Industry Gathers for ‘Big and Exciting Show’

Thousands of attendees gathered for the National Hardware Show^®  on May 9 to participate in one of the largest events in the home improvement industry.

The show kicked off at the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) Village in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

On May 9, retailers were looking forward to their first day at the National Hardware Show and all that it had to offer.

“I came last year, so I knew what to expect this year, but, still, it’s a really big and exciting show,” says April Rembert of Jared’s Ace Hardware in Bishopville, South Carolina.

The show runs May 9-11 and is co-located with the NRHA All-Industry Conference.

“The National Hardware Show is full of innovation, imagination and networking opportunities,” says Rich Russo, vice president of the National Hardware Show. “Our theme this year is ‘Reimagine Retail,’ and we are so excited to open the doors and let you explore all that’s inside.”

Specialty areas of the show, such as New Product Launch, Featured Product Gallery and Inventors Spotlight, are showcasing new products as well as items that aren’t on the market yet.

“I like going to Inventors Spotlight and the Tailgate, Backyard & BBQ. Overall, it’s just a fun time,” Rembert says. “I also enjoy spending time at the NRHA All-Industry Conference to learn from all of the great speakers they bring in for this event.”

NRHA All-Industry Conference

Speakers at the NRHA Village Stage touched on topics such as providing strong customer service and the importance of the brick-and-mortar store experience.

The first presenter was retail consultant Dustin Kaehr, whose topic was “Customers Uncensored: What They Wish You Knew.” He talked about what customers are saying when retailers aren’t around.

“Think differently about the way you do business, treat employees and serve customers,” Kaehr says. “If you have people who work with or for you, you’re a leader. It takes courage to lead well.”

Next was keynote speaker Kit Yarrow, consumer psychologist and author of the book “Decoding the New Consumer Mind.” She spoke on the ways consumers have changed their shopping habits over the years.

“The No. 1 thing customers say they want is omnichannel retailing,” Yarrow says. “Customers say they prefer to go to a store, but it’s just so complicated to get there. Bring technology into the store to help customers understand what they are about to buy.”

Al Meyers, a business innovator from the consulting firm Kalypso, gave a presentation titled “Break Out of the Pack.” He told independent retailers how they can set themselves apart.

“There are a lot of different ways to make the customer experience innovative and informative with technology,” Meyers says. “Look at retailers with a strong focus on innovation and creativity. Have a vision, have a strategy and have a direction.”