The NHS Show floor opened up at 9 a.m. to excited attendees ready to see colleagues in person, connect with exhibitors and learn about new products after more than two years away from the event.
Retailers have only recently had the opportunity to return to their wholesaler buying markets this fall, so the Show brings another chance to do product research and reconnect with vendors ahead of the spring.
“Being back on the Show floor engaging with manufacturers, vendors and other retailers truly feels like a step in the right direction as we continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic,” says director of retail operations for Bleyhl Co-op Cody Goeppner. “ The human connection is essential to our industry and to be at the show making those connections again just seems natural.”
That sentiment is shared by other retailers on the Show floor, most of whom have been away from live events since last spring until only recently.
“It’s good to be in person and be able to interact with all of the vendors,” says Brian Johnson, Sunpro retail general manager, who is a first-time Show attendee.
Exhibitors were also grateful to be back in person to share their products and services. Carson Grill, CEO of DZ Innovation, shared with attendees about his invention, the Touch Up Cup. The Cincinnati high schooler says he’s excited to be at NHS.
“This is my first National Hardware Show, and I’m excited to be able to share with people about the Touch Up Cup,” Grill says.
Educational Opportunities Abound on NHPA Stage
On the NHPA All-Industry Conference Stage, Scott Wright, executive director, advanced training programs for NHPA led a panel discussion on the future of retail with several NHPA Young Retailer of the Year Honorees. The retailers conducted a “mini SWOT analysis” of their operations, reflecting on the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of their businesses throughout the pandemic and looking ahead.
“The pandemic helped us learn that our teams are essential,” says Jonathan South, manager of Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware in Columbia City, Indiana. “Without their work and their ideas, we would have been able to operate the way we did. Our team stepped up to the plate with a homerun every time.”
Keynote speaker Dave Rosenberg got the attention of the audience with his presentation on leadership and best practices for creating self-directed teams. He reflected on his service in the U.S. Navy and how helping people understand their role as part of the bigger picture can have a lasting impact.
“When you’re hiring, you need to look for people who are going to be excited about what you do,” Rosenberg says. “You also need to give them the tools to get the job done.”
Dan Tratensek, chief operating officer and publisher for NHPA led a panel discussion with representatives from Sascho, Lancaster and True Value who talked about where the supply chain might be headed moving into 2022. The panelists agreed that supply chain challenges will continue into at least the middle of next year, but each company has committed to keeping their customers up to date.
“The key is communication,” says Lancaster president Geff Lynch. “We’re also working on more technology to make things more transparent to the customer.”
Josh Prigge, sustainability consultant with Sustridge Consulting, shared how companies can gain significant ROI by investing in sustainability. Finally, Rich Benninghoff, president and CEO of Malco Products, discussed his company’s “Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good” campaign and how investing in your company from top to bottom can improve employee morale and performance.
Click here to see the lineup for tomorrow’s events.
All About the NHS Backyard
The activity continued out in the NHS Backyard, a longtime favorite place to taste a sample hot off the grill. This year, the area featured the NHS Backyard Stage, where demonstrations included a celebratory painting session from Robbie “Splash” Smith in recognition of NHS’ 75th anniversary, lunchtime grilling from Traeger chef Chad Ward and an NHS Favorite Finds presentation from Dan Maxey from Tools In Action.
Also outside in the NHS Backyard, was the Make48 Van. All day long, attendees watched Jimmy DiResta make progress building a whiskey truck. He will continue the project starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow, so be sure to stop by to see his progress.