Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
No other event this year will bring the independent channel together or provide meaningful ROI like the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI), hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and The Hardware Conference. Drawing together retailers, vendors and industry partners under one roof at the stunning JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, from July 29-30.
Whether you’re new to the industry or a long-time veteran, IHI is where the industry’s best minds come together to swap ideas, explore practical operational best practices, discover new products and walk away with fresh inspiration.
Takeaways That Immediately Apply
Over the course of two days, attendees will dive into breakout sessions covering employee engagement, executive leadership, retail operations and technology and marketing, merchandising and advertising.
From the main stage, industry experts and channel players will share their insights and best practices on growth, innovation and navigating obstacles and opportunities in the home improvement industry.
During the purposeful networking events and in the exhibit hall, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with one another, share wins and challenges and enjoy unwinding with friends and colleagues. Attendees will be able to compare vendors and services side-by-side in one place, see live demos of technology and retail solutions and get real answers from industry experts and build relationships with partners who understand your business.
A capstone of the event will be the Independent Awards Gala, which will honor NHPA’s Top Guns and Young Retailer of the Year Award honorees and The Hardware Connection’s Beacon Award recipients. Through it all, attendees will discover new strategies to improve operations, increase sales and enhance the customer experience and be inspired by stories, insights and innovations that are shaping the future of retail.
Move Beyond in Theory: 4 Reasons to Attend the IHI Conference
More than just big ideas, the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference will send attendees home with practical and applicable best practices. Here are four reasons why the IHI Conference should be on your calendar.
- Unlock business potential. Get practical strategies and tools from industry experts, keynote speakers and educational sessions to solve challenges and boost profitability.
- Forge valuable connections. Discover new products, tools and solutions from trusted, industry-leading service providers and manufacturers in our exhibit hall.
- Lead through change. See how top retailers embrace emerging trends and leverage smart strategies to stay competitive in a constantly evolving market.
- Honor the best of independent retail. Recognize innovation, leadership and excellence at our Independent Awards Gala featuring NHPA’s Top Guns, NHPA’s Young Retailer of the Year and The Hardware Connection’s Beacon Award recipients.
Coreen Nolle, director of retail sales for Koopman Lumber, says she is looking forward to seeing the technological advancements made in the past year, learning more about new AI functionality and discussing how other retailers are utilizing these tools
“We have also been watching the market for an inventory robot, so seeing what the current pricing and functionality of those devices is on my checklist,” Nolle says. “We always pull some good nuggets of information out of the learning sessions, and do our own ‘quick wins’ style implementation after.”
For Bryan Lang, Koopman Lumber regional manager, the breakout sessions are the highlight of IHI.
“I love jumping into problem-solving with other smart folks in the industry; it either reassures me that I’m on the right track or gives me a fresh way to look at things,” Lang says. “I’m also a big fan of the innovation area; it helps us stay ahead of the curve with new tech coming into our space.”
