Retailers’ Choice Award Winners Boast Innovation, Practicality

Known across the industry, the 2024 Retailers’ Choice Awards, sponsored by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) honored products on the National Hardware Show (NHS) show floor that stood out for innovation, creativity and the potential to be best-sellers in independent home improvement retail stores. The Retailers’ Choice Awards program has been an NHS attendee favorite since the program started in 1966 and is celebrating its 58th year. 

A panel of independent retailers browsed the NHS show floor looking for products they thought would perform well in their operations. Each judge nominated several products and then met together to share their nominations. From these nominations, the top 30 or so products were chosen as Retailers’ Choice Awards winners. 

Retailers’ Choice Awards judges RJ and Helen McDaniel say they loved being able to walk the show floor with the specific goal of finding new and cool products. The couple runs B&B Hardware & Rental in Milan, Illinois. 

“There were lots of vendors and the show floor seemed really busy,” RJ says. “The new floor layout was easy to navigate and we were able to find some neat products that we think will sell well in our store.” 

Tiffany Baum, senior director of retail management for City Mill Hardware in Hawaii, served as a Retailers’ Choice Awards judge for the second year in a row. 

“I appreciate finding new products for the stores, but my favorite part is hearing the stories from the vendors,” Baum says. “Many of these vendors are small businesses like ours and have amazing stories of bringing their products to market. It’s very heartwarming.”

On the Las Vegas Convention Center’s breathtaking third-floor terrace, the Retailers’ Choice Award winners were recognized on the second evening of the show. 

This year’s winners include:

• Tool Belt Module – 1791 Outdoor Lifestyle Group
• Cut-N-Edge – Boxtown Team
• Mini Smoker – Bradley Smoker USA
• Brush Skrub – Brush Skrub LLC
• GoMist Misting and Drinking Bottle – ExtremeMIST
• 3-n-1 Portable Misting Fan – ExtremeMIST
• Unpaint – Glasst Inc.
• Glow Path Pavers – Glow Path Pavers LLC
• Eggcellent Egg Washer Kit – GoodEgg
• Smart Pot Planter – High Caliper Growing
• GrillMates Grill Bags – International Wholesale
• Iconic Brand Scented Candles – International Wholesale
• DoomBox Mouse Trap – Jamestown Plastics Inc.
• Portable Grill – Kenmore/Permasteel Inc.
• Cool Living Mini Split Air Conditioner Unit – KMS LLC
• Easy Open Paint Opener – KRS Corporation
• Lion Prowler Power Bank – Lion Energy
• The NomadiQ BBQ – NomadiQ Grills
• Cedar Modular Closet Systems – Northern Kentucky Cedar LLC
• OmniWall – OmniWall USA/Noble Industries Inc.
• Bucket Tool Organizer – Pak 1 Plastics
• Rechargeable Solar Utility and Camping Fan – PANERGY
• Flashlight – Police Security Flashlights
• Convert A Bench – Premier Products
• Rapid Rafter – Rapid Rafter
• Extreme Utility Rope – Rapid Rope LLC
• FlyPad Fly Trap – Rescue
• BLAX6-M1 60V Leaf Blower – Senix
• Downspout Connector – TURNSPOUT
• Trimmer and Edger Universal Pushmower Attachment – Trimyxs
• Vitamin C Shower Filter – Voesh
• ZipWall Dust Barrier System – Zipwall

Each winner will receive a plaque recognizing their product’s distinction and access to the Retailers’ Choice Logo to use in all their advertising or promotions for the winning product. Each winning product will also be featured in a special Retailers’ Choice Awards product section in either the June 2024 issue of Hardware Retailing or Paint & Decorating Retailer as determined by NHPA editorial staff.