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100TH HOUSEWARES SHOW CHANGES FORMAT

CHICAGO -- The International Housewares Show will mark its 100th edition, Jan. 12 to 15, 1997, with a spanking new format and look. It will also open and occupy the new South Building at McCormick Place here.the North Building, Level 3; seasonal, pets and international, located in the North building, level 1, and home decor, located in the East Building, level 3.These categories will be identified

CHICAGO -- The International Housewares Show will mark its 100th edition, Jan. 12 to 15, 1997, with a spanking new format and look. It will also open and occupy the new South Building at McCormick Place here.

the North Building, Level 3; seasonal, pets and international, located in the North building, level 1, and home decor, located in the East Building, level 3.

These categories will be identified on-site through individual icons and colors. These icons and colors will be carried through to the aisle carpet for each category, the exhibitor's badges as well as signs that also denote the category by icon.

The signs at the entrances to each Expo and the directional signs throughout McCormick Place will also incorporate the colors and icons of the categories.

These changes are being made in response to requests from members of the National Housewares Manufacturers Association, Rosemont, Ill., to maximize buyers time on the show floor. The association also is upgrading its expo to "world class" status and is eliminating "pipe and drape" booth structure. Exhibitors must now display their wares only from a freestanding booth structure.

With the addition of the South building, exhibit space has been increased 11% to a total of 890,000 net square feet in all three McCormick Place buildings. More than 2,000 exhibitors are expected to participate. Last year's event drew 2,004 exhibitors and 16,588 buyers. To date domestic buyer registration is up 18% and international buyer registration is up 30% for the upcoming show.

Other Centennial Show attractions include a new product display that resembles a house. Products will be categorized by the area of the home in which they are most appropriately used. To view the products, visitors can walk through the exhibit, located in the East Building, level 3, or can view products through windows around the house.

To celebrate the historic 100th Show, NHMA is publishing a coffee-table 208-page book titled, "America at Home: A Celebration of Twentieth Century Housewares." The book, with a print run of 10,000 copies, chronicles the evolution of housewares in response to changing American lifestyles since the turn of the century. It will be sold at the show for $30, plus $5 shipping. After the show, the price of the book goes to $40, plus $5 handling.