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The North American Hardware and Paint Association hosted the 2021 Retailers’ Choice Awards as part of the National Hardware Show and NHPA All-Industry Conference. The Retailers’ Choice Awards, which started in 1966, recognize innovation in manufacturing and a commitment to the independent channel.
A panel of independent retailers chooses the winners, with only 40 products chosen from the thousands on display at the National Hardware Show (NHS). The retail panel is asked to shop the show floor as they usually would and select products they feel are unique, interesting and hold a great promise for sales in their stores. Home improvement retailers have come to look for the Retailers’ Choice Award logo when choosing product mixes for their stores. Each year, Retailers’ Choice judges volunteer their time to serve on the panel and help single out manufacturers for helping them keep fresh products flowing onto the market.
“It was hard to pick because there were so many great choices,” says Robin Smith, co-owner of Petersburg Hardware. “I was nervous at first but loved being able to interact with so many awesome vendors.”
Each of the product winners receive a plaque recognizing their product’s distinction and a Retailers’ Choice logo to use in all of their advertising or promotions for the winning product. The winning products will also be featured in a special Retailers’ Choice product section in the January issues of Hardware Retailing and Paint & Decorating Retailer. Retailers’ Choice winners were also recognized Friday evening on the NHS Backyard stage.
This year’s winners included:
All-Weather Pen and Notepad, Rite in the Rain
Bird Grubs, Armstrong Wild Bird Food
Chilly Ice Towel, West Coast Imports
Chip Key Decoder, Hy-Ko
Cocoa Bombs, Mobi USA
Collar Keeper, Collar Keeper
Tug and Fetch, Territory Brand Co.
Eraser Daddy IDX, Scrub Daddy
Gator Magnetics, Gator Magnetics
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker XL, GCI Outdoor
Grease Hero, Fog Safe
Grip-Free Paintbrush, Freeform
Home Test Kit, Schneider Laboratories Global Inc
Instacrate, US Merchants
Boom Fire Starters, Jealous Devil
Link Latch/Lid Latch, Mella
Monkey Rung, Monkey Rung Products
Mud n’ More Mix Ball, Tomorrow’s Tools
My Soil Soil Test Kit, Predictive Nutrient Solutions
Pit Boss Portable Ultimate Griddle, Pit Boss Grills
Pit Boss Spice Sampler Pack, Pit Boss Grills
Pool Candy TubeRunner, B&D Group
PowerPaste, Scrub Daddy
Pro Sensor M210, Franklin Sensors
Roller Ready, Monkey Rung Products
Rotoshovel, Rotoshovel
Saber Paint, Faro Tools
Safe n’ Easy Scented Strip Gel, Dumond
Shock Strap, Bihlerflex
Spartan Mosquito Pro Tech, Spartan Mosquito
Spider Holster Tool, Spider Gear LLC
Star Wars Clapper/Chia Pets, Joseph Enterprises
The Plan Station, Nielsen Products
Camp Kitchen, Thiessens
Touch Up Cup, DZ Innovations
Electronic Bidet, Trone
Udder Balm, The Happy Cow
Up Cart Lift, Upcart
XL Multifunction Carrier, Boxtown Products
