Are you ready to find some ideas to move your store in to the future? Then be sure to attend the North American Retail Hardware Association All-Industry Conference, which will be co-located with the National Hardware Show, held Tuesday, May 9 through Thursday, May 11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
NRHA’s mission is to help independent hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards become better and more profitable merchants. This year, the theme of the Conference is “Forward–Thinking Retail,” and the sessions and speakers provide the perfect opportunity for attendees to look ahead to the future of the industry—and their businesses.
There will be a variety of educational seminars and awards ceremonies offered on the NRHA Village Stage, located in the convention center’s lobby, near the entrance to the Central Hall. Attendees can gain insights into the industry and learn what other retailers are doing in their operations.
“We’re excited to be able to bring a top-notch group of speakers to our Conference this year,” says Bill Lee, NRHA’s president & CEO. “We think all attendees will be able to gain some useful information for their presentations that they can take back to their businesses. And we’re looking forward to honoring a group of well-deserved retailers during our various awards ceremonies. Those are always so inspiring.”
Below is a list of seminars, awards presentations and other events that will be offered as part of the NRHA All-Industry Conference.
Tuesday, May 9
9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Customers Uncensored: What They Wish You Knew Speaker: Dustin Kaehr, Retail Consultant/Motivator – Every retailer overestimates the quality of the experience they provide customers. Do you have a foundation to build a great customer experience upon? Did you ever wish you knew what customers really thought about your operation, your staff and your products?
In a bold approach intertwining personal and professional stories, and with full candor, Kaehr will speak the honest truth about what customers say when you aren’t around. You will walk away energized to move forward in the battle for customers’ wallets and hearts.
10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. KEYNOTE: Decoding the New Consumer Mind Speaker: Kit Yarrow, author, Decoding the New Consumer Mind: How and Why We Shop and Buy – A decade of swift and stunning shifts in how, when and why consumers shop and buy has created a more volatile marketplace and new, more dynamic consumer expectations. It’s also created competitive opportunities for the retailers and marketers that understand the new psychology of today’s consumers.
Retailers and marketers that tap into the psychology of modern consumers are able to connect more effectively and can more accurately predict what’s coming next. Through case examples, videos, humor and insights from her own award-winning research, Kit will inspire attendees to make immediate use of:
- Six significant sociocultural shifts that have permanently changed the psychology of consumers.
- Eight ways that consumers shop, decide and are motivated to buy differently today.
- Eight strategic, actionable recommendations to tap into today’s new consumer psychology.
1:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Break out of the Pack Speaker: Al Meyers, Kalypso – What does it take to make your customer drive past your competition to buy from you? Drawing on his years of experience in consulting, Al will present the different approaches high-performance retailers are using to innovate-and stay afloat-in today’s tough retail environment.
2:00 p.m.-2:45 p.m. Packaging and Merchandising Awards – NRHA will introduce the winners of the 2017 Packaging and Merchandising Awards and share a summary of judge commentary and emerging packaging trends. Attendees will get to see the best of the best in home improvement packaging and merchandising.
3:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Aubuchon Hardware’s Omnichannel Initiative “Aubuchon Go” Speaker: Will Aubuchon, CEO, Aubuchon Hardware – Aubuchon Hardware, the largest independent home improvement retailer in the U.S., is engaging in a bold and progressive omnichannel initiative called Aubuchon Go. This groundbreaking program will seamlessly blend customers’ experiences with Aubuchon both in the store and online. In this session, we will explore the topic of omnichannel retailing in detail, and Will Aubuchon will guide attendees through the process of Aubuchon Hardware’s 2016 launch of its omnichannel initiative.
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm NRHA Independent Retailer Reception Presented by: NRHA/Hardware Retailing magazine – NRHA invites all independent retailers attending the NHS to stop by the NRHA Village for a networking reception upon close of the show floor. Mix and mingle with fellow independent hardware store, home center and lumberyard owners and NRHA staff in a casual and welcoming setting. RSVP to kmchone-jones@nrha.org to attend.
