design) program running 30+ years, executive networking through CORE peer groups and the CHESS annual conference, international business development via the International Business Council (IBC), the IBC Global Forum, and trade missions to markets including Vietnam, India, Mexico, and London. The association also delivers industry data through a Circana partnership, runs educational webinars, publishes INSPIRED magazine and HomePage News, and operates the Housewares Charity Foundation.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring and transactional streams: annual membership dues ranging from $500 to $5,000 by tier, exhibitor booth fees at The Inspired Home Show, CHESS conference registrations of $1,000-$3,000, trade mission fees of $3,650-$6,200, and program-specific revenue from IBC and government affairs services. Named member companies include Lodge Cast Iron, Lifetime Brands, Hestan Culinary, Cangshan Cutlery, Gibson Homewares, TRINITY International Industries, with retail-side engagement spanning Target, At Home, Canadian Tire, and Sodimac. In 2025 IHA placed heightened emphasis on tariff and trade policy advocacy, reporting that 87% of member survey respondents were significantly impacted by tariffs and 93% manufacture in China.

Name

International Housewares Association

Legal name

International Housewares Association

Website

https://housewares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Housewares Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association serving the global home and housewares industry, operating The Inspired Home Show (North America's largest housewares trade show), Connect 365 digital marketplace, executive networking (CORE, CHESS, IBC), and advocacy services for manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Vendor Sourcing & Contract Management (HSACAAAE)

Keywords

• Housewares trade association
• Industry trade shows
• Executive networking programs
• International business development
• Housewares market research

Headquarters

HQ city

Blue Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IHA generates revenue through annual membership dues from manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, trade publications, and manufacturer representatives. Membership tiers range from $500 to $5,000 annually based on company type and sales volume.
2. Trade Show Exhibitor Fees: Revenue from exhibitor booth fees at The Inspired Home Show. Members receive discounted rates on space at the show.
3. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue from CHESS (Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession) annual conference registration fees ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on membership status.
4. Trade Mission Fees: Revenue from international trade mission programs to markets including Vietnam, India, Mexico, and London. Fees range from $3,650 to $6,200 per attendee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

IHA operates as a non-profit trade association that provides the world's premier home and housewares marketplace through The Inspired Home Show held annually at McCormick Place in Chicago. The association complements this with year-round executive networking programs (CORE, CHESS, IBC), international business development tools including trade missions and Key Buyer Reports, industry market data and research through Circana partnership, Global Innovation Awards (gia) program, and government affairs advocacy for the housewares industry. Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues, exhibitor booth fees, conference registrations, and trade mission participation.

Product overview

The International Housewares Association (IHA) operates as a non-profit trade organization offering a platform of interconnected services rather than a single unified software product. The core offerings include The Inspired Home Show (an annual trade exhibition at McCormick Place in Chicago) and the Global Innovation Awards (gia) program recognizing excellence in product design, retailing, and student design. Supporting these are Connect 365 (a digital marketplace for year-round product browsing), HomePage News (B2B industry news platform), INSPIRED. Magazine (retailer success stories publication), and educational webinars. IHA also provides executive networking through CORE groups and CHESS annual conferences, international business development via the IBC council, IBC Global Forum, and Trade Missions to international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Inspired Home Show: The industry's premier home and housewares event featuring expos, attractions, educational events and keynotes.
• gia (Global Innovation Awards)
• CORE (Chief Officers Reaching Excellence)
• CHESS (Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession)
• IBC (International Business Council)
• Connect 365
• HomePage News

