Omnichannel Growth, State of the Housewares Industry, Consumer and Color Trends Take Center Stage During Keynote Sessions at The Inspired Home Show 2023

Leading retail executives, market data analysts and consumer trend and color forecast experts will share their home and housewares industry vision in special keynote presentations during The Inspired Home Show 2023.

The Show will be held March 4-7 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex. The keynotes are set for Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Room S102 in the South Building. The hour-long sessions will be held at 1 p.m. each day and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Admission is free to all Show attendees.

In the Show’s opening keynote, Julie Barber, executive vice president, general merchandising, Walmart U.S., and Justine Van Buren, general manager, home goods, Walmart Marketplace, will examine how Walmart has adapted to meet the needs of its customers in a presentation entitled Winning in an Evolving Retail Landscape at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 4. Barber and Van Buren will dive into Walmart’s growth as a true omnichannel retailer; explain how Walmart is using both owned and marketplace-offered merchandise to become even more relevant for customers; and describe how to be successful in today’s omni world.

Other keynote sessions will focus on exclusive IHA data on consumer values, insights on consumer expectations that drive purchasing and a look at the inspiration, clarity and meaning to future color and design trends. They feature veteran IHA trend forecasters and keynoters Leatrice Eiseman, director of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training and executive director of the Pantone Color Institute; and Tom Mirabile, principal of Springboard Futures, along with industry experts Joe Derochowski, vice president and home industry advisor for The NPD Group; Leana Salamah, vice president, marketing, International Housewares Association; and Peter Giannetti, editor-in-chief of HomePage News.

Here is a detailed schedule of the keynotes:

Saturday, March 4

1 - 2 p.m.

Winning in an Evolving Retail Landscape

Julie Barber, executive vice president, general merchandising, Walmart U.S.

Justine Van Buren, general manager, home goods, Walmart Marketplace

Join Walmart executives Julie Barber and Justine Van Buren to learn how Walmart has adapted to meet the needs of its customers. Dive into Walmart’s growth as a true omnichannel retailer; hear how Walmart is using both owned and marketplace-offered merchandise to become even more relevant for customers; and understand how to be successful in today’s omni world.

Sunday, March 5

10 – 11 a.m.

State of the Housewares Industry/IHA Market Watch

Leana Salamah, Tom Mirabile, Joe Derochowski, Peter Giannetti

Join the authors of the IHA Market Watch report for a lively discussion of the consumer values and demands that are driving purchases as consumers evolve from pandemic to endemic in 2023. 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.

1 p.m.-2 p.m

Consumers In Control: Insights & Imperatives for the New Economy

Tom Mirabile

Whether you’re on the shifting sands of supply side or the front lines of retail, an emphasis on the consumer is essential. Still, staying focused can be difficult with today’s incessant storm of new, sometimes conflicting, information. It’s time to take a fresh look at the crucial elements of success as Mirabile discusses The 2023 Value Equation Index. In this enlightening national survey, home and housewares consumers reveal what creates value for them and which expectations will drive their spending in 2023 and beyond.

Monday, March 6

1 p.m.-2 p.m.

Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman

The Art of Living: Directional Color/Design Trends

As featured in the Pantone View color forecast, the theme titled “the Art of Living” offers inspiration, clarity and meaning to future color and design trends. Providing direction and insights on design and color palettes, this presentation clearly defines consumers’ needs and motivations in a challenging time. Eiseman will feature and explain the appropriate harmonies, moods and hues that will resonate for your clients or customers.

For more information on the keynote sessions, visit https://www.theinspiredhomeshow.com/education. The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s global home + housewares marketplace, will be held March 4-7 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex. For more information about the 2023 Show and to register for a Show badge, please visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com/register.

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