From bee houses to paint strippers, the 56th Retailers’ Choice Awards honored 32 new products as part of the National Hardware Show and NHPA All-Industry Conference. Six independent home improvement retailers made up the judging panel, volunteering their time to help choose this year’s winners.
The judges browsed the Show floor, looking for products they felt were unique and could sell well in their home improvement businesses. 
Retailer Ned Green, owner of Weiders Paint & Hardware, served as a judge and says he had a great time exploring the Show floor and browsing products.
“The products I found and nominated were ones that would be great in my store and would solve a problem for our customers,” Green says. “I also found some products that could be great add-on and impulse items.”
For Diana Newton, president of Bay Hardware, it was her second time serving as a judge for the Retailers’ Choice Awards.
“I enjoy getting to search for products on the Show floor,” she says. “Being a judge again made me excited to come back to the National Hardware Show.”
After exploring the Show floor, the judges met for a luncheon to share the products they nominated and why they loved each product. Each of the Retailers’ Choice Awards winners were honored at an award ceremony Wednesday evening after the Show.
The product winners also received a plaque recognizing their product’s distinction and a Retailers’ Choice Awards logo to use in all of their advertising or promotions for the winning product.
This year’s panel included:
- Diana Newton, Bay Hardware Store
- Jay Donnelly, Flanagan Paint & Supply
- Coreen Pierce, Koopman Lumber Co.
- Alexandria Lavaroni, Treats General Store
- Cory Rhynehart, Milton Hardware & Building Supply
- Ned Green, Weiders Paint & Hardware
For a list of all the Retailers’ Choice Award winners, click here or check out the June issue of Hardware Retailing magazine.
