Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
For more than 70 years, the National Hardware Show® has served as the primary gathering place for the home improvement industry—a unique event where representatives from across the channel can gather, interact and do business.
This year, the National Hardware Show will be May 9-11 in Las Vegas. (Find more details here.) But the show impacts the industry well beyond the three-day event by supporting numerous industry events and causes. In December, the show will again sponsor NRHA’s State of Independents Conference in Chicago. (Learn more here.) The show also provides scholarships for students to participate in NRHA’s Retail Management Certification Program.
Rich Russo, vice president of the National Hardware Show, spoke with Hardware Retailing about the show’s involvement in the industry.
Hardware Retailing (HR): How can independent retailers take advantage of the National Hardware Show to help their businesses?
Rich Russo (RR): Each year, we introduce new elements to the show to make it more accessible and useful for the independent retailers who attend. We know the show can be incredibly valuable for independent retailers to see products and interact with suppliers and other partners they might not otherwise get to see.
HR: What are specific ways you are doing this?
RR: We introduced an “Independent Retailers’ Guide Book” listing all the exhibitors who are looking to do business with independent retailers. Through this guide, exhibitors can let independent retailers know about show specials, drop-ship programs and new products. This is available on the website and in the mobile app, as well.
We also know that education is a big part of what independent retailers want to get out of the show, which is why we have fostered our relationship with NRHA to provide meaningful programs at the show and events that bring independent retailers together.
Lastly, we have placed a great deal of emphasis on making it easy for independent retailers to identify new and unique products through areas at the show featuring hundreds of new products, some of which are the most creative, innovative ideas
you won’t see anywhere else.
HR: Over the past several years, the show has made several changes to target independent retailers even more. Can you tell us about these changes?
RR: One big thing has been to make sure that our exhibitors are truly educated on the value, benefits and buying power of the independent retailer. We have also worked with vendors to offer additional buying opportunities and show specials. In addition, we have created a service to match independent retailers with vendors from the specific categories they want to explore at the show.
HR: Are there changes on tap for the 2017 show for independent retailers?
RR: Everyone should stay tuned for a big announcement coming soon that will transform the National Hardware Show into the most valuable show in the calendar year for the independent retailer.
HR: Why is it important to the National Hardware Show to support a variety of independent retailer-focused programs?
RR: The independent retailer and the health of the industry are of utmost importance to us. The show is the one place where a retailer can see the entire industry in context
