Welcome to the Independent Home Improvement Show (IHIS) co-located with the 2019 Independent Garden Center (IGC) Show 2019! If you have questions that aren't answered here please contact IHIS Customer Service at inquiry.ihis@reedexpo.com or call (800) 840-5570. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE EVENT QUICK FACTS

Catalyst Exposition / (262) 764-8855 / orders@catalystexposition.com

Discount Price Deadline Date - July 23, 2019

Click HERE for the Online Exhibitor Portal

Floral – TBD

Security – TBD

TELECOMM

McCormick Place / (312) 791 6133 / technology@mccormickplace.com

Discount Price Deadline Date - July 25, 2019

HOTELS

IHIS / IGC Show 2019 has discounted rooms set aside for exhibitors and attendees at several major downtown hotels with free shuttle service. For complete information, CLICK HERE

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

FROM O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (22 Miles), NORTHWEST OR THE NORTH: Follow I-190 East to I-90 East. This turns into I-90/94 East (Dan Ryan Expressway). Keeping to the right, follow to I-55 North (Stevenson Expressway) onto US-41 South (Lake Shore Drive). Exit at 31st St. and turn left over the Lake Shore Dr. Bridge to Ft. Dearborn Drive. Turn left and follow signs to Lot C.

FROM THE WEST: Take I-290 East (Eisenhower Expressway) to I-94 East (Dan Ryan Expressway). Keeping to the right, follow to I-55 North (Stevenson Expressway) onto US-41 South (Lake Shore Drive). Exit at 31st St. and turn left over the Lake Shore Dr. Bridge to Ft. Dearborn Drive. Turn left and follow signs to Lot C.

FROM MIDWAY AIRPORT (10 Miles) OR SOUTHWEST:  Take I-55 North (Stevenson Expressway) to Lake Shore Drive South. Exit at 31st Street and turn left over the Lake Shore Dr. Bridge to Ft. Dearborn Drive. Turn left and follow signs to Lot C.

FROM THE SOUTH OR INDIANA via I-80/94: From I-80/94, exit at I-94 West (Bishop Ford Expressway) and proceed on I-94 West (Dan Ryan Expressway). Follow to I-55 North (Stevenson Expressway) to US-41 South (Lake Shore Drive). Exit at 31st St. and turn left over the Lake Shore Dr. Bridge to Ft. Dearborn Drive. Turn left and follow signs to Lot C.

FROM INDIANA SKYWAY: Take I-90 West (Indiana Tollway turns into the Chicago Skyway). Merge onto I-90/94 West (Dan Ryan Expressway). Exit at I-55 North (Stevenson Expressway) to US-41 South (Lake Shore Drive). Exit at 31st St. and turn left over the Lake Shore Dr. Bridge to Ft. Dearborn Drive. Turn left and follow signs to Lot C.

FROM NORTH LAKE SHORE DRIVE (US-41): From US-41 (Lake Shore Drive), exit at 31st St. and turn left over the Lake Shore Dr. Bridge to Ft. Dearborn Drive. Turn left again and follow signs to Lot C.

FROM SOUTH LAKE SHORE DRIVE (US-41): From US-41 (Lake Shore Drive), exit at 31st St. Stay to the right onto Ft. Dearborn Drive. Follow signs to Lot C.

FROM CONGRESS PARKWAY: From Congress Parkway, turn right onto Columbus Drive (South). Merge with US-41 South (Lake Shore Drive). Exit at 31st St. Turn left over the Lake Shore Dr. Bridge to Ft. Dearborn Drive. Turn left again and follow signs to Lot C.

PARKING

The IHIS / IGC Show is located in Lakeside and the parking lot is Lot C –  Fort Dearborn Drive, Chicago, IL 60616  (6'4" height clearance) is an underground garage with 1,900 parking spaces and is located on Ft. Dearborn Drive, adjacent to the Lakeside Center.  The parking rate is a flat fee of $23 per day with no in-and-out privileges.*  This parking lot is open throughout event hours. Overnight parking is not available.

Additional Parking Lots:

Lot A – 2301 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616:  (8' height clearance) is a six-level garage with 2,100 parking spaces located on Martin Luther King Drive, adjacent to the West Building. Covered walkways from Lot A leading directly into McCormick Place, WIntrust Arena, Marriott Marquis, and Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel also provide added convenience.  The parking rate is $23 for up to 16 hours and $36 from 16 to 24 hours.* There are no in-and-out privileges.  Overnight parking is available in Lot A only. Lost tickets will pay the $36 (overnight) fee per day.

