Manufacturers and Distributors Plan for 2016

An annual conference brought together more than 400 of the nation’s top suppliers and distributors that serve the independent home improvement industry.

The 2016 Executive Planning Conference, hosted by Charlotte-based Distribution America (DA) and Denver-based PRO Group, was held Nov. 17-19 in Marco Island, Florida.

The three-day conference provided opportunities to strengthen relationships and discuss challenges and opportunities for the coming year.

“It is the only time when the nation’s largest independent regional distributors can get together with the leading suppliers of product sold to hardware retailers, lumberyards, home centers and independent paint stores,” DA president and CEO Dave Christmas says. “Thousands of face-to-face meetings are held in conjunction with social gatherings as we make plans for continued success in the months and years ahead.”

DA and PRO Group’s partnership for the event provides efficiency for the vendor community by reducing expenses and travel days. With more than 2,500 business meetings over the course of the event, the schedule offers manufacturers opportunities to meet one-on-one with key decision makers in other organizations. Topics discussed include new product launches, fill rates, promotions, order turnaround time and new business opportunities.

Attendees also took networking opportunities in more relaxed settings. Beaches and gulf breezes provided the backdrop to a reception with a “Back to the Future” theme, which was sponsored by the National Hardware Show®. The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) sponsored the beverage cart and hole-in-one competition during the event’s golf tournament.

Distributor attendees also selected the best new products and presented awards to the manufacturers in the major hard lines categories.

The Overall Best New Product was awarded to Werner Ladder Company for its 3-foot Fiberglass Podium Ladder.

DA and PRO Group presented the following awards during the conference:

Best New Product Awards:
•              Electrical: Feit Electric Company – 30-inch 10-Socket, Outdoor String Light Set
•              Tools: Apex Tool Group – Crescent 11-piece Pass Thru Adjustable Wrench Set
•              Housewares and Seasonal: HBC Home & Hardware – Combo Propane Heater/Stove
•              Hardware: Hy-Ko Products Company – LED Message Board
•              Lawn & Garden and Pet: The Ames Companies – Dual Tine Leaf Rake
•              Paint & Paint Sundries: DAP Products Inc. – Kwik Seal Ultra Premium Kitchen and Bath Sealant
•              Plumbing: Reliance Wordwide/Shark Bite/Cash Acme – SharkBite Ice Maker Installation Kit

Distribution America Vendors of the Year:
•              Hampton Products (Specialty Products)
•              Apex Tool Group (Tools)
•              Midwest Fastener Corp. (Hardware)
•              W.M. Barr & Company (Paint and Paint Sundries)
•              Genova Products Inc. (Plumbing)
•              Leviton Manufacturing Co. (Electrical)
•              Boss Manufacturing Co. (Lawn & Garden)
•              Apex Tool Group (Soaring Eagle Vendor Partnership Award)

PRO Group Key Suppliers of the Year:
•              APEX Tool Group (Hand & Power)
•              Southwire/Coleman Cable (Electrical)
•              DAP Products Inc. (Paint Sundries)
•              Ames True Temper (Seasonal)
•              Genova Products, Inc. (Plumbing)
•              Master Lock Company (Hardware)
•              W.M. Barr & Company (Key Supplier of the Year)

The 2016 conference is scheduled for Nov. 14-16 in Tucson, Arizona.