Products and services

• The Inspired Home Show

Quantifiable outcome

• North America's largest housewares trade show with thousands of global attendees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ChatFeaturedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChatFeatured helps consumer brands strengthen their presence across major AI search engines including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. IHA members receive exclusive benefits including free AI Search Visibility Analysis, 25% member discount on plans, and AEO consultation.
• CircanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircana has partnered with IHA to offer exclusive custom analysis for members-only through Member Snapshot program. Available for over 30 categories, provides category and brand-level performance customized for member needs to assist with fact-based information in retailer meetings.
• Creative PlanningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative Planning Business Services provides customized expertise to support every phase of business journey. As an IHA Member, Creative Planning provides complimentary review of financial data and benchmark against industry peers. Contact Leslie Langsev for information.
• EmbellominorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmbello is an influencer marketing agency for the home industry helping brands execute successful campaigns. They provide year-round influencer marketing packages to IHA members at reduced rates including campaign strategy, influencer matching, and performance reporting.
• The Brightup GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCraig Brightup, CEO of The Brightup Group LLC, leads IHA's Government Affairs office in Washington D.C. Provides recommendations on federal legislative and regulatory issues impacting the housewares industry.
• Morrissey Strategic PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRafe Morrissey manages legislative and public policy issues for IHA, focusing on postal affairs, consumer privacy and regulatory matters. Partners with The Brightup Group on government affairs.
• Americans for Free Trade CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHA has been a member of Americans for Free Trade coalition since its inception. Coalition is led by National Retail Federation (NRF) with approximately 100 trade association members.
• CASE - Coalition for an Affordable & Secure Economy for AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition created by NRF that IHA is exploring membership in, focused on economic security issues.
• Reed SmithminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerReed Smith provides commentary and analysis on latest developments in trade, sanctions and export controls through their Trade Compliance Resource Hub.
• Global Business AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBA's Tariff Tracker helps navigate numerous tariff developments for member companies.
• Tariff Recovery TeamminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService focuses on managing administrative side of tariff claims including reconciling customs entry data, identifying eligible IEEPA duties, calculating potential refunds and filing through CAPE or formal protests.
• Riemer+ / Pulse RatingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to form Housewares Credit Group (HCG). Assists in identifying credit risk, monitoring customer base for emerging delinquency, and providing platform for sharing credit information. Riemer+ Credit Conference provides education and networking with credit peers.
• Vietnam B2B DirectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnam B2B Direct partners with IHA for Vietnam Sourcing Trade Mission. Pre-selects factories based on attendee requirements and matches with factories for private visitations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Retail Federation: The largest U.S. retail trade association, which IHA partners with via the Americans for Free Trade coalition. NRF also runs NRF Big Show, a major retail industry event, making it comparable as a trade association hosting flagship industry conferences.
• Messe Frankfurt ( Ambiente ): Operates Ambiente, the leading global consumer goods trade fair in Frankfurt, which is the primary international competitor to The Inspired Home Show in the housewares category. Comparable as a major trade show organizer in the same product vertical.
• National Association of Manufacturers: Largest U.S. manufacturing trade association, comparable in governance and operating model (membership dues, advocacy, events) but at a much broader cross-industry scale, while IHA focuses narrowly on housewares manufacturing.
• Informa Markets: One of the world's largest trade show operators, running hundreds of B2B events globally including several in the home, gift, and housewares space (e.g., NY NOW via acquisition). Comparable as a scaled trade show production and marketplace business.

Direct peers

• Consumer Technology Association: Trade association that produces CES, the world's largest consumer electronics trade show. CTA is closely comparable to IHA in model: a non-profit trade association running a flagship annual trade show plus year-round member services, networking, and policy advocacy.
• Maison & Objet: Biannual trade show and trade organization for the home, decor, and housewares industry held in Paris. Directly comparable as a premier international trade event serving the same buyer/supplier community in housewares and home goods.
• ASD Market Week: Major U.S. consumer goods trade show serving retailers with housewares, gift, and general merchandise categories. Comparable as a competing B2B trade show serving the same buyer base in the housewares and home goods vertical.
• NAFEM - North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers: Non-profit trade association serving the commercial foodservice equipment industry, hosting THE NAFEM SHOW biennially. Closely analogous operating model to IHA: a non-profit trade association, membership-funded, focused on a specific adjacent product vertical (foodservice vs. consumer housewares).

Others

• American Society of Association Executives: The professional association for the association management industry. Comparable not as a competitor but as a peer operating model — a non-profit trade organization itself — and as a knowledge resource for IHA's own association management practices.

Regional players

• Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC): Operates the Hong Kong Gifts & Houseware Fair, a major Asia-based housewares trade show. Comparable as a competing housewares trade show organizer focused on a different geographic region, particularly relevant given IHA's trade mission program to Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/housewaresShow
• Instagraminstagram.com/theinspiredhomeshow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-housewares-association
• Xx.com/housewaresShow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Housewares Association