Lot B – 3050 South Moe Drive, Chicago, IL 60616  (also known as 31st Street Lot) is an outdoor surface parking lot located at 31st Street near Lake Shore Drive South and Moe Drive. It holds over 1,800 vehicles.  The parking rate is a flat fee of $15 per day with no in-and-out privileges.*  This parking lot is open throughout event hours. Overnight parking is not available. each.

UNLOADING YOUR OWN VEHICLE AT IHIS

Automobile and Small Utility Vehicle (ASUV) Program

•Only a registered exhibitor is qualified to participate in the ASUV program.

•Check-in for exhibitors will take place at the Marshalling Yard Office (3050 S. Moe Drive) where drivers will receive an ASUV Pass and will be directed to the designated ASUV dock in the correct exhibit booth building. You will not be allowed access to the dock without an ASUV Pass.

•While parked in the dock, exhibitor staff must work as a team of at least two people and one person must remain with the vehicle at all times.•Vehicles must be unloaded within a 20-minute period.

•Exhibitor or exhibitor's employees are defined as any person who has been employed by the exhibitor as a full-time employee for a minimum of six months before the show's opening (be prepared to provide proof of full-time employment status upon request).

•If your vehicle does not meet the criteria below, you will need to follow Marshalling Yard instructions for truck check-in (material handling charges will be based on published kit rates).

Types of vehicles approved for use in the ASUV Program: 

How to move material from my ASUV Vehicle to my booth on the show floor: 

EXHIBITOR RULES AND REGULATIONS

CHARACTER OF EXHIBITS - The IHIS / IGC Show reserves the right to restrict exhibits to products and services of interest of the industries served.

Show management also reserves the right to restrict exhibits which, because of noise, method of operation, materials, or for any reason deemed objectionable, and also to prohibit or evict any exhibit which, in the opinion of the management, may detract from the general character of the IHIS / IGC Show.

This reservation includes persons, things, conduct, printed matter, or anything of a character show management determines objectionable.

In the event of such restriction or eviction, the IHIS / IGC Show is not liable for any refunds for rentals or other exhibit expense. It is also required that each exhibit space have a person attending the booth at all times.

Exhibitors who fail to staff their booth may not be allowed to exhibit in future IHIS / IGC Shows.

CHILDREN DURING MOVE-IN/OUT & SHOW HOURS - No children under the age of 14 years old will be allowed on the show floor at any time before or after the show.

We appreciate the burden this may create for some of our exhibitors with family-owned businesses, but safety concerns for all individuals on the show floor require that we strictly enforce this regulation.

Heavy equipment and machinery are prevalent on the show floor, especially during move-in and move-out of the IHIS / IGC Show. Safety is always our first priority.

DISPLAY CONFIGURATION - Exhibit height in excess of 4 feet must be confined to the rear 5 feet of each linear (e.g. – 10’ x 10’, 10’ x 20’, 10’ x 30’) booth.

The IHIS / IGC Show will strictly enforce this rule, and any violation must be immediately corrected or loss of booth space may result.

No signs, partitions, apparatus, shelving, display material, etc., may extend beyond 8 feet above the exhibit space floor.

Show management requires exhibitors request a written variance 21 days in advance for any portion of an exhibit that extends beyond the 8-foot limit. A request for a variance from the IGC

The show must be submitted no later than July 25, 2019, and will be considered only in the case where the extended height serves as an integral part of the display.

Variances are not required for live plant material that extends beyond 8 feet. However, exhibitors may not use plant material, which adversely impacts a neighboring exhibitor.

Show management reserves the right of final decision in determining the importance of the display material exceeding standard show rules and regulations.

EXHIBITOR CREDENTIALS - In keeping with our efforts to provide exhibitors and show visitors with the best possible security, all exhibitors must wear their exhibitor name badges in clear view at all times.

Non-exhibitors will not be permitted in the exhibit hall other than during posted show hours.

Exhibitors are prohibited from providing exhibitor badges to show guests.

EXHIBITOR SOLICITATION - Exhibitors must limit their activities to within the confines of their assigned booth space. Exhibitor activities must be conducted in a manner consistent with the non-interference of activities legitimately exercised by other exhibitors.

Distribution of an exhibitor's product, catalogs, pamphlets, printed material, souvenirs, etc., must remain within the confined area of the assigned booth space, and at no time should protrude, for any distance, into the exhibit hall aisles.

No exhibitor's promotional activities will be permitted outside the confines of the assigned exhibit booth, except in such cases as approved by show management.

FLOOR COVERING - All booths must be carpeted or use some form of floor covering. You may bring your own or rent carpeting from the general Catalyst Exposition. Failure to carpet your booth will incur high on-site carpeting costs.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - No exhibitor will be allowed to bring any hazardous material into the exhibit hall for any purpose.

The IHIS / IGC Show requires the use of empty display containers that have never been filled with hazardous materials. This rule will be strictly enforced.

