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Hardlines Distribution Alliance (HDA) executed its 20th Annual Executive Planning Conference (EPC) last week at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Arizona. Designed to shine a spotlight on new and existing vendor partners, the receptions, golf scramble, scheduled meetings and showcase and featured item areas maximized exposure for all attending manufacturers.
Upon arrival, HDA vendor partners who have attended every EPC for 20 years were recognized with a Double Decade ribbon. New vendors also received recognition and were provided with an opportunity to participate in the New Vendor Showcase on Tuesday morning. New this year, the showcase allowed vendors new to the group and EPC a table to feature product lines and marketing materials and interact directly with distributor attendees before the golf scramble began Tuesday afternoon. These introductions were vital in allowing new vendors to make a first impression so scheduled meetings were more productive and efficient.
“It was an incredible experience showcasing SILIGUN at the HDA event,” says Amir Nakash, CEO at SILIGUN. “The event’s energy, organization and opportunities for collaboration exceeded our expectations, and we’re excited about the partnerships and momentum we’ve gained. We look forward to continuing to innovate and bring value to the market.”
During the golf scramble, golfers enjoyed competing for prizes and participating in a hole-in-one contest sponsored by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA). That evening, all attendees were invited to attend the welcome reception to enjoy a cocktail, network and peruse the featured item area. This area allowed all attending vendors to feature a single item to increase brand awareness and allow distributor attendees to get their hands on product during the conference.
On Wednesday morning, pre-scheduled, one-on-one appointments began. During these meetings, attending vendors visited distributor tables for 20-minute meetings to discuss program details, marketing initiatives, product highlights and launches and objectives for the coming year. These vital meetings maximize opportunity by allowing vendor partners to visit with many member distributors in one location over the course of two days.
During an awards luncheon on Wednesday, HDA announced the winners for three new awards and three Suppliers of the Year for 2024 as voted on by HDA member distributors. The new awards included Most Innovative Product of the Year, Excellence in Philanthropy and Outstanding Show Support from a New Vendor. The luncheon also recognized the top three featured products and the many sponsors who helped make the EPC a success.
Wednesday evening provided an opportunity for all attendees to enjoy a themed “How The West Was Fun” reception sponsored by the National Hardware Show (NHS). Dressed to impress in boots, flannels and cowboy hats, attendees could test their coordination on the line dancing floor or their strength on the mechanical bull. The event also featured cocktails and western comfort food.
On Thursday, attending Distributors and Vendors wrapped up scheduled meetings and attended a farewell reception that evening for final networking opportunities before departures on Friday. With three days of networking under their belts, all attendees departed with excitement over forged business relationships and future connections that could lead to business growth.
“Attending the 2025 Executive Planning Conference was an invaluable opportunity to connect with vendors, strategize for the upcoming year and engage in memorable activities,” says Sarah Lee, vice president of purchasing at Blish-Mize Co. “Golf, bull riding and line dancing were highlights of this years’ social hours. It’s the perfect blend of business and camaraderie as we prepare for an exciting 2025.”
Next year’s Executive Planning Conference will take place at the Marriott Sawgrass Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, November 18-20, 2025.
2024 HDA Supplier Award Winners
- Most Innovative Product of the Year – Work IQ Tools
- Excellence in Philanthropy – Spec Ops Tools
- Outstanding Show Support from a New Vendor – Billy-Bob Products
- HDA Supplier of the Year, All Categories, 3rd Place – DAP Global Inc.
- HDA Supplier of the Year, All Categories, 2nd Place – Apex Tool Group
- HDA Supplier of the Year, All Categories, 1st Place – Highline Warren
Top 3 Featured Items
- Midwest Fastener/Hy-Ko – Pets2Go Pet Tag Engraving Machine
- SILIGUN – PRO Caulking Gun
- StopLossBags – The Steward Paint Storage Bag
