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                                                                   Exhibit 10.24

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of the 19th day of May, 1999 (the
"Effective Date"), between Home Products International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and James R. Tennant (the "Employee").

                                     RECITAL

         WHEREAS, the Employee has served as chief executive officer of the
Company and the Company wishes to retain the Employee pursuant to the terms and
provisions hereof.

                                     CLAUSES

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants set forth below, the parties agree as follows:

         1.    Employment. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement, the Company employs the Employee as its Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and the Employee accepts such employment with the Company.

         2.    Term. Unless earlier terminated in accordance herewith, the
Employee's employment with the Company under this Agreement shall begin as of
May 19, 1999 and continue until December 31, 2003 (the "Initial Term"). The
Employee's term of employment with the Company will thereafter be subject to
automatic one-year extensions commencing January 1, 2004 (each, a "Renewal
Term") unless one party notifies the other in writing of an intention not to
renew no less than 60 days prior to October 15th of the year in which the then-
current Renewal Term expires. The Employee's actual term of employment with the
Company under the Agreement, inclusive of the Initial Term and each Renewal Term
or any shorter period will be collectively referred to as the "Term".

         3.    Duties. During the Term, the Employee shall be the Chairman of
the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"), the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company and a member of the Board. It is contemplated that, in connection
with each annual meeting of shareholders (or action by written consent in lieu
thereof) of the Company during the Term, the Board will nominate, and
shareholders of the Company will elect, the Employee to the Board. The Employee
shall report exclusively to the Board and shall have the powers and duties
consistent with his position as the senior-most officer of the Company to whom
all other officers shall report. During the Term (excluding any periods of
vacation, sick leave or disability to which the Employee is entitled), the
Employee shall devote his full business time to the business and affairs of the
Company and use his best efforts to perform his duties and responsibilities.

         4.    Other Activities. The Employee may (a) serve on corporate, civic
or charitable boards or committees, (b) fulfill speaking engagements or teach at
educational institutions or (c) manage personal investments, in each case to the
extent that such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of
his duties under this Agreement.

         5.    Compensation. In consideration of the services Employee will
perform for the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall compensate
Employee, commencing on June 1, 1999, at an annual base salary of Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($400,000), subject

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to review and increase, but not decrease, by the Board in December of each year
of the Term, beginning in December, 1999. The Company shall pay the Employee
such base salary in equal monthly installments, reduced solely by all applicable
payroll and withholding taxes, and other legal garnishments. The Company shall
compensate the Employee during the Term in an amount no less than the foregoing
annual base salary amount, subject to upward adjustments as the Board, in its
sole discretion, may determine.

         In addition to base salary, the Employee shall be entitled to receive
such bonus, if any, as determined and payable in accordance with the Company's
Executive Incentive Plan and Management Incentive Plan, as each may be amended
and supplemented from time to time, the present terms of which as relate to the
Employee are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

         6.    Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for all
reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by him in executing his duties on
behalf of the Company; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall be
conditioned upon the Employee's compliance with all policies adopted by the
Company regarding expense reimbursement applicable to senior executives of the
Company, including without limitation, policies regarding the documentation and
timely submission of such expenses.

         7.    Benefits Plans. During the Term, the Employee shall be entitled
to participate in all of the Company's employee benefit plans that are from time
to time applicable to senior executives of the Company, including any profit
sharing plan, stock purchase plan and life, medical and other insurance plans in
accordance with the terms of such plans. In addition, during the Term, the
Company shall pay the annual premiums on Employee's existing Five Million Dollar
($5,000,000) term life insurance policy, issued by Valley Forge Life Insurance
Company and known as Policy Number VIST007989, provided that such annual
premiums do not exceed Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) in any
year.

         8.    Company Car. During the Term, the Employee will be provided a
Company car which shall be a BMW 740iL or a substantially equivalent make and
model at the Employee's option.

         9.    Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to vacation each
calendar year during the Term in accordance with the Company's vacation policy
for senior executives.

         10.   Residence. The Employee shall not be required to move his
principal business location from the Chicago metropolitan area in connection
with this Agreement.

