by Claudia Bruemmer

The National Hardware Show®, the industry’s biggest trade exhibition, is coming to Las Vegas May 10-12. The show is so popular that it’s already sold-out. In addition to first-time categories like Outdoor Recreation, DIY Security and Energy Efficient Products, the Show will feature over 600 new exhibitors.

With categories like Hardware & Tools, Homewares, Lawn & Garden/Outdoor Living, Paint & Accessories, Plumbing & Electrical, Storage & Organization, Tailgating, Camping & Picnic, and core product categories in the International Sourcing area, attendees get 9 shows in 1.

One of our WholesaleU advertisers, INSTA-LEVEL, will be exhibiting at the National Hardware Show in booth 4344. Their booth at a Home and Garden Show is shown above. Manager Eric Rasmussen of INSTA-LEVEL said, “We will have a drawing at the National Hardware Show twice a day for a free level when visitors come by our booth and leave their business cards.”

INSTA-LEVEL has been exhibited in a number of home remodeling and home and garden shows since their product was introduced in December 2010, and is looking forward to exhibiting at the 2011 National Hardware Show. “We are very excited to go to the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas in May,” said Rasmussen. “We believe that a tool company or retailer will want the INSTA-LEVEL™ to be part of their tool lineup,” he added.

Roger Pankow of INSTA-LEVEL said, “The response to the INSTA-LEVEL™ has been phenomenal. Everyone who looks at this new product thinks it is great, and we get comments like “Cool,” “Awesome,” “Wow,” and “Why didn’t someone think of that before.”

“The 2011 National Hardware Show will have something for everyone, focusing on both large and small retailers, spreading out into relevant new categories and exploring the expansive reach of social media like never before,” said Rich Russo, event director, National Hardware Show®. The major theme of the 2011 Show is “A New Way to Market,” as the show grows exponentially with an impressive list of global attendees from the normal retail and wholesale outlets, in addition to channels like grocery stores, drug stores, catalogers and Internet vendors that represent approximately $240 billion in sales revenue. The show will also offer special events that include product demonstrations, NRHA TV and social networking, not to mention the many presentations by industry experts.

Last, but not least, exhibitors with Energy Efficient Products will be given a special designation in the show directory and on the National Hardware Show® website, making it easy for show attendees to discover the latest new products in energy saving innovation. In addition to CFL lighting, the Energy Efficient Products category includes pipe insulation, weather stripping, programmable thermostats, motion sensor lights, dimmer switch