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Sales are growing at House-Hasson Hardware dealer markets and so are the vendor displays.
Figures for House-Hasson’s October 2017 dealer market in Sevierville, Tennessee, saw a 13 percent sales increase over 2016, which was up 14 percent over 2015. In addition, the number of vendors increased by 10 percent at the 2017 event.
“A growing number of vendors are bringing their National Hardware Show® booths to our markets, so we’re seeing some bigger displays,” Don Hasson, president of House-Hasson Hardware, says. “They know it’s an important show.”
Stanley Hand Tools, DeWalt and Midwest Fastener have expanded their displays at House-Hasson dealer markets.
“It makes a statement when vendors go to the effort and expense of bringing the display they use at the annual National Hardware Show in Las Vegas to our market,” Hasson says.
Company officials also noticed a bump in market attendance and activity from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, states principally served by House-Hasson’s 300,000-square-foot Prichard, West Virginia, warehouse. House-Hasson customers are served from Prichard and from the company’s 400,000-square-foot Knoxville, Tennessee, warehouse.
The company attributes increases in Amish customers to the attendance growth in those areas.
House-Hasson noticed its retailers buying for year-round needs instead of with seasonal focuses.
“Rather than coming just to buy lawn and garden, wintertime products or another seasonal need, dealers are using markets in terms of buying for year-round profitability,” Hasson says. “That’s the advantage of growing attendance in dealers and vendors. Each brings benefits to the other.”
The next House-Hasson dealer market is scheduled for Feb. 1-3, 2018, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
“We hold our markets in locations where dealers and their families can enjoy themselves,” Jason Monroe, House-Hasson merchandising vice president, says. “Combining market deals that improve profitability with the ability to enjoy themselves in a vacation destination, dealers are taking advantage of both.”
House-Hasson is the nation’s largest independent regional hardware distributor.
