Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
By Jake Kalnitz
SVP, Chief Merchandising Officer
True Value
In 2024, why do wholesale shows matter? Of course, they’re fun and a good excuse to travel—but how do they help you operate and grow your home improvement business?
True Value’s Fall Reunion is right around the corner, and I want to share how my merchandising team and I approach this product-centric event to give attendees the most meaningful experience possible.
Reflect the care retailers have for their communities.
Every product is carefully tested and chosen and the displays are optimized to help retailers visualize what their store could look like. Assortments of traditional, core items are continuously refreshed to connect to customers, and we showcase new items so they can keep up with trends in their market. We are here to take a load off retailers’ shoulders, and that includes providing ways for them to stay relevant and continue driving growth by moving products off the shelves.
Lean into independence.
Yes, we take over an entire convention center with the widest product options available—after all, urbanity, regional weather and local consumer preferences can vary for independent dealers. The advantage to this kind of independence is being inspired by fellow business owners and how they serve their communities. For example, every retailer has to address common concerns like lawn care and basic home maintenance. But not every home in every city in every region has the same exact solution, and that’s what makes each operation special and why Reunion is different from other shows. Attendees will get the actual product they need to solve their neighbors’ home improvement challenges, and they’ll also deepen their knowledge of products, retail business and trends.
Facilitate connections.
Just like your customers, you could parse together information here and there, but nothing beats working with another person to learn about a new product, master a new skill or strengthen expertise. Just like retailers provide expertise in their stores, attendees of Reunion connect directly with the vendors who make these products and learn more about them. They’ll hear from our merchants who can tell them why they’d choose specific products to perform well in each specific store, while gaining more insight into category trends. Attendees can join our Retail Best Practices Conference to hear from industry experts and discover how they can adapt to an ever-changing retail environment. And most important, every attendee has an opportunity to hear from their peers to understand how they are driving traffic and leveraging the True Value platform to win in their markets.
Reunion is exactly that—an opportunity to come together with fellow members and work together to create scale and best serve customers and the local community. Sure, it is technically a wholesale buying show, but we call it Reunion because it’s a twice-a-year, powerful reminder of how we all share one mission: to empower our communities through the simple act of caring for our homes.
