JULY 2019 RETAILOBSERVER.COM
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THE 2019 NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW
®
a new company structure has enabled True Value to accelerate strategic
investments without cutting into retailers' profits.
Following Mr. Hartmann's address, the NRHA All-Industry Conference
featured 27 sessions including "Independent Innovations: How Retailers
Are Differentiating," moderated by Dan Tratensek of Hardware Retailing
and the NRHA. The session offered attendees a chance at an inside look
at how independent home improvement retailers around North America
are differentiating their operations through service merchandising,
product selection and in-store experiences.
The all-new Small Build & Technology Conference was jam-packed
with a variety of all-star speakers covering topics relevant to the attendees,
from tiny living and community to up-to-date trends and the transforming
of the industry. Arnold Stalk, founder & CEO of Veterans Village Las
Vegas, and Gabrielle Rapport, founder and executive director of
Operation Tiny Home, discussed a plethora of topics during their session
on "Pathways to Eliminating Homelessness Through Tiny Housing
Communities." As an up-and-coming trend, Stalk and Rapport were able
to shine a light on everything that comes with a tiny home, including
zoning, the tiny home building process from planning, and funding and
project management.
Zack Giffin and John Weisbarth, co-hosts of Tiny House Nation,
delivered a presentation on "Community Building with Purpose." During
their keynote, Zack and John defined the role of the small build and
construction technology industries in bringing affordable and sustainable
housing to communities throughout the world.
The Annual Tailgate, Backyard & BBQ Party was again a great fan
favorite! Hosted in the Las Vegas Convention Center's Silver parking lot,
the party took place on a beautiful afternoon and offered badged NHS
participants free food, drinks and music! The lively event gave the
attendees a chance to experience a variety of products in a venue that felt
like their own backyard.
In New Product World, the attendees discovered the freshest products
released in the last 12 months, plus trends across all product categories.
The New Product World displays were located in the Central and North
Halls and boasted winners in each category of the NHS Awards program.
Cheryl Walsh, merchandising vice president for Hardware, Lowes
Companies, said, "One of our favorite parts of the show was actually
seeing the innovation and the new products. We didn't know there were
going to be so many new products and connections to be made there.
That was really exciting!"
SAVE THE DATE
The National Hardware Show will celebrate its 75th anniversary
next year and will be held May 5-7, 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention
Center. Visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com to stay up to date through-
out the year.
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