International Housewares Show

March 11-13, 2007

IMC Licensing recently attended the International Housewares Show and made the following observations:

Brand Highlights

• Lifetime Brands had an expansive presence at the show, featuring not only offerings under its stable of brands, but licensed products using JELL-O, Hershey, and Kitchen-Aid.

• Household brands such as Mr. Clean and Arm & Hammer are cleaning up. Both added many new products in their licensed home and personal care product lines.

Licensing Trends and Thoughts

• Celebrity chefs continue to stir the pot with Jamie Oliver, Joyce Chen, Rachael Ray, Emeril and Wolfgang Puck lending their names to even more products.

• With recent acquisitions made by Whirlpool, Petters Group, Lifetime Brands and Jarden   manufacturers are consolidating at a very quick rate.  Not only are these companies acquiring brands outright, they are also bringing in similar brands through licensing deals.

New Products on Show

• Spring Switzerland, a division of Waterford Wedgwood, debuted its collaboration with internationally-recognized integrative medicine physician Andrew Weil M.D., to create a new range of exclusive cookware and kitchen electrics. The Weil by Spring "Healthy Kitchen" Collection launched exclusively at Bloomingdale's.

• The EcoPod Recycling System hopes to cash in on the green movement in a big way. The home recycling center has received numerous awards for function and design.