by Claudia Bruemmer

The National Hardware Show closed May 12 after an eventful and successful two days in Las Vegas. “The buzz that began with the marching band at the Opening Ceremony continued right through to the end of the Show,” said Ed Several, senior VP and general manager of the National Hardware Show®. “We are so pleased to hear all of the great feedback from attendees and exhibitors who successfully identified products and services to move their business forward. The increased attendance and increased buying on the Show floor creates a strong foundation for 2012.”

The Show featured more than 2,300 vendors and over 100,000 products. NHS reported that attendance at its 66th annual National Hardware Show increased for the second year in a row, setting an all time record. The show, which concluded on May 12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, resulted in increased buying and featured the sharing of best practices from all disciplines. Attendance increased 24 percent this year on top of a 20 percent increase last year. Exhibitor bookings for 2012 are well on the way, signifying the 2011 event was a huge success. Next year’s Las Vegas Show will be held May 1-3, 2012.

Attendees and exhibitors alike were excited about the value of the time spent at this year’s event. “This was a great show,” said Dominique Castro, TopTenWholesale Marketing Manager. “It was wonderful to receive a compliment on our newsletter from a member of a 500+ independent ecommerce group who said it was her favorite and she appreciated the tips we provide,” she added.

Justin Prescott, VP of Operations, JPC Communications (TopTenWholesale, Manufacturer.com, WholesaleU, OffPriceNetwork) said, “We had a great response from attendees. I was totally impressed with the way NHS interacts with attendees and exhibitors, directly and virtually, which brings an exciting feeling to the marketplace. These people make everyone want to get involved, and this takes away the monotony and boredom of traditional trade shows.”

This year, the National Hardware Show also marked the debut of Independents’ Day – an entire day devoted to independent retailers and their contributions to the home improvement industry. Hardware store owners and other attendees took a break from the excitement on the Show floor to gather about the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) Village stage to share ideas about promoting their businesses in the community.

Independents’ Day also featured the NRHA’s launch of PlanItDIY, a new consumer marketing program designed to promote independent home improvement retailers to consumers as a source for home projects and advice. The NRHA announced the PlanItDIY.com website, which generates traffic to independent home improvement retailers and provides consumers with practical how-to resources.