Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
The Blish-Mize Spring Buying Market, held from March 19-21, 2026, at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas, gave retailers a chance to prepare for the year ahead with special product deals and exclusive promotions.
“Spring is always a time for renewal. Our buying market is a great time to help our customers prepare for the upcoming selling season,” says Jonathan Mize, Blish-Mize chairman and CEO. “A lot of our customers are optimistic about the year. There are a lot of things happening right now, and now is the best time to buy.”
That optimism comes after a difficult stretch for many across the industry. Kyle Davis, Blish-Mize vice president of business relations, says harsh winters negatively impacted retailers across the country, making this buying market an important opportunity to shake off the season and get ready for what’s ahead.
“The key component is getting our customers here and ready to buy,” Davis says. “Our team does a great job, and we’re excited to have people here.”
The energy on the floor reflected that momentum. Clay Uhrmacher, Blish-Mize vice president of sales, says customers used the show deals not just to restock, but to grow, expanding existing stores and opening new locations.
“Right now, we have more people expanding their operations than we’ve ever had,” Uhrmacher says. “It’s interesting seeing all the positive signs compared to all of the instability the industry is seeing.”
That tension between optimism and uncertainty was a recurring theme at the market. Mize says instability drives more traffic at markets. With the possibility of price increases looming, he sees now as a window retailers can’t afford to miss.
“We were in the same position last year, with the uncertainty around tariffs, which changes every day, compounded with everything else,” Mize says. “I think it’s a great time for retailers to get the deals they’re looking for.”
To give retailers even another reason to keep coming back to markets, Blish-Mize introduced a new Season Ticket program at this year’s Spring Buying Market. Customers who attend two consecutive buying markets unlock exclusive promotions and cash discounts available only to Season Ticket holders.
“It increases opportunities for our customers to take advantage of promotional buys as long as they keep coming to the Markets,” Uhrmacher says.
For some attendees, showing up has never been a question. Sheryl Ragsdale, manager of Ordway Building Supply in Ordway, Colorado, has been attending the Blish-Mize Buying Markets for 37 years, since she was hired at her store.
“I come to the market consistently because of the friendliness of the people at Blish-Mize,” she says. “Being a family-owned business is important to me.
The Blish-Mize Buying Market isn’t just a buying trip for Ragsdale; it’s an event her whole community looks forward to. When her car appears in front of the store after a market, regulars know what to expect: photos of new products printed out and posted on the front door, a sign that pulls people inside and keeps them coming back.
Another new addition to the Spring Buying Market was the Impulse Zone, which provided retailers with planograms and product assortments to build a strong impulse category.
Uhrmacher says the driving force behind the Impulse Zone was modernization and enhancing a trend Blish-Mize execs hear customers ask for.
“We’ve offered impulse items forever, but now we’ve taken that category and expanded it to help our customers succeed in the impulse category,” Davis says. “We’ve custom-tailored this section to what we offer and what our customers want, and it’s been really positive to see the engagement.”
