At HIRI Conference, Google speaks

Hitting all the trend-setting high notes, the Home Improvement Research Institute’s 2015 HIRI Fall Conference is set for takeoff in Chicago Oct. 15.

Early-bird registration deals for the conference, studying “Generational Trends in Home Improvement,” are available through Sept. 11.

Among the topics during the daylong series of presentations: Wall Street, millenials, social media and the connected-home movement. There’s even a presentation on “The Digital Future” from none other than Google.

“Everyone involved in the home improvement industry needs to know how the attitudes and behaviors of the nation’s largest living generation will shape the industry,” said Pam Heidel, managing director of HIRI. “The HIRI conference will provide you the information you need to be prepared."

This year, the conference will be located at The Gleacher Center at University of Chicago. Companies giving presentations are The Futures Company, RBC Capital Markets, Radius Global Market, Trifecta Research, Ipsos, Wray Ward and Google.

Founded in 1981, HIRI is a membership-based, independent, not-for-profit organization of over 70 leading manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and allied organizations in the home improvement industry.