Hazardous materials are defined as any material packaged in a container that has the words "danger," "warning" or "poison" on it, accompanied by a phrase such as, but not limited to, "do not get on skin," "do not get in eyes," "do not breathe dust;" live aerosol spray cans; or other similar hazards.

LAKESIDE | MCCORMICK LABOR WORK RULES - Lakeside | McCormick provides communication services. The official service Catalyst Exposition provides electrical, drayage, plumbing, cleaning, decorating, rigging, carpentry, and freight movement.

The tradespeople who perform these functions are hired by the general Catalyst Exposition and are not employed by Lakeside | McCormick.

An exhibitor or a full-time employee of the exhibitor is allowed to do much more of their own work. An exhibitor may do his/her own assembly and decorating work if they so choose no matter the size of their booth.

An exhibitor’s full-time employee may also work along with a laborer, assisting with the installation and dismantling of a booth.

This does not mean you must do this work yourself - you may have this work done by the general Catalyst Exposition or an Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC).

MOVE-IN/OUT LOGISTICS - All move-in must be completed by 10 am on Tuesday, August 13. Move-out will not be permitted until 2 pm on closing day, Thursday, August 15.

Any exhibitor removing or dismantling exhibit display prior to 2 pm on the closing day may be denied space in future IHIS / IGC Shows.

Show management does its best to attract audiences for the exhibitor and expects to present a full show to all visitors during all scheduled hours of the show. This is the same reason we require a person in your booth at all times during the show.

NON-COMPLIANCE TO RULES & REGULATIONS - Each exhibitor, for himself/herself and his/her employees, substitutes or agents, agrees to abide by the rules and regulations given herein and by subsequent amendments and additions, considered by the IHIS / IGC Show to be in the best interest of all exhibitors.

Upon noncompliance with the established rules, the IHIS / IGC Show reserves the right to prohibit, reject or eject any exhibitor, exhibitor's representative, exhibit (in whole or part) or visitor, with or without giving a cause.

In the event of restriction or eviction, the IGC Show is not liable for any refunds on rentals or other exhibit expenses.

NON-EXHIBITOR SELLING IN AISLES - Show management makes every effort to protect against unauthorized selling within the show exhibit area by individuals not booking space.

The IHIS / IGC Show requests any individual attempting to sell or market in the aisle, or other areas of the convention center, be reported to show management.

These individuals are taking advantage of exhibitors who pay for their space and abide by show rules.

PLANTS, DIRT OR GROUNDCOVER - If you plan to place anything damp in your booths, such as plants or bedding, use ice or water, or lay down any soil or groundcover, you must first place a WATERPROOF barrier beneath your booth or carpeting.

Failure to do so can result in electrical shock and/or damage to the electrical outlets (at your expense), which are located on the floor.

Visqueen plastic covering can be ordered from the general Catalyst Exposition. Ice will be available for those exhibitors who have live plant material.

SALES LIMITATIONS - The IHIS / IGC Show is a closed industry trade show. Direct, individualized sale of items that are taken from an exhibit booth prior to the close of the show is prohibited.

This rule is necessary in order to provide all exhibitors balanced security and to help ensure against theft of booth material and supplies. Items may be sold directly from the booth but may not be removed from the booth and/or exhibit hall until 2 pm on closing day.

Your buyer will need a removal pass for items. Please see the show office for passes.

SECURITY - The IHIS / IGC Show will attempt to provide adequate security service for the exhibit area during show hours as well as when the show is closed. Show management urges exhibitors to have at least one employee in their booth at all times during move-in and move-out.

The ultimate responsibility of security lies with the exhibitor at all times, and show management shall not be held liable for the loss or theft of any or all items from an exhibit booth at any time.

Exhibitors are particularly encouraged to secure and ensure valuable items, including but not limited to TVs, DVD players, computers and monitors, small equipment and tools, cameras, etc., and remove such items immediately upon the close of the show.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS - The operation of any engines is prohibited on the show floor. All displayed engines must have empty fuel tanks, and fuel tank caps must be either taped closed or locked.

In addition, all battery cables must be disconnected and taped to meet fire department regulations.

The use of loudspeakers and public-address equipment by exhibitors is prohibited.

Exhibits that include the operation of musical instruments, radios or any noise-making equipment must be conducted or arranged so that the noise resulting from the demonstrations will not disturb adjacent exhibitors.

SUB-LEASING - No exhibitor may assign, sublet or apportion the whole or any part of the booth space assigned, nor permit any other party to exhibit therein, nor distribute any promotional or advertising materials in the assigned space other than those manufactured, grown or sold by exhibitor in the normal course of his/her business without written permission from show management.