Practically fully booked

The National Hardware Show in Las Vegas from 7 – 8 May is practically fully booked, with 98 per cent of the exhibition space already allocated by the beginning of March. For the first time there will be a new product category concentrating on the Farm and Ranch segment. What is more, the Building Products category is also back at the fair again, reflecting the recovery of the housing market and its significance for the industry. The Pet Products category introduced last year is being continued, along with the equally relatively young category of Outdoors, Tailgate and Recreation. The product range is divided into eleven categories overall. These include the following, in addition to those already mentioned: Hardware and Tools; Homewares; International Sourcing; Inventor’s Spotlight; Lawn, Garden and Outdoor Living; PDRA Paint and Accessories; Plumbing and Electrical; Storage and Organization. In addition the organisers are again setting up three special areas to highlight the topic of innovation: the New Product World, New Product Launch Spotlight and Inventor’s Spotlight. The organisers attach great importance to offering additional events designed to make it worthwhile for the public to visit the fair. The North American Retail Hardware Association’s (NRHA) All-Industry Conference will extend over all three days. It will be particularly concerned with the topic of multi-channel. Kathy Daly-Jennings of Google, an expert on the retail scene, will be the keynote speaker. As previously announced, the Global Home Improvement Conference is due to be held on 8 May, the Wednesday of the fair. Among the organisers of this event will be the Worldwide DIY Council (WDIYC), which plans to hold its annual general meeting in Las Vegas on 6 May, the eve of the fair. One of the speakers there will be Clive Duncan, director of merchandise and store development for the Australian Bunnings chain.