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National Hardware Show® Wrapped Up in Innovative Fashion

Thursday’s Grand Opening Ceremony started the final day of the National Hardware Show® off with a bang, as attendees got their last chance to view all the innovative products and displays out on the show floor.

Thursday’s theme was Innovation Day, which kicked off with a Grand Opening Celebration complete with a purple confetti cannon and inflatable light bulbs on the NRHA Village Stage.

“Innovation had long been the lifeblood of the industry, and it’s well-represented at the National Hardware Show, with many new vendors and thousands of new products,” says Rich Russo, vice president of the National Hardware Show.

Attendees packed the Las Vegas Convention Center during the past several days to view innovative ideas and products out on the show floor to take back with them to their companies.

“We come to see the new products and to get ideas for colorful outdoor furniture and outdoor accessories,” says Pat Flynn, general manager of Pool World in Spokane Valley, Washington. “The National Hardware Show is a can’t-miss event for me.”

Vendors also noted buyers are feeling more ready to purchase and network than in past years.

“It’s important for us to have a presence here,” says Alyssa Ando, brand manager for Rescue, a company specializing in pest control products. “The show has been busy for us all week and we’ve gotten a lot of quality leads to follow up with and heard there was a lot of interest in our Made in America products.”

Educational Opportunities

Held in conjunction with the show, the NRHA All-Industry Conference and the NRHA Village Stage was the place to be for attendees who wanted to gain industry insights from high-profile speakers including industry professionals, as well as big-name celebrities such as Amazon expert Mark Herbek; and Jill Waage, editorial director for home content for Better Homes and Gardens, the Property Brothers and more.

In addition, the Conference featured an extensive lineup of intimate breakout sessions off the show floor to allow attendees an ability to speak candidly on topics that matter the most to them.

Speakers included Bob Chiesa, president of Custom Benefits Insurance Grup, Inc., who discussed how health care is affecting the industry and answered questions on the Affordable Care Act.

The Conference also featured Timothy Dahl, digital publisher and founder, Charles & Hudson, who has worked with “The Old House” and ELLE DECOR. Dahl attracted a large crowd to talk one-on-one about website management and how to leverage online techniques to encourage more traffic to sites and extra dollars to  bottom lines.

Celebrity Sightings

Time and again, the National Hardware Show welcomes a host of celebrity guests. This year was no different as celebrities were seen throughout the duration of the show presenting on the NRHA Village Stage and meeting with attendees on the show floor.

Some of the most popular celebrities attendees were gushing about included Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott, the pair behind “Property Brothers” and two other HGTV shows, and John Ratzenberger of “Cheers” and Pixar fame.

About Amanda Bell

Amanda Bell was an assistant editor of Hardware Retailing and NRHA. Amanda regularly visited with home improvement retailers across the country and attended industry events and seminars. She earned a degree in magazine journalism from Ball State University and has received honors for her work for Hardware Retailing from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

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