Wednesday, May 10
9:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m. PDRA Presents: Benjamin Moore: “Store of Tomorrow” Speaker: Eugene Andreassi – Andreassi will discuss Benjamin Moore’s new store of the future concept, its origins and development and how the new retail model mirrors the future of what consumers are expecting.
10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. KEYNOTE: Your Remarkable Service Advantage Speaker: Mary Walter – Renowned retail expert Mary Walter will discuss customer service and engagement strategy and share how retailers can inspire their teams to provide winning service. She will provide insight into what truly drives the business from a service perspective. Mary draws on more than 20 years of experience working with retailers including Target, Gap and Ross to share firsthand stories of customer service solutions.
11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m. The Store is STILL Important Speaker: Jim Robisch, The Farnsworth Group – While online retail receives all the attention, this presentation will share proprietary consumer research that suggests the “in-store experience” still plays a critical role in shoppers’ buying habits. He will discuss why this is good news for independent retailers.
1:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m. NRHA Top Gun Awards Presented by: NRHA/Hardware Retailing magazine – This program is the industry’s chance to hear what today’s top independent retailers are thinking. NRHA and Hardware Retailing magazine will once again assemble a panel of the industry’s most successful and innovative independent retailers to share their stories and thoughts on the industry.
2:00 p.m.-2:45 p.m. Reimagine Retail – The National Hardware Show will award the grand prize of $100,000 to the winner of its Reimagine Retail program, which will give one independent home improvement retailer the funds for a business improvement project.
3:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Made in the USA Awards Presented by: Made in USA | GBQ Partners – Winners will reflect American manufacturing excellence in design, quality and innovation in the following categories: Best Packaging, On-Site Patriotic Marketing and Best New Product. 3:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m. PDRA Scholarship Presentation Presented by: Paint & Decorating Retailers Association (PDRA)
3:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living Awards Presented by: Lawn & Garden Retailer – The Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living Awards focus on innovative, new products within this product category. Browse the display area, located in Meeting Room, N245 on Level 2 to view the winning products that are voted on by a panel of industry judges during the Show.
4:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Homewares Awards Presented by: HomeWorld Business – The Homewares Awards highlight the “Best in Class” in the Housewares/Homewares product category. Browse the display area, located in Meeting Room, N245 on Level 2 to view the winning products that are voted on by a panel of industry judges during the Show.
5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. NRHA Retailers’ Choice Awards Presented by: NRHA/Hardware Retailing magazine – Moderator: Dan M. Tratensek, publisher, Hardware Retailing & NRHA For more than 50 years, Hardware Retailing magazine has been singling out the best of the best products at the National Hardware Show with its Retailers’ Choice Awards. Unlike other awards programs, products selected to receive a Retailers’ Choice Award aren’t chosen by editors; they are selected by a panel of distinguished retailers who buy and sell products for a living. This program not only honors manufacturers for their innovations, but also helps retailers identify new products to check out at the show.
Thursday, May 11
9:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m. Last Chance Look from the Show Floor: NRHA Panel – A group of representatives from NRHA will share their favorite areas and memories from this year’s show so you can take one final look before it’s too late.
11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. New Product Launch Awards Presented by: Amazon – Find new products that have not hit the 2017 market and have no pre-negotiations, pre-sales and no exclusives-truly new! Browse the display area, located adjacent to the NRHA Village and Stage, to view the winning products voted on by a panel of industry judges at the Show.
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. New Product World Awards Presented by: DIY Network – New Product World featured products are those just breaking into the industry! Scott Brun, VP of Programming for the DIY Network will review the products and will identify the “best in class” based in the following categories: Aesthetics, Differentiation/Uniqueness, Fills Consumer Need, Overall Value and Packaging/Merchandising Support.
The National Hardware Show celebrates a rich history spanning 72 years of serving the home improvement marketplace. From its early beginnings in New York during the post-World War II housing boom and eventual move to Chicago in the 1970s, to today’s current location in Las Vegas, the National Hardware Show continually evolves through the industry’s involvement, commitment and passion to improving America’s quality of life through their homes. Today, the National Hardware Show is the place for global manufacturers, associations, organizations and the media to unveil their new products, ideas and insight to a broad spectrum of home improvement resellers. Registration is now open. To register, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com.
