With the uncertainties of 2025 in the rearview, independent paint retailers are heading into 2026 looking for any ways to face the potential headwinds the new year may bring. One way retailers can start the year strong is by attending spring markets to take advantage of deals and special pricing terms and find new products and niches to differentiate their operations. Prepare for your spring market season with the show previews below. 

ALLPRO

What started as a small idea turned into a huge reality when ALLPRO invited its members across the pond for the Fall 2025 Show in Dublin, Ireland. Coming off the success of the Fall event, ALLPRO is hosting its Spring 2026 Show at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, March 11-16, 2026. 

For Jen Pratt, general manager of Boone Paint & Interiors Inc. in Boone, North Carolina, the ALLPRO shows are a chance to connect with fellow retailers. 

“I always love seeing people that I may exchange emails and phone calls with but not get to see in person very often,” Pratt says. “You build such a good working rapport with fellow ALLPRO members and vendors, so it is always nice to put a face with a name.”

Seeing what products are new and exciting on the showfloor that she can bring back to her customers is also a highlight.  

“The experience and knowledge that is housed under the roof in that showroom always amazes me. I am always able to learn something new and take that information back and apply it to our stores,” Pratt says. “I always find the ALLPRO events to be well-rounded, informative with the classes and fun. Plus the food and rooms are always on point.”

Brandon Donahue, owner of Westerly Paints in Westerly, Rhode Island, is looking forward to connecting with his ALLPRO friends, learning about new products in the industry and taking advantage of the great show buys.  

“I always appreciate the amount of fun events they pack into the show, and I always leave with memories and—usually hilarious or embarrassing—stories that will last a lifetime,” Donahue says. 

Lancaster

Coming together in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 6-7, the Lancaster Spring Road Show will feature exclusive pricing and amazing deals for retailers. Lancaster’s Buying Shows will allow retailers to meet face to face with over 100 exhibitors and see new and exciting products hitting the market, allowing them to prepare for the busy summer season. 

In order to help attendees maximize their time while in Orlando, Lancaster has rolled out a new schedule that includes an earlier start and earlier finish. On Friday, Feb. 6, the showfloor opens at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 5:30 and on Saturday, Feb. 7, the showfloor is open from 8 a.m. to noon. 

Deals will include delayed shipping options and extended payment terms to further expand the value offered to retailers. Attendees will have a chance to win over $60,000 in prizes during the show, take advantage of cash spiffs and get a first look at new products and services at the Innovate to Elevate seminar.

Hosted at the Renaissance Orlando, the show will also boast networking and fun for attendees with free Sea World experiences and family-friendly live entertainment. 

“We enjoy attending the Lancaster Buying Show each year and being able to see the new products being offered and talk to factory reps one on one,” says Daryl Campbell, owner of Anderson Paint in Anderson, South Carolina. “We also like taking advantage of the special pricing and terms offered. This really helps us plan for the busy spring season and enables us to offer our customers special deals.”

Concept to Commerce

NHS Reimagined: NHS Concept to Commerce Debuts in 2026

For 80 years, the National Hardware Show (NHS) has brought together the home improvement industry and served as the premier trade event for the industry, connecting global manufacturers, retailers, associations and media to showcase innovations and discuss industry trends.

NHS has seen a number of evolutions over the years as it has continually worked to meet the needs of a dynamic home improvement industry. Paint & Decorating Retailer sat down with Joelle Cohn, VIP attendee manager, and Hector Morfin-Chong, event director, to learn more about the new and reimagined NHS.

Paint & Decorating Retailer (PDR): Tell us about the latest iteration of NHS Concept to Commerce and how it will meet the current needs of the home improvement industry.

Joelle Cohn (JC): We’re excited that this year, the event has evolved into NHS Concept to Commerce. We listened to our exhibitor and attendee feedback, and our new show will reflect that. We know seeing new products is one of the main reasons retailers come to NHS, and that certainly will be the case in 2026, along with offering even more.

Hector Morfin-Chong (HMC): NHS will continue to be the place for innovation. That has been the centerpiece of the whole show. But now we’re evolving to reflect the real way products come to life in today’s market. It’s no longer just about what’s already produced and ready to buy—it’s about what’s being imagined, what’s being developed and what will be launched in the future.

HR: Walk us through the Show Floor. What’s new with the layout? How will the layout help attendees get the most out of their time at NHS Concept to Commerce?

HMC: This year, we will essentially have two show floors. One side of the show floor will be a brand pavilion and the other side will include the sourcing side of the show. The brand pavilion will be an exclusive section for curated brands and will include an exclusive attendee area with the VIP lounge actually on the show floor this year. We’re focusing on efficiency; attendee feedback was very strong about this. Attendees will be able to shop between 20 to 40 countries in one stop in Vegas. We are also encouraging retailers to bring their entire team, and we’re giving them meeting room space so they can hold meetings in private to discuss business they might not necessarily want to discuss on the show floor. NHS Concept to Commerce will be a great opportunity for operations to bring a number of team members.

HR: What does NHS Concept to Commerce offer to independent retailers?

JC: For independent retailers, NHS Concept to Commerce offers a unique way to walk the show floor and find new and innovative products they won’t see at other shows. This allows them to bring in something new and different to their retail location that they won’t find elsewhere.

HMC: NHS Concept to Commerce gives independents a competitive advantage over other retailers in the neighborhood. Retailers are looking for ways to differentiate, and I think Concept to Commerce will be a great opportunity for them to find ways to set themselves apart.

HR: What are you each most excited about for NHS Concept to Commerce?

JC: We’ve listened to our attendees and our exhibitors on what they are looking for, and I think we’ve really hit some of those pain points of the industry no one else is serving currently. I’m excited to see and hear what people think about the newly evolved NHS.

HMC: We know that retailers and brands are demanding more uniqueness, more control and faster innovation, and that creates a lot of pressure for them, but it also creates great opportunity. We’re designing this event to help them meet those challenges and be able to succeed in the new market.