What’s Happening at the National Hardware Show?

The National Hardware Show is less than one week away, and there are plenty of events, appearances and awards programs to see. The Carey Brothers and their team will be at the show too, doing remote broadcasts from the Wet&Forget and Danco booths.

According to Rich Russo, vice president of the National Hardware Show. “This year’s Show is set to provide a number of great opportunities for everyone in the home improvement industry to network, attend educational seminars, find new products & trends and learn more about the home improvement industry and where it’s headed.”

70th Anniversary
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Show, which started in 1945 in New York City by Abe Rosenburg and Charlie Snitow of General Hardware Manufacturing Co. (today General Tools & Instruments). Reed Exhibitions acquired Snitow’s trade show business in the early 1960s, and in 1975, the Show moved to Chicago. It was held there each year until 2004, when it moved to the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Past attendees and exhibitors at the Show have contributed photos, stories and other memories from past years. To see the collage of these memories follow the National Hardware Show on Facebook (facebook.com/nationalhardwareshow), Twitter (@NHS_Show) or Instagram (@nationalhardwareshow).

Speakers
The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) will host its All-Industry Conference at the Show. It will be held on the NRHA Village Stage, now located on the Show floor in the Central Hall.

“NRHA is excited and proud to be able to bring this group of presenters to the Show this year,” says Bill Lee, NRHA’s president and CEO. “We know how great a role the generational differences is playing, and will continue to play, throughout the home improvement marketplace, and we wanted to address these topics head-on.”

The theme for the conference is “Generations,” and the speakers who will be presenting on the NRHA Village Stage can offer some ideas on how to best relate to employees and customers of these different generations.

See below for a schedule of the speakers. All sessions are complimentary for National Hardware Show® attendees, media, guests and exhibitors. For more information about each, visit nrhaconference.com.

Tuesday, May 5: 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. KEYNOTE: When Generations Connect Scott Zimmer, generational expert + keynote speaker, Bridgeworks11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m. Generational Buying Patterns in the Home Improvement Industry Jim Robisch, senior partner, The Farnsworth Group 1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m. Mobile Marketing for the Generations Pat Murphy, vice president of mobile relationship management, FunMobility, Inc. Wednesday, May 6: 9:30 a.m.–10:15 a.m. PANEL: The Next Generation of Independent Owners Moderated by Scott Wright, executive director, Retail Leadership Institute, NRHA 10:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m. KEYNOTE: Home Sweet Home (Results of a new joint research project.) Presented By: Independent We Stand & NRHA 11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Succession Planning in the Home Improvement Industry Gary Pittsford, CFP®, president, Castle Wealth Advisors

Celebrity Appearances
The National Hardware Show isn’t without its share of celebrities. Take some time to visit with a few of them as you walk the Show floor.

Sports fans will most likely know two of the celebrities: former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Greene.

Mike Holmes, professional contractor and host and creator of the TV series “Holmes on Homes,” “Holmes Inspection” and “Holmes Make It Right,” will also make a special appearances at the 3M and Group BBH, Inc. booths.

“On the House” co-hosts James and Morris Carey will be broadcasting live from the Danco booth and the Wet & Forget booth

Meet Andy & Candis Meredith of the HGTV show “Old Home Love” and Irwin “The General” Raymer from The Discovery Channel’s “Tanked,” both at The Bottom Feeder. And meet Maria Curcio & Veronica Perlongo, who made history on Shark Tank with BuggyBeds Peace of Minds products, at the VCM Products/Buggy Beds booth.

Awards Programs
In addition to networking and educational seminars, the National Hardware Show is a time to honor retailers, manufacturers and others for their contributions to the industry. There are plenty of awards programs taking place throughout the show. See below for a full list of these programs.

Tuesday, May 5: 2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m. Packaging and Merchandising Awards Presented by NRHA NRHA Village Stage 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Golden Hammer Awards Presented by Hardware + Building Supply Dealer Central Hall, Channel Leaders Club Lounge, Booth #3055 Wednesday, May 6: 1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m. NRHA Top Gun Awards Presented by NRHA and Hardware Retailing Magazine NRHA Village Stage 3:00 p.m.–3:15 p.m. American Manufacturing Awards Sponsored by Made in USA and GBQ NRHA Village Stage 3:45 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Lawn, Garden and Outdoor Living Awards Presented by Lawn & Garden Retailer NRHA Village Stage 4:00 p.m. 50 Campfires – The Camping Authority Awards Presented by 50 Campfires Outdoor, Tailgate & Recreation Area 4:00 p.m.–4:15 p.m. Homewares® Show Awards Presented by HomeWorld Business NRHA Village Stage 4:00 p.m.– 4:30 p.m. Game Ball Awards Presented by Tailgater Magazine Outdoor, Tailgate & Recreation Stage 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. NRHA Retailers’ Choice Awards Presented by NRHA and Hardware Retailing Magazine NRHA Village Stage Thursday, May 7: 11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m. New Product Launch Awards Presented by Amazon NRHA Village Stage 11:15 a.m.–11:30 a.m. New Product World Awards Presented by DIY Network NRHA Village Stage

Tailgate/NASCAR sponsorship + sponsors
The Outdoor, Tailgate & Recreation area of the Show will host a new event this year: an all-new NASCAR Racing Experience.

With the NASCAR Racing Experience, which is sponsored by Swift Green Filters, Scott’s Miracle Gro and Plastic Displays & Fixtures Co., attendees will have the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a real NASCAR driver. Tickets and Pitstop Passes will be handed out at the NASCAR Racing Experience booth (#TG362), at the registration desk and at the sponsors’ booths.

Visit the booths of the different Pitstop Pass sponsors to learn more about those companies and their products and to get your passes stamped. Once all sponsors have stamped the pass, bring it to the NASCAR Racing Experience booth for your chance to win NASCAR tickets. Racers with the fastest simulator times each day will win two tickets to NASCAR events of your choice.

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