Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
The showfloor at McCormick Place was packed today, as independent retailers from all over the world gathered for the start of Orgill’s 2019 Fall Dealer Market. Attendees explored 800,000 square feet of showfloor, discovering new products, special pricing and networking opportunities.
“We’re excited to see so many of our customers here in Chicago for our Dealer Market,” says Ron Beal, Orgill’s chairman and CEO. “We always look forward to providing them with opportunities to make them more successful, and we’re excited about what the next few days will bring.”
E-Commerce
One popular topic in the industry is e-commerce, as retailers strive to find the best ways to compete against large online merchants. Orgill has hosted an eCommerce Symposium for the past two years on the Wednesday before the dealer markets providing its customers with an environment to share and guide the development of e-commerce solutions they need.
“The eCommerce Symposium is a unique gathering of some of the top independent retailers in our industry working together to share insights, solutions, and tackle common challenges as they work to build or improve their eCommerce solutions,” says Boyden Moore, president of Orgill. “This meeting sharpens our focus on Orgill’s Integrated eCommerce solution and how we can help our dealers be successful in their online initiatives.”
Market Promotions
Orgill’s Dealer Markets are known for special Market-only pricing that can be found across the entire show floor. With today’s debut of new program Hot Buys, customers now have yet another way to take advantage of deep discounts at the Market. Hot Buys allows customers on the Market show floor to receive notifications on their mobile devices about limited-quantity deals on products across all categories, at the top of each hour during show floor hours all three days of the Market.
The different promotional areas, such as Coupon and Market Busters, New Items and Door Busters, also continue to be popular for retailers who want to find extended dating and low prices.
“As always, our vendors have worked hard to bring their best, most innovative products and displays to our Dealer Market to share with our customers,” says Jeff Curler, senior vice president of purchasing. “From special Market-only pricing to live how-to demos across the show floor, there’s plenty of inspiration for retailers looking for the next great product to add to their inventory offering.”
Product Showcases
For more product inspiration, attendees can walk through five featured Product Showcases and see the full breadth of product Orgill offers in each.
The Power Tools & Accessories Showcase covers 12,000 square feet, features an extensive line-up of new products and deals from well-known vendors in this category.
Just outside the convention center, attendees have been enjoying the Great Outdoors Grill Showcase, where vendors have been demonstrating popular grills and griddles and the technology they incorporate.
Other Product Showcases feature Smart Starts, the Spring is Here program and Impulse items.
New merchandising or inventory ideas are utilized in Four Seasons Hardware, a full-size model store that covers 12,000 square feet and features space-saving techniques, a single-queue checkout that drives impulse sales and suggestions for expanding product offerings out to the retailer’s sidewalk space.
Retailers can also explore a merchandising lab at the center of the show floor, which is home to more than 30 different endcap and stack-out displays. These offer insight into how different types of merchandising initiatives can drive sales, and the sales lift retailers get by using them.
“Our Dealer Markets offer customers buying opportunities that they won’t find anywhere else,” says Phillip Walker, Orgill’s senior vice president of merchandising services. “We want to give them the chance to find products at phenomenal prices, access to special areas that will show them what items they could add to their offerings, and ideas for these items could be displayed.”
The Fall Dealer Market runs through Saturday, Aug. 24. The next Orgill Dealer Market will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from Feb. 27-29, 2020.
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