Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Boasting record-breaking attendance, the Ace Hardware 2026 Fall Convention brought together over 14,500 attendees in Orlando, an increase of 5.5% from Fall 2023, the last time the Fall Convention was held in Orlando. NHPA editor and director of content development Lindsey Thompson browsed the show floor and found five products she thinks would be best-sellers in any independent home improvement retail operation.
Decorative Plant Stakes | Spirit Stakes
Made in the USA from premium, sustainability sourced PureBond wood products, Spirit Stakes are laser cut to retain all detail associated with your favorite designs. The stakes feature team logos from over 100 colleges and 15 sororities and fraternities and product options include acrylic and wooden plant stakes, garden and patio stakes and cake and foot topper stakes. A portion of every purchase goes to support each school or organization purchased.
“These caught my eye right away, especially since they had an Ohio University stake, my alma mater. The stakes are a fun way to show your team pride, are really well made and come in a variety of sizes and both indoor and indoor/outdoor versions. I especially loved the cupcake and food stakes because they are reusable.”
Hemp Mulch Mats | Montana Gold
Hemp mulch mats create the ideal conditions for new growth. Give your saplings, garden beds or potted plants a strong start. The mats are a sustainable alternative to imported coconut fiber and synthetic fabric weed barriers and contain no microplastics and no adhesives.
“I was so glad that a retailer introduced me to this vendor, who was attending an Ace Convention for the first time in the new vendors section. I’ve seen several different types of landscape and plant mats, but I love that these are made from all-natural products with no microplastics.”
Foam Cooler | FOAM
The world’s first cooler made entirely from EVA foam, FOAM coolers were created to provide an alternative to soft and hard sided coolers. FOAM is the perfect hybrid soft-hard cooler that is lightweight, durable and buoyant. The cooler is designed with a 22-quart capacity, which is big enough to fit plenty of drinks, ice and food for your next trip to the beach, pool or lake. It features a versatile floating serving lid and comfortable seat belt webbing handle, making it easy to grab and go.
“These were so colorful and fun, I couldn’t help stop by. I love how lightweight they are made up entirely of EVA foam, and the floating lid is a great feature. I would love to have one of these out on the boat full of cold drinks.”
Emergency Alert Radio | Midland
The Midland ER10 is a ultra-compact emergency alert radio designed for pocket-sized preparedness. Perfect for hikers, commuters and travelers, this lightweight device ensures you have instant access to AM/FM stations and NOAA weather channels without the bulk of a full-sized unit.
“As a self-proclaimed weather nerd, this compact radio is the perfect way to stay alert and weather aware anywhere you are. I would travel with this and it would fit perfectly in my nightstand for those late-night weather alerts. Bonus, you can also use it as a regular radio.”
Helium Balloons | Anagram Balloons
Anagram leads the world in making balloons fun with consumer-inspired product development, industry-expanding innovation and strong, value-added partnerships. The company offers a variety of balloon products, including latex, characters, letters, numbers, phrases, shapes and more.
“Not so much a single product but a collection of products, I love the idea of hardware stores carrying helium balloons. I was a big fan of the Dollar Tree balloons, but so many of those stores no longer carry balloons, so I see this filling a large need in many communities.”
