Recently, Tom and I flew into Vegas, the city where we met (yes, it’s quite the story-ask us sometime) for the National Hardware Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with customers, peers and colleagues, discover the latest trends in the home improvement & DIY industry or explore new products and innovations, the National Hardware Show is the place you want to be.
We’ve had a long standing relationship with the National Hardware Show where we used to exhibit our own products. We know how hard it is to bring innovation to market and how thrilling it can be to release new products at a trade show, which is why we were pumped to be invited to moderate the Influencer Summit this year at the show.
The show recognized that it’s important to market your products with people that the public are listening to. Make48 has worked with some super fun makers over the years, so we love showcasing their talents on and off the camera. April Wilkerson from Wilker Dos, Tools in Action faces Dan Maxey and Eric Jopp, Sarah Listi from Tool Girls Garage, Reclaimed Karma’s Chris & Yvonne Johnson, Travis Collins from Tools By Design, Kathryn Emery, and Brent Ridley from Tool Pros were just a few of panelists we got to see at the Influencer Summit. Attendees received an All-access pass to the National Hardware Show featuring hundreds of exhibitors and opportunities to make valuable business connections as well as learn from some of the best. It was a great group and the discussions were so insightful!
After completing our moderator duties, Tom and I headed to HABITAT, THE place to see all the latest in innovation and discover what will be next to market. As lovers of innovation, we can’t get enough of this area! We were tasked with discovering our “Favorite Finds” to present onstage later that afternoon. Here were our top finds:
Screw-On Funnel: A simple solution that screws onto almost any bottle to make pouring out the contents easier. Think motor oil, windshield washer fluid or liquid fertilizer!
Eye Muffs: A combo of safety glasses and protective ear muffs. Brilliant! Definitely something we could use on Make48 AND on the farm!
Rapid Rope: Utility rope in a can. Making your tool box/car tidier yet keeping it handy for when you need to haul that new piece of furniture home on your truck.
Trimxys: Electric weed trimmer/edger that attaches to your push mower! Get the chore done in one fell swoop. It was so well made.
Twisted Goat: These jumbo twist ties are coated in a nylon that will never wear out or cause the wire to break. Genius and it has so many uses!
Mosquito Sniper: A cross between a pump sprayer and a leaf blower, this product is able to give you a professional application of product on your yard and landscaping. As someone who gets eaten alive, this product was for me!
We really enjoyed getting to briefly know the inventors and showcasing their innovations to the crowd. It was a real thrill.
We then checked-in to the Innovation Stage where Tom sat on the Retail Ready Pitch Panel presented by the UIA where inventors pitched their products to the panel. Think a little bit Shark Tank, a little bit of great advice from these industry pros.
We enjoyed meeting people, discussing the latest in the industry and of course enjoyed the great food in Vegas. We would love to go back next year and hope to see some of you there!
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