         11.   Illness, Disability or Death. If during the Term, the Employee
shall be unable to perform his material duties hereunder (as determined by a
physician mutually agreed upon by the Employee and the Company and neither party
shall unreasonably withhold his or its agreement) by reason of illness, physical
or mental disability, or other incapacity for a period of one hundred eighty
(180) consecutive days, or any shorter periods aggregating one hundred eighty
(180) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may, at its sole option,
terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Employee, effective as
of the date set forth in such notice, which shall in no event be less than one
(1) year after the giving of such notice. During this time, the Employee shall
be entitled to all compensation, benefits, rights and entitlements under this
Agreement. Compensation shall, however, be reduced by any amount paid to
Employee by any long-term disability insurance policy or coverage provided by
the

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Company or for which the Company paid the premiums. If the Employee dies during
the Term, this Agreement shall thereupon immediately and automatically terminate
in its entirety; provided, however, that all payments which accrued to the
Employee prior to the date of his death in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Company's employment manual to that effect, shall be paid to
the Employee's estate or beneficiaries in accordance with the Company's standard
payroll practices, or the terms of this Agreement if the terms of this Agreement
differ from said payroll practices.

         12.   Severance Pay. If the Company provides notice of intention not to
extend this Agreement for any additional year pursuant to paragraph 2 hereof (a
"Notice"), or otherwise terminates this Agreement at any time without Cause (as
defined below), or if the Employee terminates this Agreement as a result of the
Company's Material Breach (as defined in Section 14(c) below), then and in such
event the Company shall pay the Employee (a) a one (1) time severance payment in
an amount equal to the product of (i) three (3) times (ii) the sum of the amount
of salary and bonus earned by the Employee pursuant to Section 2 hereof (or
under a prior Employment Agreement, in the event that this Agreement shall not
have been in effect for a full two-year period) during each of the two years
immediately prior to the date of the Notice or termination divided by two (2),
payable in fifteen equal monthly installments, and (b) during the two (2) year
period immediately following the date of the termination, medical and other
insurance benefits then provided to Employee pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

         13.   Change of Corporate Control.

               (a)    Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of
Control" shall have occurred upon notice that (i) any individual or entity
(other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan or other compensation program or arrangement of the Company or of any
subsidiary of the Company, or any person holding shares of the Company's common
stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, program or arrangement),
alone, or together with its Affiliates (as defined below) and Associates (as
defined below), shall become an Acquiring Person (as defined below); or (ii) the
shareholders of the Company approve a definitive agreement for a merger or
consolidation involving the Company which would result in the common stock of
the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation
continuing to represent (whether by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) less than fifty percent (50%) of
the combined voting power of the Company and such other entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (iii) the shareholders of the
Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement
for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company; or (iv) the Continuing Directors (as defined below) no longer
constitute a majority of the Board. "Acquiring Person" means any individual or
entity who or which, together with all its Affiliates and Associates, has
acquired 15% or more of the shares of the Company's common stock then
outstanding. "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"). "Continuing Director" means any individual who
is a member of the Board, while such individual is a member of the Board, who is
not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or
a representative or nominee of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or
Associate, and was a member of the Board prior to the occurrence of a Change in
Control, and any successor of a Continuing Director, while such successor is a
member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, or representative or nominee of an

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Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and is recommended or
elected to succeed the Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing
Directors.

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no person shall become an "Acquiring
Person" as the result of (a) being a Beneficial Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company on the date of this Agreement; (b) an acquisition by
the Company of shares of its common stock which, by reason of reducing the
number of its then outstanding shares of common stock, increases the percentage
of its then outstanding shares of common stock Beneficially Owned by such person
to 15% or more; (c) such person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the then outstanding shares of common stock, pursuant to a Permitted Offer (as
defined in the Rights Agreement dated May 21, 1997 between the Company and Chase
Mellon Shareholder Services); or (d) the acquisition by such person of
newly-issued shares of common stock of the Company directly from the Company (it
being understood that a purchase from an underwriter or other intermediary is
not directly from the Company); provided, however, that if such person shall,
after such acquisition by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any
additional shares of common stock of the Company, then such person shall be
deemed to be an "Acquiring Person"; provided, further, however, that any
transferee from such person who becomes a Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
shares of common stock of the Company then outstanding shall nevertheless be
deemed to be an Acquiring Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board
determines in good faith that a person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, has
become such inadvertently, and such person divests as promptly as practicable
(and in any event within ten (10) business days after notification by the
Company) a sufficient number of shares of common stock so that such person would
no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph, then such Person shall not be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" for any purpose hereof.

