How to Prepare to Exhibit at National Hardware Show 2024: Tips for Exhibitors

About National Hardware Show 2024

The National Hardware Show 2024, set in Las Vegas, is a prominent event for the home improvement industry. It serves as a hub for professionals to network, discover trends, and explore new products. The show emphasizes innovation and industry connections, attracting a diverse audience from the global community. It includes a variety of activities and experiences, notably featuring an outdoor area, highlighting its focus on bringing together various aspects of the industry in a dynamic, interactive environment. 

Who Attends National Hardware Show 2024?

Attendees of the National Hardware Show 2024 include a broad spectrum of professionals from the home improvement and DIY industry. This encompasses retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers from various sectors such as hardware, tools, outdoor living, lawn and garden, paint, and more. The event serves as a meeting point for industry leaders and innovators, providing a platform for networking, learning about new trends, and discovering innovative products.

How to Exhibit at National Hardware Show 2024?

To exhibit at the National Hardware Show 2024, interested parties should visit the official website and complete an exhibitor inquiry form. This process involves providing company and contact information and specifying the nature of the products or services to be exhibited. The show organizers will then contact the exhibitor with more information, including booth options, pricing, and additional resources. For detailed instructions and to start the process, please visit the National Hardware Show website.

Why Exhibit at National Hardware Show 2024?

Exhibiting at the National Hardware Show 2024 offers numerous benefits, such as the opportunity to connect with a wide array of industry professionals, including retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. It’s a platform for showcasing new products, enhancing brand visibility, and networking with key decision-makers in the home improvement sector. Exhibitors can also gain insights into emerging industry trends and consumer preferences, making it an ideal venue for expanding business reach and fostering growth.

Featured Exhibitors/ Presenters/ Sessions/ Keynotes

The National Hardware Show 2024 will feature a diverse range of educational events, keynotes, and special sessions. Notable events include:

• NHS Keynotes: These will take place on the NHS Innovation Stage, focusing on the future of retail. For example, previous keynotes included topics like “Understanding Today’s Pro & DIY Customer” by Grant Farnsworth of The Farnsworth Group and “How Cloud Technology Gives Retailers Capabilities and Security that Define their Future” by Ruben Muruato from Epicor.
• Foundations of Merchandising Management Live!: This new series is run by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and is designed to train team members in advanced product sourcing, merchandising, and acquisition strategies.
• Inventors Education, Hosted by the United Inventors Association (UIA): This includes educational seminars and “Shark Tank” style product pitch panels.
• Favorite Finds Hosted by Industry Influencers: On all three days of NHS, hardware and home improvement influencers will showcase their favorite finds from exhibitors across all product categories.
• DIY Demos: These sessions allow attendees to witness home improvement and DIY products in action.
• Special Events: These include a Happy Hour in the Backyard Beer Garden, a Welcome Reception, and the NHS Celebrity-Chef Cook-Off.
• NHS & NHPA Awards: Various awards will be presented, including the NHPA Retailer’s Choice Award and the NHS Most-Loved Award.

Preparing to Exhibit at National Hardware Show 2024

Trade show exhibits are a big investment; here’s what you need to make your time successful:

We’ve created this comprehensive Trade Show Preparation Guide, which you download for free, to help you prepare for the show.

Set Clear Goals for Your Trade Show Experience 

Asking yourself the following questions can help with this task. Once you have the answers to these questions, you can develop a clear plan to reach your goals and measure your success.

• What do you hope to gain from National Hardware Show 2024? 
• How many attendees do you want to draw in, and how many leads do you want to generate? 
• What products do you want to showcase? 
• Are you launching a product or promoting your business? 

Do Your Research

Although you can’t attend everything, you can maximize your time by putting yourself in reach of your target audience at all times. Focus on the expos and educational events that are most likely to include your target customers so you can put all your attention on those most likely to buy.

Budget and Register for Your Space

When you register for National Hardware Show 2024, be sure to find out all you can about your space, such as its location on the floor, other exhibitors near you, the typical traffic in the area and what’s included in the space, such as lighting.

Plan Your Exhibit

The last thing you want is a cluttered booth. To plan your exhibit, decide on who you want to reach and what products, demonstrations and promotional materials are best suited to their needs. If you’re targeting multiple audiences, consider the best products to launch or showcase to reach a wide variety of attendees.

Advertise Well in Advance

Trade show promotion should start months in advance. Promote your attendance on social media, your website, in press releases and through email blasts to ensure that your customers have time to plan. Utilize information such as the attendee list to reach new customers before the show even starts. 

Tips for Exhibiting at National Hardware Show 2024

When planning to exhibit at the National Hardware Show 2024, consider the following tips:

Engage on Social Media

Use social media outlets to share your trade show exhibit information, drum up anticipation for your giveaways or product launches and share behind-the-scenes tidbits like your team packing for the event or show meetings. Be sure to use the show’s hashtags or other relevant tagging to get your posts into the online conversation. 

Draw the Crowd

Use an interactive display, such as a game, contest or raffle to draw people’s interest to your booth. Giving away prizes through raffles or contests is a great way to collect information about visitors and encourage more traffic to your booth.

Bring Promotional Materials

Make sure you devote enough of your budget to an array of promotional materials. You should have order forms, business cards, price sheets, brochures, flyers and more that you can hand out to visitors to ensure you stay in their minds.

Keep Staff at Your Booth

At a show, you’ll want to attend networking events and educational seminars, so it’s important to make sure that your booth is never empty. When you’re preparing for the show, ensure you have enough team members attending the show to man the booth the entire time the show is open and greet visitors to engage them with your business.

Follow up With Attendees

Following up with your leads is almost as important as planning for the show itself. Take notes during the event to be sure you remember everyone in all the chaos, and take the time to note any opportunities for a smoother event experience in the future.

Planning on Exhibiting at National Hardware Show 2024?

With so many home improvement and DIY professionals and vendors, there’s no better place to network in the home improvement and DIY industry than at National Hardware Show 2024. This event not only provides endless opportunities for networking and business relationships, but it also features some of the top educational sessions in the field.

If you’re planning to attend, be sure you make the most of your experience and investment with a stunning booth design that showcases your brand. At Xibit Solutions, we specialize in creating a professional booth experience from start to finish, including show displays and logistics, to ensure you make a lasting impression. No matter your budget or needs, we’ll help you make your mark on the National Hardware Show 2024 with customized planning and designs.

Contact Xibit Solutions today to learn more about our trade show booth design services and see what we can do to make the National Hardware Show 2024 a success.