With a reimagined show floor and outdoor living area, several new product categories and refreshed educational opportunities, Day 1 of the National Hardware Show (NHS) gathered retailers, vendors and other home improvement industry players from around the world.
With several additional months to plan for this year’s NHS, which took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, NHS event vice president Beth Casson says the team was able to implement new programs and experiences for attendees.
“We’ve finally had a full year to plan and have taken full advantage of it, bringing new categories to the table to enhance the shopping experience and new programs and perks to add value to the overall show experience,” Casson says. “We strive to create an event that serves the entire hardware and home improvement industry and are committed to helping the industry continue to thrive.”
On the show floor, attendees took advantage of the new Colleqt system, which allowed them to use their smartphones to easily scan and collect exhibitor information, as well as share their contact information with the vendors. All that contact information is then shared in a summary email at the end of each show day for easy access.
Deanna and Tyler Nowochin, dealer-owners of Nowco Home Hardware in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, say the Colleqt system made it easy to gather information to connect with vendors later after the show.
New product categories this year included hobby, gift and specialty; sporting goods; and services and solutions. These categories complemented returning ones like hardware and tools, outdoor living, plumbing and HVAC and electrical and lighting.
Austin Diehl, director of retail operations for Randy’s Hardware, who was attending NHS for the first time says he appreciated the new product categories.
“It was nice to meet some new vendors we haven’t seen before at our wholesaler markets,” Diehl says. “We were able to come away with some new product ideas.”
In the NHS Sharks Pitch Room, budding inventors pitched their ideas to investors for a chance to secure feedback and funding to make their dream products a reality. The Sharks Pitch Room complimented the United Inventors Association’s (UIA) stage sessions, which included seminars and “Shark Tank” style product pitch panels where inventors showed off their unique products and received real-time advice from a panel of experts.
Also launching this year was Shop Global, a dedicated area on the show floor featuring 500 exhibitors from over 15 countries. Categories in Shop Global included hardware, tools, lawn and garden, outdoor living, grilling, electric and lighting and plumbing and HVAC.
Fan Favorites Return
The reimagined NHS Backyard was cooking with live demonstrations, networking events and of course, delicious samples from the outdoor living and barbecue vendors.
The NHS Backyard was also the site of the NHS Celebrity Chef Cook-Off, hosted by Chuck Matto of Chucks Flavor Train, pitted professional chefs in a competition to cook the best slider and appetizer. Chef Steven O’Neill was crowned the Celebrity Chef Cook-Off Champion, chef Chris Joe brought home second place and the award for Best Appetizer and third place went to chef Robbie Rensel.
In the NEW section, attendees engaged with new-to-market brands and industry veterans promoting their new products launches. NEXT, powered by UIA, highlighted new solutions for everyday living. Made in USA focused on those companies dedicated to high labor standards, top quality manufacturing and safer products. These areas included 300 new products on display and highlighted changing market trends.
Ending the day, the NHS Welcome Reception allowed attendees to mix business and pleasure with live music and drink in the NHS Backyard Beer Garden.