               (b)    Termination Following Change of Control. If Employee's
active full-time employment with the Company terminates within one hundred
eighty (180) days after a Change of Control, either voluntary or involuntary,
whether by the Company or Employee:

                      (i) The Company shall pay the Employee on the date of such
termination, in consideration for consulting services for the following
twenty-four (24) months to be provided by the Employee, an amount equal to the
difference between (A) $5 million and (B) the per share value of the Company's
common stock at the closing of the event which is the culmination of the
transaction(s) resulting from the Change of Control minus the exercise price per
share of each stock option granted by the Company to the Employee pursuant to
Section 14 below multiplied by the number of shares of the Company's common
stock underlying each such stock option granted by the Company to the Employee
pursuant to Section 14 below; provided, however, that, in the event that the
amount determined in accordance with this Section 13(b)(i) is negative, the
Company shall not owe any payment to the Employee pursuant to this Section
13(b)(i); and

                      (ii) The Company shall pay the Employee a one (1) time
payment in the amount of the product of (A) three (3) times (B) the sum of the
amount of salary and bonus earned by the Employee pursuant to Section 2 hereof
(or under a prior Employment Agreement, in the event that this Agreement shall
not have been in effect for a full two-year period) during each of the two (2)
years immediately prior to the date of the Change of Control

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divided by two (2), payable in one lump sum within five (5) business days
following termination; and

                      (iii) During the two (2) year period immediately following
the date of the termination of employment, the Company shall provide medical and
other insurance benefits then provided to Employee pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

               (c)    No Duplication. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
if the Employee first becomes entitled to payment pursuant to Section 13(b)
above, he shall not be entitled to severance payments under Section 12 above.

         14.   Stock Options.

               (a)    Prior Grants. Subject to the conditions identified in
Section 14(c) below and the vesting period identified in this Section, the
Company has granted the Employee various options to purchase common stock of the
Company (collectively, the "Stock Options").

               (b)    New Grant. Subject to the conditions identified in Section
14(c) below and the vesting period identified in this subsection, the Company
granted the Employee, on May 19, 1999, One Hundred Fifty Thousand (150,000)
shares of the Company's common stock for a price of Eight Dollars and
Twenty-Five Cents ($8.25) per share (collectively, the "New Stock Options"). The
New Stock Options shall vest on a pro rata basis, with the Employee becoming
entitled to exercise one-third (1/3) of each of the New Stock Options on May 19
of each of 1999, 2000 and 2001.

               (c)    Forfeiture. The Stock Options and the New Stock Options
and related rights set forth in this Agreement are personal to the Employee.
Other than to his lineal descendants (directly or via trust exclusively for such
descendants), the Employee therefore may not assign, pledge, alienate, devise or
in any other manner transfer (voluntarily or involuntarily) all or any part of
the Stock Options or the New Stock Options. The Employee's attempt to do so
shall be void ab initio, and shall be without legal, beneficial or other effect
and shall result in the complete termination of all Stock Options and New Stock
Options of the Employee as well as the Employee's rights to exercise the same
under this Agreement. Except as specifically prohibited by the Company's Stock
Option Plans, the Stock Options and the New Stock Options granted in this
Agreement (or otherwise) shall become immediately 100% vested and exercisable in
accordance with their terms upon (i) the consummation of a Change of Control,
(ii) the Employee's death or receipt of notice of termination from the Company
by reason of illness, physical or mental disability or other incapacity pursuant
to Section 11 hereof, (iii) termination of this Agreement by the Company for any
reason except for Cause or (iv) the Employee's termination of his employment
with the Company as a result of the Company's Material Breach (as hereinafter
defined). For purposes of this Agreement, "Material Breach" means, unless the
Employee specifically agrees in writing that such event shall not be a Material
Breach, any material breach of this Agreement by the Company, including, without
limitation:

         (a) the failure of the Company to comply with the provisions of Section
3, 5, 6, 7 or 10 of this Agreement, including the failure by the Company to pay
to the Employee any portion of his current or deferred compensation within seven
(7) days of the date such compensation is due;

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         (b) any material adverse change in the status, responsibilities or
perquisites of the Employee;

         (c) any failure to nominate or elect the Employee as the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company or as a member of the Board;

         (d) causing or requiring the Employee to report to anyone other than,
or in addition to, the Board; or

         (e) the assignment to the Employee of duties materially inconsistent
with the Employee's position and duties described in this Agreement.

; provided, however, that, in the event that the Employee desires to terminate
his employment for Material Breach, the Employee shall (i) furnish to the Board
written notice of the charges against the Company, including a detailed
description of the specific reasons which form the basis for the Employee's
desire to terminate his employment for Material Breach, (ii) provide the Company
with an opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of such
notice, such actions or failures to act which constitute the Employee's reasons
for termination and (iii) in the event that the Company has not so cured within
such thirty (30) day period, furnish a second written notice to the Board
stating that he is terminating his employment for Material Breach.

