Seven things to know about NHS

A Q&A with the National Hardware Show’s Rich Russo



Q: What’s new on the show floor?



We’ve made some exciting changes to the floor plan. The Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living and Hardware categories will move over to the South Hall, offering one location to see Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living, Hardware & Tools, Pet Products and Farm & Ranch. This move helped reorganize Homewares, PDRA Paint & Accessories Show, Plumbing & Electrical, and International Sourcing in the Central Hall. This also allows for the co-located Lancaster Buying Show to be located directly in the Central Hall. And finally, the Tailgate area will move in between Central and South Halls, serving as a connection point between both halls.



Q: What about special events?



There will be a lot of networking and awards events taking place throughout the Show. And to make it all easier to navigate, the feature areas will also move right onto the Show floor, where attendees will find Made in the USA, NRHA Village & Stage, Homewares and Lawn, Garden and Outdoor Living Awards programs, New Product World, New Product Launch and Social Media Zone.



Q: Any lessons from last year?



Plenty. One of the big surprises from 2014, which will expand in 2015, is the Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Recovery category. Located within the Homewares area, this category will double in size and feature over 50 exhibiting companies with products focused on making sure consumers are prepared in case of emergency and providing the tools to recover in the event of a natural disaster.



Q: What’s new in my category?



There’s a lot new. We’ll host more than 800 new companies in all categories, and we’ll have over 1,000 new products in the New Product World and New Product Launch areas. Each product category will highlight exhibitors brand new to the show, and that will make it easy for you to discover new brands and products within your target categories. Also, if you are looking for new products, Inventors Spotlight is always the place to visit, as you can view never-before-seen products from over 120 brand new inventors.



Q: What’s on the must-see list?



Also new this year, buyers and sellers will be matched based on their needs. So if buyer attendees are looking for new products, they should fill out their registration information as accurately as possible, and the Show will provide them with a matched list of “must-see” exhibitors.



Q. Can I take it home with me?



Yes. The Show is launching an entirely new concept this year where buyers will have the opportunity to bid for products being auctioned off from exhibiting companies, right on the Show floor. Products will range from overstock and floor models to package change and seasonal change, and all attendees will bid directly from their mobile or tablet devices. (If you don’t have one, you’ll be able to participate in person.) The auction will run throughout the Show — additional details coming soon!



Q. What else is happening?



The National Hardware Show is celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year. We’ll have many surprises in store — stay tuned for some exciting announcements. And to help celebrate, we want to hear from you! We’re collecting memories, innovative products you first saw at the Show, historical moments in the industry and more. Submit your memories at nationalhardwareshow.com/celebrate.