06 May Trends Taking Root at the National Hardware Show 2016
This week, I’m in Las Vegas attending the 2016 Hardware Show. The show is attended by nearly 20,000 owners of independent hardware stores throughout North America and the manufacturing companies who sell to them.
These retailers have long struggled to compete with big box home centers such as Home Depot, Lowes and Menards. Typically, they use personal service, DIY expertise, unique product mix and convenient location as their primary weapons in their battles with the big boxes.
Many come to the Hardware Show looking for innovative new products that haven’t been picked up by the big boxes. They’re looking for products that tie into emerging retail trends that they’re experiencing. Below is a listing of some of the more interesting trends and products that I saw at this year’s Hardware Show.
Trend 1: Marketing to Millennials.
Much has been written on this topic. The hardware trade is well positioned to educate, which is one of its core strengths. Many millennials have little knowledge of the “home arts” because they were raised in dual-income households where parents did not have time to do DIY home improvement, gardening or lawncare tasks. Instead, the parents often hired outside services to complete these tasks for them. How will hardware retailers educate? Their strongest weapon is personal service from experienced floor staff, who can teach millennials about home arts tasks, success tips and the products required.
Trend 2: Not available at Home Depot or Lowes.
A second weapon is the hardware retailer merchandising mix. Savvy hardware retailers sell a blend of products – some of which can be found in big box home centers, more of which can only be found in the hardware channel or online. Often these products are ones that don’t sell well in big box retailers.
Below
is one unique product that will be featured in the hardware channel this summer.
- Sustane, a Minnesota-based manufacturer of natural fertilizers for sports turf and organic agriculture, is now selling its fertilizer and compost teabag products at select hardware chains.
Trend 3: Outdoor Entertaining.
Outdoor entertaining remains hot. This year, there were a plethora of grills, fire
pits, furnishings, design accent products and more. DIY and solar lighting products abounded at the show. The products had unique, interesting design aesthetics. More importantly, all were powered by energy-efficient 
LED bulbs or by solar cells and require no hardwiring. On the outdoor lighting scene, check out Northern International lighting, as well as Watt and Home, both international leaders who specialize in outdoor lighting. For unique salt-water pots, planters and accent pieces (that can even withstand a Minnesota winter!), check out CompoClay, a Washington-based home and gardening powerhouse.
Trend 4: Gardening
Gardening, a growth area that many hardware cooperatives such as Ace or True Value have been pushing with 
their members, is starting to truly take root (pun intended). Many hardware retailers now have garden centers within their stores. They offer a variety of premium annuals, container vegetables, perennials and organic
seeds. To learn about some of the best companies practicing these methods, check out Burpee Home Gardens and Lake County Seeds.
Trend 5: General Store
Most hardware stores started out as general stores – especially those in smaller towns. Today, smart hardware retailers are striving to provide a homier type of merchandising environment for their shoppers. One interesting example is Orchard Supply.
For more information, contact Mike Reiber@mreiber@axiomcom.com.
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