The Employee's right to terminate his employment for Material Breach pursuant to
this Section 14(c) shall not be affected by the Employee's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness as set forth in Section 11 hereof. The Employee's
continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with
respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Material Breach.

         15.   Confidentiality. The Employee acknowledges that: (i) during the
course of his association and employment with the Company, he will be in contact
with suppliers and customers of the Company and will have access to the
Company's, its affiliates' and their respective confidential and proprietary
information including without limitation, their properties, research and
development, accounts, books and records, sales, know-how, software, technology,
inventions, techniques, profits, products, customers lists, requirements,
suppliers, cost data, memoranda, devices, processes, methods, procedures,
formulas, contract prices, pricing and other corporate activities, whether or
not in written form or marked "Confidential", whether developed by the Employee
or others, which relate to the business operations, research, development,
engineering, products or activities of the Company and/or its affiliates
(collectively "Confidential Information"); (ii) the Confidential Information
constitutes "Trade Secrets" of the Company, within the meaning of the Illinois
Trade Secrets Act; (iii) all documents, electronic, magnetic or other media and
information which concern the Confidential Information are highly confidential
and also constitute "trade secrets" as identified above; (iv) the Company has
invested and will continue to invest considerable sums of money to obtain and
maintain its Confidential Information; (v) the Company derives substantial
economic benefit due to the confidentiality of its Confidential Information and
inventions; (vi) the Company's competitors would obtain unfair economic and
competitive advantages if its Confidential Information or inventions were
divulged; (vii) the useful life of the Confidential Information based on general
industry standards is unlimited; (viii) the Company has instituted procedures to
maintain the confidentiality of its Confidential Information; (ix) the Company
operates its business throughout the World (the "Restricted Territory"); and (x)
the Confidential

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Information constitutes a highly significant factor in the Company's ability to
conduct its business profitably.

         Recognizing that the disclosure or improper use of Confidential
Information will cause serious and irreparable injury to the Company, the
Employee agrees that he will not at any time, directly or indirectly: (i)
disclose, assign or sell Confidential Information to any third party or
otherwise use Confidential Information for his own benefit or the benefit of
others unless previously authorized, in writing, by the Company to do so; (ii)
attack, compromise, take any action or fail to take any action which could
vitiate any of the Company's rights, titles or interests in any of its trade
secrets, Confidential Information, inventions or "Assigned Intellectual
Property" (as defined in Section 17 below); or (iii) disassemble or reverse
engineer any of the Confidential Information, inventions or "Assigned
Intellectual Property" for himself or others. The Employee's obligations under
this Section shall remain in effect henceforth, notwithstanding termination of
Employee's employment with the Company for any reason.

         16.   Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation. The Employee agrees that,
during the Term, and if the Employee is terminated for Cause (as defined below),
is entitled to severance pay as provided in Sections 12 or 13 above, or
voluntarily resigns, then for a period of twelve (12) months following such
termination of the Employee's employment with the Company, he will not, directly
or indirectly, alone or in association with others, either as a principal,
agent, owner, shareholder, officer, director, partner, employee, lender,
investor, consultant, manager or in any other capacity, engage in, have a
financial interest in, or be in any way connected or affiliated with, or render
advice or services to, any business which competes with the Company or its
affiliates, including any entity engaged in the manufacture or distribution of
any products which are manufactured, assembled or sold by the Company or its
affiliates; provided, however, that (a) the Employee may own less than five
percent (5%) of the outstanding securities of public companies which are engaged
in the same business as the Company or its affiliates and (b) in the event of
the termination of the Employee's employment with the Company for any reason,
the Employee may work for a segment or business unit of a business which
competes with the Company so long as the segment or unit for which he is working
does not compete. The Employee further agrees that, during the Term, and in the
event that the Employee is either terminated for Cause (as defined below), is
entitled to severance pay as provided in Section 12 above or voluntarily
resigns, then for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of
Employee's employment with the Company, he will not, directly or indirectly,
divert, take away, solicit or interfere with any of the customers, accounts or
employees of the Company or its affiliates existing as of the Effective Date or
subsequently acquired by the Company or its affiliates during the Term. The
Employee expressly acknowledges that his severance pay hereunder is adequate to
support the Employee's livelihood for the period of the covenants set forth in
Section 16, that he has experience and expertise in areas which are unrelated to
the business conducted by the Company, that he shall be able to earn a
livelihood without violating the covenants set forth in Sections 15 and 16 of
this Agreement and that the Company has relied upon the Employee's
representations concerning the adequacy of his severance pay and that he has the
ability to earn a livelihood in unrelated occupations as a specific condition
precedent to the Company agreeing to enter into this Agreement and engage the
Employee. The parties have attempted to limit the Employee's rights to compete
only to the extent necessary to protect the Company from unfair competition. If,
however, the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement are held to be
unenforceable at any time, the parties specifically direct the court, arbitrator
or other trier of fact to modify and enforce said covenants

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to the extent that it believes is reasonable under the circumstances existing at
that time, rather than deleting or rendering unenforceable such restriction(s).

