Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Hardlines Distribution Alliance (HDA) recently hosted its 22nd Group Merchandising Conference (GMC) in Covington, Kentucky, the first time the city has played host of the event.
Over the course of three days, attendees participated in 1,169 pre-scheduled meetings in merchandised suites, networking receptions and the second annual new vendor preview that allowed new HDA manufacturers to introduce their new products and programs at the conference.
“The recent GMC went over the top on delivery to scores of industry manufacturers and dozens of distributors,” says Steve Synnott, HDA CEO. “The conference has built a reputation for being the industry’s favorite format to find new sources of product, enhanced assortments and establish new relationships with results that impact top and bottom-line productivity immediately.”
On the first day of the conference, 28 new vendors displayed products during a new vendor preview at the conference. The preview allowed new vendors to introduce their companies and product lines to familiarize attendees with the new organizations walking into their one-on-one meetings on the following days.
GMC remained the ideal venue for manufacturers to showcase their product, with space for vendors to set up product demonstrations, displays, signage, digital presentations and a private environment for distributors and vendors to meet and discuss program details and form new connections.
“This is our first time at the GMC, and we’ve had a really good response to our products and have lots of opportunities ahead of us,” says Gary Bailey, head of export at Croydex. “Fingers crossed we tie up with some new distributors in the hardware sector, which is an area we’ve been striving to penetrate for many years now. This platform and HDA have been the perfect opportunity for us.”
Attendees closed the conference by completing scheduled meetings and gathering for a farewell reception where participants could speak with distributor attendees and plan for follow-up and next steps.
“It’s a great space to bring my whole buying staff and meet with every vendor present here,” says Sarah Lee, vice president of purchasing at Blish-Mize. “We want to mean something to the vendors we’re doing business with and 30 minutes provides a great balance between ‘let’s get down to business’ but also dialogue that helps in that relationship-building aspect. You really don’t get that in any other format.”
