National Hardware Show(R) Opens Today

LAS VEGAS, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hardware Show® kicked off today at the Las Vegas Convention Center with a procession of bagpipers, an orange juice toast and an explosion of confetti celebrating the Show's 65th Anniversary. The Home Depot co-founder Pat Farrah, wearing an MSA Safety Works stars and stripes hardhat, performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting by grabbing a Great Neck Saw and cutting a three-tier wooden "birthday cake."

"I went to my first Hardware Show in the 1960s, and I'm every bit as excited now. I'm putting everyone on notice: the economy is coming back. Let's make it a great a show!" he said.

Traffic was brisk the first day of the Show, which is completely sold out to exhibitors from the Home Improvement, Lawn & Garden/Outdoor Living, Tailgating and other key industries. The attendee list is a veritable Who's Who in important players in the home products industry, covering not only traditional retail and wholesale outlets but untraditional channels like grocery, mass, drug, catalog, Internet and international retailers. This includes industry giants like The Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Sears, True Value, Costco, Sam's Club, Ace Hardware and many others representing more than $237 billion in sales revenue. Attendance overall is up over last year -- quite a feat in a challenging economy.

"We've already been approached by Home Shopping Network and three big box stores," said Jeff Meltzer of Melco Direct, which is promoting the MyTdriver and Step 'n Wrap – both "As Seen on TV" products. "We knew the National Hardware Show would be great because you see people from house wares, hardware, industrial contractors and commercial buyers," he said. "This is the place to get the best variety of buyers."

The Show's new features include the Tailgating area in the parking lot, and attendees can visit the New Product Launch Spotlight in the lobby of the Central Hall. An impressive lineup of seminars today included the keynote address by Bridget Brennan, CEO of Female Factor and author of the best-selling book Why She Buys: The New Strategy for Reaching the World's Most Powerful Consumers.

"The No. 1 rule in retail is, 'Know thy customer,' and at most times and in most places, that customer is female," Brennan said. "I think the home improvement industry has an enormous opportunity with women, who are responsible for initiating 50% of home improvement projects and are worth $70 billion to the industry. The bar for customer service is so low that those who provide it will find a very enthusiastic audience."

Fred Miller, managing director of the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), gave a presentation titled, "The What and Where of 2010 Planned Home Improvement Projects," in which he shared trends in home improvement spending on both a national and – for the first time – regional level. "The national picture is helpful, but there are important differences market by market," Miller said. "If you are making market by market decisions -- if, say, you're in advertising or marketing -- it's important to be able to hone in and focus on specific areas of the country. You'll be able do your job better and adjust relative spending to get the biggest bang for your buck."

Special events the first day also included the Show's first-ever Twitter and Facebook Party – courtesy of Organize.com, which emphasized that social media opportunities are one of the biggest stories in home improvement and corporate America. In addition, Home Channel News hosted the 26th Annual Golden Hammer Awards, where The Home Depot's Farrah was inducted into the Home Channel News Hall of Fame.

"What an exciting day for our great industry, to come together for the 65th time to learn, discover and be inspired by new products and new companies," said Ed Several, Group Vice President & Show Manager, National Hardware Show. "I'm impressed with the strong attendance and all of the orders being written at the various booths."

Second-day activities will include the Tailgate Display & Party, which will take place at 4:30 PM in the parking lot, and HomeWorld Business magazine's Third Annual Innovations Awards. Seminars will run continuously throughout the Show in three areas: the NRHA Village and Industry Summit Stage (Central Hall Lobby); the PDRA Show & Future Fair Stage (Show Floor, Central Hall); and the Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living Stage (North Hall Lobby). Former Wal-Mart chairman Don Soderquist will deliver a keynote address 9:30 a.m. on Ethical Leadership; Imagine the Possible; The Impact of Culture on Success."

The National Hardware Show®, which will run through May 6, celebrates a rich history spanning 65 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 insights to a broad spectrum of home improvement resellers.

SOURCE The National Hardware Show