         17.   Property; Inventions. The Employee agrees that all discoveries,
inventions, ideas, concepts, research and other information, processes,
products, methods and improvements (collectively "Inventions") which are
conceived, developed or otherwise made by him alone or jointly with others
during the Term, shall be the sole property of the Company. The Employee
therefore grants, conveys, transfers, alienates and assigns exclusively to the
Company, for and throughout the world, in and for all languages (including but
not limited to computer languages and human languages, whether now existing or
subsequently developed) all rights, titles and interests (legal, equitable, use
or otherwise) which Employee has, may have in the future or may have the right
to claim now or in the future, in all Inventions, copyrights, patents,
trademarks, trade names and service marks (whether or not registered, including
all associated applications therefor and the right to file and register the same
in the Company's or any other name), modifications, improvements, derivative
works and/or other work which the Employee conceives solely or jointly with
others (collectively the "Assigned Intellectual Property") which: (i) are
related to any trade secrets, Confidential Information or other proprietary
materials of the Company; (ii) are predicated upon or relate to work the
Employee performs for the Company (whether or not done during normal working
hours); (iii) the Employee develops based on materials, equipment, facilities or
information of the Company; or (iv) the Employee develops during the one (1)
year period immediately following the termination of his employment with the
Company for any reason, if related to or competitive with the business or
products of the Company. The foregoing assignment by the Employee is under any
and all foreign or domestic, Federal, State or local copyright, trade secret,
intellectual property, patent or other laws, is intended to be all inclusive,
and specifically includes the right to sue for and collect and retain all
damages associated with past, present or future infringements of any or all of
the Assigned Intellectual Property. The Employee acknowledges that the Company
has provided him with a copy of the Illinois Employee Patent Act (as set forth
on attached Schedule "17"), that the Employee has read said Act in its entirety
prior to executing this Agreement, and that he understands the Act's substantive
provisions.

         The Employee's assignment of the Assigned Intellectual Property to the
Company under this Agreement constitutes a complete, absolute and exclusive
transfer of all rights (legal, equitable, use and otherwise) in the Assigned
Intellectual Property, whether such rights are currently existing or arise in
the future. The Employee does not reserve or retain any right, title or interest
in any Assigned Intellectual Property or any trade secrets, Confidential
Information or related information which concerns any Assigned intellectual
Property. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Assigned Intellectual
Property constitutes the sole, exclusive and confidential property of the
Company. The Employee shall disclose to the Company, in full, accurate detail
and in writing, all Inventions, derivative works, improvements and/or
developments (whether or not patentable, copyrightable or otherwise protectable
under law) which the Employee makes or assists in making either during the
course of his employment with the Company or that in any way concern, relate to
or are based upon the Confidential Information, Assigned Intellectual Property
or any other trade secrets of the Company, and acknowledges that the same
constitutes the Company's sole property.

         If at any time the Company deems it necessary or appropriate, the
Employee shall execute any and all documents and shall provide such assistance
(including testifying in court

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or other judicial or administrative proceeding) which the Company believes are
necessary either to evidence or register the assignment of rights made by the
Employee in this Agreement, or to evidence or register the rights so assigned.

         If the Employee ceases to be employed by the Company, or at any other
time upon request of the Company, he shall promptly return any records,
agreements, books of account, corporate memoranda, customer lists or other
property belonging to the Company or its customers.

         18.   Remedies. The Employee understands the Company would not have any
adequate remedy at law for the material breach or threatened breach by Employee
of any one or more of the covenants set forth in this Agreement and agrees that,
in the event of any such material breach of threatened breach, the Company may,
in addition to the other remedies which may be available to it, file a suit in
equity to enjoin Employee from the breach or threatened breach of such
covenants, including but not limited to the right to obtain an immediate
temporary restraining order.

