Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
From special Market-only pricing and Product Showcases to full-sized concept stores, retailers had many opportunities to explore ways to grow their operations at the Orgill 2019 Spring Dealer Market, which was held Feb. 21-23 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
The show floor covered 1 million square feet and included two concept stores, multiple product showcases, US and Canadian promotional areas and an outdoor area complete with live demonstrations. It also offered the Retail Services area, where retailers could find out more about Orgill’s many programs and services. This area was home to the Learning Center, where industry experts hosted workshops and clinics covering a variety of topics.
“Orgill does a fantastic job of making their shows organized and easy for retailers to navigate,” says Sherry Cothron of Coastal Tool & Nail in Port Lavaca, Texas, who spent time at the show finding new products and connecting with vendors. “Everything is so well thought out. I’ve gotten to see new products and learn about all that’s available.
“I love the Learning Center, too,” she says. “The speakers do a great job, and I always bring home some new ideas.”
With so much to see, retailers in attendance say it’s important to come to the show prepared with a plan of how to best spend their time.
“We have seven employees here from our business,” says Jeremy Wooten of Diamond Home Hardware & Garden in Klamath Falls, Oregon. “On the first day, we explore all the show has to offer. On the second and third days, we do our buying.
“We are trying to bring better products to our customers, at better prices,” he says. “The Dealer Market helps us do that.”
A Model For Success
The two concept stores gave attendees real-life ideas for merchandising tactics and product selection. The first store, Community Building Supply, covered 5,500 square feet and focused on contractor customers. Featured departments included power tools, pro paint and construction fasteners, as well as an 800-square-foot tool rental area, complete with a service counter and free coffee.
The second store, Four Seasons Hardware, was a must-see for any retailers considering adding a new niche to their business. This store covered 29,000 square feet and highlighted 12 niche categories, along with a few innovative space-saving ideas.
Plenty of Products
One highlight of the Product Showcases, which illustrate Orgill’s breadth of product within a particular category, was the Electrical Showcase, which gave retailers the opportunity to see more than 16,000 square feet of LED lighting, smart home systems and other product assortments.
Another popular stop was the Impulse Showcase, which included snacks and seasonal items, as well as a number of merchandising resources, such as dump bins, stack outs and the clipstrip program, offering retailers ideas of how they could show off their best impulse items and ultimately increase their transaction sizes.
Other Product Showcases at Orgill’s Spring Dealer Market included the Worldwide Sourcing Showcase, Canada Smart Start Showcase, and the Spring Promotional Showcase, which included the popular “Spring is Here” lawn and garden program.
The Great Outdoors
Attendees could step out into the Florida sunlight of the Great Outdoors area, which housed the Outdoor Power Equipment Showcase and the Grilling Showcase. Vendors in both categories took advantage of the outdoor space to show off their products with live demonstrations.
Learning Opportunities
In the Retail Services area, retailers had the opportunity to learn about a number of Orgill’s products and services. At the Cleveland Research Company’s booth, retailers could learn about Orgill’s new partnership with the research firm. On the first day of the show, Mark Herbek, Cleveland Research Company’s executive director of market research, presented “Opportunities in 2019: Navigating a Stronger Big Box and eCommerce Environment,” where he provided a “State of the Industry” update.
Other educational workshops and clinics took place in the Learning Center throughout all three days of the show. They covered a number of topics relevant to the industry, such as finance, e-commerce, marketing and social media.
Orgill’s Fall Dealer Market will be held Aug. 22-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
