New “Home Improvement” show rises in Chicago
We are less than three months away from the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas.
But a new event is rising from roots of the National Hardware Show’s previous locale in Chicago.
The Independent Garden Center Show (IGC Show) and the National Hardware Show (NHS) have jointly announced they have entered into an agreement that introduces the “Independent Home Improvement Show - Powered by NHS” with the IGC Show.
The event is scheduled to take place at McCormick Place and the Lakeside Center, Aug. 13 – Aug. 15.
According to IGC and NHS, the new event will be strategically co-located alongside the IGC Show with the Independent Home Improvement Show (IHIS) showcasing a broad range of categories of interest to independent retailers, such as hardware and tools, homewares, tailgate, BBQ, electrical and more.
Rich Russo, National Hardware Show vice president, said teaming up for the creation of the new even makes a good deal of sense when taking into account the cross-section of merchandise carried by independent hardware retailers.
“Many independent home improvement and hardware retail businesses include garden departments, and we have long recognized the IGC Show for its leadership as America’s biggest and best garden center event,” he said. “Additionally, both retailer audiences potentially sell various home improvement and houseware items from the vendors we will bring. It’s a perfect fit.”
Exhibiting vendor booths at the Independent Home Improvement Show will occupy a dedicated space, located adjacent to the IGC Show floor to facilitate attendee traffic across both product showcases.
Independent hardware retailers will also have the opportunity to register for Continuing Education IGC, a retail advancement program for independent garden centers. This includes five retail-focused tracks will cover merchandising, marketing, branding, store operations and much more.
Jeff Morey, IGC Show Founder and CEO, said, “We are very excited to team up with our friends at the National Hardware Show and bring this new show just for independent retailers to be held in conjunction with our show. It will be a real ‘win-win’ for everyone involved and is another help for independents to compete against big boxes.”
Morey calls the IGC Show’s alliance with the new Independent Home Improvement Show an important development for multiple independent retail channels.
“Independent hardware stores are so closely aligned to independent garden centers - they are cousins of sorts,” he said. “Each is positioned to benefit from the other’s unique experiences and perspectives as independent retailers.”
Morey also said that the alliance further expands the networking opportunities at the IGC Show, so that garden centers and hardware stores can together “celebrate the successes of independent retailing and share strategies to surmount today’s toughest challenges.”
“Independent Home Improvement Show at IGC Show opens the door to new opportunities for both independent retail sectors,” he added.
IHIS attendees will have full access to all of the amenities that the IGC Show offers: free admission to the trade show; free admission to all three keynotes; and Wednesday’s free networking party and concert with San Francisco music legends Starship featuring Mickey Thomas known for rock classics including, “We Built This City,” “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” “Sara” and other gems.
But a new event is rising from roots of the National Hardware Show’s previous locale in Chicago.
The Independent Garden Center Show (IGC Show) and the National Hardware Show (NHS) have jointly announced they have entered into an agreement that introduces the “Independent Home Improvement Show - Powered by NHS” with the IGC Show.
The event is scheduled to take place at McCormick Place and the Lakeside Center, Aug. 13 – Aug. 15.
According to IGC and NHS, the new event will be strategically co-located alongside the IGC Show with the Independent Home Improvement Show (IHIS) showcasing a broad range of categories of interest to independent retailers, such as hardware and tools, homewares, tailgate, BBQ, electrical and more.
Rich Russo, National Hardware Show vice president, said teaming up for the creation of the new even makes a good deal of sense when taking into account the cross-section of merchandise carried by independent hardware retailers.
“Many independent home improvement and hardware retail businesses include garden departments, and we have long recognized the IGC Show for its leadership as America’s biggest and best garden center event,” he said. “Additionally, both retailer audiences potentially sell various home improvement and houseware items from the vendors we will bring. It’s a perfect fit.”
Exhibiting vendor booths at the Independent Home Improvement Show will occupy a dedicated space, located adjacent to the IGC Show floor to facilitate attendee traffic across both product showcases.
Independent hardware retailers will also have the opportunity to register for Continuing Education IGC, a retail advancement program for independent garden centers. This includes five retail-focused tracks will cover merchandising, marketing, branding, store operations and much more.
Jeff Morey, IGC Show Founder and CEO, said, “We are very excited to team up with our friends at the National Hardware Show and bring this new show just for independent retailers to be held in conjunction with our show. It will be a real ‘win-win’ for everyone involved and is another help for independents to compete against big boxes.”
Morey calls the IGC Show’s alliance with the new Independent Home Improvement Show an important development for multiple independent retail channels.
“Independent hardware stores are so closely aligned to independent garden centers - they are cousins of sorts,” he said. “Each is positioned to benefit from the other’s unique experiences and perspectives as independent retailers.”
Morey also said that the alliance further expands the networking opportunities at the IGC Show, so that garden centers and hardware stores can together “celebrate the successes of independent retailing and share strategies to surmount today’s toughest challenges.”
“Independent Home Improvement Show at IGC Show opens the door to new opportunities for both independent retail sectors,” he added.
IHIS attendees will have full access to all of the amenities that the IGC Show offers: free admission to the trade show; free admission to all three keynotes; and Wednesday’s free networking party and concert with San Francisco music legends Starship featuring Mickey Thomas known for rock classics including, “We Built This City,” “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” “Sara” and other gems.