         19.   Termination. The Company shall have the option to terminate the
employment of the Employee immediately for "Cause" at any time. "Cause" as used
in this Agreement shall mean (a) willful failure by the Employee to perform, or
gross neglect by the Employee of, his material duties under this Agreement
(other than any such failure resulting from the Employee's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness); provided, however, that in the event that the
Company desires to terminate the employment of the Employee for Cause pursuant
to this Section 19(a), the Board shall (i) furnish to the Employee written
notice of the charges against the Employee, including a detailed description of
the specific reasons which form the basis for the Company's desire to terminate
the employment of the Employee for Cause and (ii) provide the Employee with an
opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of his receipt of such notice, such
actions or failures to act which constitute the Company's reasons for
termination; (b) willful misconduct by the Employee which is injurious to the
Company, monetarily or otherwise, including but not limited to dishonesty or
fraud which is injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; (c) conviction
of a felony or commission of an act involving the Employee's moral turpitude as
determined by the Federal District Court judge who has most recently retired
from the Federal District Court located in the Northern District of Illinois; or
(d) material breach of Sections 15, 16 or 17 of this Agreement. For purposes of
clauses (a) and (b) of the foregoing definition, no act, or failure to act, on
the Employee's part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be
done, by the Employee not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the
Employee's act or failure to act was in the best interests of the Company. The
Board shall make the determination as to whether Cause exists as aforesaid to
terminate the Employee, and shall provide the Employee with written notice
thereof, as provided in the following sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
and although the Employee may have been relieved of his responsibilities, he
shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until he has
received (i) written notice of the specific charges against him, including a
detailed description of the specific reasons which form the basis for such
consideration, (ii) an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before
the Board within ten (10) business days of his receipt of such notice (if the
Employee fails or refuses to appear before the Board during such ten (10) day
period, he shall be deemed to have consented to his termination for Cause as
outlined in the Board's notice) and (iii) thereafter receive a second written
notice from the Board stating that in the good faith opinion of the Board Cause
as defined above exists for the Employee's termination, setting forth in
specific detail the basis of such termination of

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employment. The obligations of the Employee under Sections 15, 16 and 17 of this
Agreement shall survive the termination of his employment for any reason.

         20.   Modification. With respect to the terms of the Employee's
employment, this Agreement constitutes the full and complete understanding and
agreement of the parties, supersedes any prior understanding and agreement, and
cannot be changed or terminated except in writing signed by the parties to be
bound thereby.

         21.   Assignment. The rights and obligations of the Company under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors
and assigns of the Company. The rights and obligation of the Employee hereunder
may not be assigned or delegated.

         22.   Severability. Each provision of this Agreement shall be
severable. If, for any reason, any provision herein is finally determined to be
invalid and contrary to, or in conflict with, any existing or future law or
regulation of a court or agency having valid jurisdiction, such determination
shall not impair the operation or affect the remaining provisions of this
Agreement, and such remaining provisions will continue to be given full force
and effect and bind the Company and the Employee.

         23.   Waiver. The waiver by either party of any breach of this
Agreement by the other will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other
breach by the other which is not specifically waived in writing.

         24.   Notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted
to be given to a party pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be determined to have been duly given when delivered personally or deposited in
United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, as follows:

              If to the Employee:            James R. Tennant
                                             2771 Sheridan Road
                                             Evanston, Illinois 60201

              If to the Company:             Home Products International, Inc.
                                             Attention: James E. Winslow
                                             4501 West 47th Street
                                             Chicago, Illinois 60632

                                             With a Copy to:

                                             Much Shelist Freed Denenberg
                                             Ament & Rubenstein, P.C.
                                             Attention: Jeffrey C. Rubenstein
                                             200 North LaSalle Street
                                             Chicago, Illinois 60601

Either party may change his or its address for the purpose of this section by
written notice given in the manner provided above.

                                       10

<PAGE>

         26.   Illinois Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and construed
in accordance with Illinois Law.

            The parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

      EMPLOYEE:                                 COMPANY:


/s/ James R. Tennant                             By: /s/ James E. Winslow
------------------------------                       ---------------------------
James R. Tennant, individually                   Its: EVP & CFO
                                                      --------------------------

                                       11

<PAGE>


                     AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of the 14th day of October, 1999
(the "Effective Date"), between Home Products International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and James R. Tennant (the "Employee").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Employee and the Company have entered into an Employment
Agreement dated as of May 19, 1999 (the "Employment Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend certain provisions of the Employment
Agreement in accordance with the provisions hereof.

