New Offerings Delight Attendees on Day 1 of NHS 2025

Welcoming retailers, vendors and others from the home improvement industry, the 2025 National Hardware Show (NHS) opened Day 1 with product discovery, education, industry awards, networking and more with plenty new for attendees to see and do. 

Building Up Women in the Industry

The inaugural How Women Rise in Hardware event, presented in partnership with Build Women, celebrated and empowered women leaders in the hardware and home improvement industry.

In the keynote, “The Power of Building Your Personal Brand,” Stefanie Couch, founder of Build Women, shared strategies for developing a strong personal brand, overcoming obstacles and positioning oneself for leadership opportunities.

“Personal branding is an expression of your values, personality and unique selling proposition to the world. It’s how you stand out in a crowded digital marketplace where there’s people and places and things everywhere. It’s how you cut through the noise,” Couch says. “Your personal brand will actually convert higher than a company brand will; 33% of buyers trust a logo, but 90% of people trust recommendations from a friend or even a stranger on the internet.”

Gina Schaefer, co-founder of A Few Cool Hardware Stores and author of “Recovery Hardware,” presented “Building a Culture That Helps You Thrive as a Woman in Business” and discussed creating organizational cultures that support women’s success, focusing on the pillars of people, profit and products to drive business growth.

“When we have an opportunity to make something worth trying, I think we have to grab onto it, do it, go for it, love it and be it and grow wherever and however we want to grow,” Schaefer says. “When you look at people, profit, process, purpose and products, there is no ‘G’ because gender is not in that lineup. You can learn about people, product, profit, purpose, regardless.”

The day’s events also included a panel discussion, “Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Challenges in a Male-Dominated Industry,” with Allison Flatjord, vice president of marketing and e-commerce for Do it Best Corp., Carol Crystal, vice president of merchandise LBM for Home Hardware Stores Limited and Christine VanOrmer, president of Cosco Home & Office Products, a Division of Dorel Industries.

When asked what strengths they see in themselves personally or in other women that have led to success in the industry, the panelists shared the unique traits that have guided them. 

“The ability to adapt leadership style has been one of the biggest things I’ve admired in my female colleagues,” Flatjord says. “A lot of times we aren’t necessarily the loudest person in the room, so we’ve had to find ways to still make our points heard, still lead the discussion in ways that we want it to be led, without needing to lead with the loudest in the room leadership style.”

For Crystal, being high capacity and leaning into your own unique skills has allowed her to find success in the industry. 

“I’m a high-capacity person, there’s nothing you can’t throw at me that I can’t observe,” Crystal says. “I always say to my team, ‘Play your position. If you play your position, you will be a powerhouse.”

In the final session, “How Women Rise: Overcoming Behaviors That Hold You Back,” Couch highlighted top habits that may be holding retailers back and provided actionable advice on how to break them to reach peak potential.

A number of outstanding women were honored to wrap up the How Women Rise in Hardware event. How Women Rise Awards were given to:

• Leadership Excellence: Kim Peffly, regional vice president for Nation’s Best
• Rising Star: Karen Mayer, director of marketing for Busy Beaver Builder Center 
• Entrepreneur of the Year: Elaina Reiter, CEO of Prestige Patio and Home
• Mentorship: Kim Sentovich, managing partner of Paradigm Shift Group
• Community Impact: Heather Pill, senior philanthropist partnerships and associate engagement for The Home Depot Foundation 
• Sustainability Advocate: Billie Asmus, founder and CEO of Repaint Studios
• Lifetime Achievement: Shari Kalbach, president of Hardlines Distribution Alliance 

Easy-to-Navigate New Floor Plan 

The segmented floor plan at NHS 2025 made it easier to navigate the different product areas, which included building products; hardware and tools; hobby, gift and specialty; home essentials, storage and solutions; lawn, garden and outdoor living; lighting and electric; paint and supplies; plumbing and HVAC; sport and outdoor recreation; and workwear and apparel.

In the NEW Product Zone, attendees browsed new-to-market products from veteran vendors and newcomers. Made in USA exhibited best-in-class products and services from American companies. 

In 2024, NHS launched Shop Global, a dedicated area on the show floor featuring a collection of small and mid-size companies from around the world. With over 500 exhibitors from 15-plus countries, Shop Global opened up the door to quality products, competitive pricing and diverse suppliers.

NEXT Powered by the United Inventors Association showcased innovations by inventors whose products embody how the home improvement industry can deliver new solutions for everyday living and rise to meet the changes in our world.