Garden & Outdoor Living Awards Product displays.
New Product Launch and Inventors Spotlight were also popular
areas to find up-and-coming products.
One product in the New Product Launch area was the Snapatite,
a plastic multi-use utensil that includes a spoon, fork, knife, and bottle
opener. "We've priced the Snapatite in a way that it's almost the price
of something disposable, but it's more than that," says Sonal M. Patel
of Sona Enterprises, the company that created the product.
One exhibitor in Inventors Spotlight was Monkey Rung, a ladder
accessory tool that can connect on just about any type of ladder. "It's
great to be at the show and have this exposure to all of these
companies, both national and international," says company president
Lawrence Ayala. "It's our first time here at the show, so we're thrilled."
Other featured areas, including Made in USA, Pet Products and
Farm & Ranch, continue to be popular.
Berry, a Made in USA exhibitor, manufactures trash bags, tapes,
plastic sheeting and drop cloths. The company's products are made
in several states throughout the country.
"Customers look for products that are made in the USA—it's a
decision maker for them," says Sonya Smith, Berry's director of
marketing. "Retailers and consumers alike see this as a very
important factor when making their buying decisions."
Cardinal Gates was at the show with a line of safety gates and
other safety products for both kids and pets. "Children grow out of
different stages so quickly, but a dog is a long-term dweller and part
of the family," says Annette Dalton of Cardinal Gates.
REIMAGINE RETAIL
Caribou Jack's Trading Co. in Soda Springs, ID was announced
as the winner of the Reimagine Retail program, which is sponsored
by the National Hardware Show and will give owner Robert Lau and
his staff $100,000 to build an in-store café, where they can host