                                     CLAUSES

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants set forth below, the parties agree as follows:

         1.    Section 13(a) of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted in
its entirety and replaced by the following:

               13.    Change of Corporate Control.

                      (a)     Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Change of Control" shall have occurred upon notice that (i) any individual or
entity (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan or other compensation program or arrangement of the Company or of
any subsidiary of the Company, or any person holding shares of the Company's
common stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, program or
arrangement), alone, or together with its Affiliates (as defined below) and
Associates (as defined below), shall become an Acquiring Person (as defined
below); or (ii) the shareholders of the Company approve a definitive agreement
for a merger or consolidation involving the Company which would result in the
common stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or
consolidation continuing to represent (whether by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) less than fifty
percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company and such other entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (iii) the
shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) the Continuing Directors
(as defined below) no longer constitute a majority of the Board. "Acquiring
Person" means any individual or entity who or which, together with all its
Affiliates and Associates, has acquired 40% or more of the shares of the
Company's common stock then outstanding. "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have
the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). "Continuing
Director" means any individual who is a member of the Board, while such
individual is a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative or nominee of
an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or

                                        1

<PAGE>

         Associate, and was a member of the Board prior to the occurrence of a
         Change in Control, and any successor of a Continuing Director, while
         such successor is a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring
         Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or
         representative or nominee of an Acquiring Person or of any such
         Affiliate or Associate, and is recommended or elected to succeed the
         Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

         2.    Illinois Law. This Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement shall
be interpreted and construed in accordance with Illinois Law.

         The parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

EMPLOYEE:                                       COMPANY:


By: /s/ James R. Tennant                         By:  /s/ James E. Winslow
    ------------------------------                    --------------------------
    James R. Tennant, individually               Its: Executive VP & CFO
                                                      --------------------------

                                        2

<PAGE>

                     AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of the 15th day
of December, 1999 (the "Effective Date"), between Home Products International,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and James R. Tennant (the
"Employee").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Employee and the Company have entered into an Employment
Agreement dated as of May 19, 1999, as amended as of October 14, 1999 (the
"Employment Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend certain provisions of the Employment
Agreement in accordance with the provisions hereof.

                                     CLAUSES

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants set forth below, the parties agree as follows:

         1.    Section 16 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended in its
 entirety and replaced by the following:

         "16.  Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation. The Employee agrees that,
during the Term, and if the Employee is terminated for Cause (as defined below),
Employee is entitled to severance pay as provided in Sections 12 or 13 above, or
voluntarily resigns, then for a period of three (3) years following such
termination of the Employee's employment with the Company, he will not, directly
or indirectly, alone or in association with others, either as a principal,
agent, owner, shareholder, officer, director, partner, employee, lender,
investor, consultant, manager or in any other capacity, engage in, have a
financial interest in, or be in any way connected or affiliated with, or render
advice or services to, any business which competes with the Company or its
affiliates, including any entity engaged in the manufacture or distribution of
any products which are manufactured, assembled or sold by the Company or its
affiliates; provided, however, that (a) the Employee may own less than five
percent (5%) of the outstanding securities of public companies which are engaged
in the same business as the Company or its affiliates and (b) in the event of
the termination of the Employee's employment with the Company for any reason,
the Employee may work for a segment or business unit of a business which
competes with the Company so long as the segment or unit for which he is working
does not compete. The Employee further agrees that, during the Term, and in the
event that the Employee is either terminated for Cause (as defined below), is
entitled to severance pay as provided in Section 12 above or voluntarily
resigns, then for a period of three (3) years following the termination of
Employee's employment with the Company, he will not, directly or indirectly,
divert, take away, solicit or interfere with any of the customers, accounts or
employees of the Company or its affiliates existing as of the Effective Date or
subsequently acquired by the Company or its affiliates during the Term. The
Employee expressly acknowledges that his severance pay hereunder is adequate to
support the Employee's livelihood for the period of the covenants set forth in

                                        1

<PAGE>

Section 16, that he has experience and expertise in areas which are unrelated to
the business conducted by the Company, that he shall be able to earn a
livelihood without violating the covenants set forth in Sections 15 and 16 of
this Agreement and that the Company has relied upon the Employee's
representations concerning the adequacy of his severance pay and that he has the
ability to earn a livelihood in unrelated occupations as a specific condition
precedent to the Company agreeing to enter into this Agreement and engage the
Employee. The parties have attempted to limit the Employee's rights to compete
only to the extent necessary to protect the Company from unfair competition. If,
however, the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement are held to be
unenforceable at any time, the parties specifically direct the court, arbitrator
or other trier of fact to modify and enforce said covenants to the extent that
it believes is reasonable under the circumstances existing at that time, rather
than deleting or rendering unenforceable such restriction(s). The Employee and
Company further agree that all payments or other remuneration made to Employee
by the Company upon Employee's termination, for any reason, are in consideration
of the Employee's agreeing to and abiding by the restrictive covenants set forth
in Section 15 and 16 of this Agreement."

         2.    The following Section 27 is hereby added to the Employment
Agreement:

         "27.  Prevailing Party Rights. The prevailing party in any dispute
and/or litigation in connection with this Employment Agreement shall be entitled
to recover from the other party all costs and expenses, including without
limitation, reasonable attorney's fees incurred by such party in connection with
any such dispute and/or litigation."

         3.    The following section 28 is hereby added to the Employment
Agreement:

         "28.  Certain Additional Payments by the Company. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event it shall be determined
that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the
Employee (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any
additional payments required under this Section) (the "Distribution") would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, or any similar tax payable under any federal, state, local
or other law, or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Employee with
respect to such excise tax or similar tax (such excise tax and all such other
similar taxes, together with any corresponding interest and penalties, are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Employee
shall be entitled to receive from the Company an additional payment ("Additional
Payment") equal to an amount such that after payment by the Employee of all
taxes (plus interest and penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including the Excise Tax and any income taxes imposed upon on the Employee from
the payment by the Company of the Additional Payment, the Employee retains an
amount of the Additional Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the
Distribution. All determinations required to be made under this Section 28,
including whether and when an Additional Payment is required, the amount of such
Additional Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such
determination, shall be made by a nationally recognized public accounting firm
designated by the Employee (the "Accounting Firm"), which Accounting Firm, shall
provide upon completion detailed supporting calculations both

                                        2

<PAGE>

to the Company and the Employee. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm in
calculating the Additional Payment shall be borne solely by the Company. The
Additional Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 28, shall be paid by
the Company to the Employee within five (5) days of the Company's receipt of the
Accounting Firm's determination.

         The Employee shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service or other tax authority that, if successful, would
require the payment by the Company of the Additional Payment. Such notification
shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten (10) business days
after the Employee is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the
Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is
requested to be paid. Any failure by the Employee to give or delay in giving
such notice shall effect the Company's obligations under this Section 28, only
if and to the extent that such failure results in actual prejudice to the
Company. The Employee shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the
thirty (30) day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the
Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes
with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Employee in
writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such
claim, the Employee shall:

               a.     give the Company any information reasonably requested by
         the Company relating to such claim;
               b.     take such action in connection with contesting such claim
         as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
         including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with
         respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the
         Company;
               c.     cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to
         effectively contest such claim in any permissible manner; and
               d.     permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
         relating to such claim;

provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Employee harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation, plus
payment of costs and expenses.

         Additionally, if the Company directs the Employee to pay any such claim
and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to
the Employee, on a interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Employee
harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including
interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance
or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance. Any
extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of the taxes for the
taxable year of the Employee with respect to which such contested amount is
claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the
Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to
which an Additional Payment would be payable hereunder and the Employee shall be
entitled to

                                        3

<PAGE>

settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal
revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

         If, after the receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Section 28, the Employee becomes entitled to receive any
refund with respect to such claim, the Employee shall (subject to the Company's
complying with the requirements of Section 28) promptly pay to the Company the
amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after
taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Employee of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 28, a determination is made that the
Employee shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim, then
any such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and
the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of
Additional Payment required to be paid."

         4.    The following Section 29 is hereby added to the Employment
Agreement:

         "29.  Letter of Credit. Upon request by the Employee, the Company shall
provide Employee a letter of credit for his benefit in the amount of $375,000
("Letter of Credit"). The Letter of Credit shall secure the following
obligations of the Company to the Employee:

                      a.      any and all post termination employee benefits to
               be provided Employee pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise;
                      b.      payment of the Additional Payment; and
                      c.      any legal, consulting or accounting fees, costs
               and/or expenses incurred by the Employee with respect to securing
               any of the amounts due pursuant to Paragraphs a. and b. above
               and/or in defending any challenge raised with respect to any
               payments received pursuant to this Agreement."

         5.    In all other respects, the Employment Agreement, as amended by
this Amendment No. 2, is hereby ratified and confirmed.

            The parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

EMPLOYEE:                                       COMPANY:

/s/ James R. Tennant                              By:   /s/ James E. Winslow
------------------------------                         -------------------------
James R. Tennant, individually                    Its: Executive VP & CFO
                                                       -------------------------

                                        4