Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Why the Hardlines Conference is moving to October at the same time as a new hardware show in Canada
In the dead of Canadian winter, dealers are least likely to be pricing out major renovation or building jobs, which makes this time ideal for leaving the store and doing a little shopping themselves. That’s why the regional building materials shows are held during this time.
Leading off the show season is the Prairie Showcase and Convention, held Jan. 19-21 in Saskatoon by the Western Retail Lumber Association. Suppliers consider it the number-one buying show in the country, thanks to the turnout of dealers from across the Prairies. In fact, this year’s show drew an additional 100 dealers from British Columbia.
However, another strong buying show is coming up in March, in Moncton, N.B. The 2006 Atlantic Building Materials Show has been extant much longer than the one in the West, and is facing the challenges of a consolidating market place. Nevertheless, it remains an important buying show that manages to draw dealers from throughout Atlantic Canada, including a very strong contingent from Newfoundland. It also attracts exhibitors from across the country, who are familiar with the value of the show. This one is run by the Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association March 23-25.
In between these shows is a relative newcomer, the Winter Buying Show, put last weekend by the Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association. In only its third year, this show’s star is still on the ascendancy, as it gains more critical mass each year, including double the pre-registration of last year’s event. However, because its dealer base is drawn from Ontario, most of these dealers, especially in central and southern parts of the province, have the benefit of easier access to the vendor base, which is largely located here. Nevertheless, the new show is fast becoming regarded as a must-attend for the LBM community in the province.
Now Canada has a new show: the National Hardware Show Canada. Owned by Reed Exhibitions, the same organization that mounts the successful National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, the new arrival will set up October 17-18, 2006 at the Toronto Congress Centre. I don’t believe the new show will really compete with the regional association LBM shows. NHS Canada will be a hardware/home improvement/paint & décor/lawn & garden/outdoor living show, dedicated to the broader idea of "Home Enhancement".
Here at Hardlines, we’ve been invited to hold our incredible Annual Hardlines Conference during the same time. We have moved the date and location of the Hardlines Conference so that those delegates who also wish to attend the new National Hardware Show at the Toronto Congress Centre, which follows directly from our event, can do so.
Same great Hardlines Conference, simply a new date and a new location.
So mark your calendars: Oct. 16-17, 2006, which overlap with the Show’s on Oct. 17 and 18. Not only that, but the one and only Outstanding Retailer Awards are coming too. Those prestigious awards, presented by Hardware Merchandising magazine, first joined with the Hardlines Conference two years ago.
I believe the industry can benefit from a conference and awards program that features a trade show. The combined event will attract a broader range of retail and buyer delegates, enhancing the value of the Conference overall, without compromising its appeal to the senior management level.
Thank you; I look forward to seeing you Oct. 16-18 at this exciting combined event.
Michael McLarney
Editor & Publisher, Hardlines
Leading off the show season is the Prairie Showcase and Convention, held Jan. 19-21 in Saskatoon by the Western Retail Lumber Association. Suppliers consider it the number-one buying show in the country, thanks to the turnout of dealers from across the Prairies. In fact, this year’s show drew an additional 100 dealers from British Columbia.
However, another strong buying show is coming up in March, in Moncton, N.B. The 2006 Atlantic Building Materials Show has been extant much longer than the one in the West, and is facing the challenges of a consolidating market place. Nevertheless, it remains an important buying show that manages to draw dealers from throughout Atlantic Canada, including a very strong contingent from Newfoundland. It also attracts exhibitors from across the country, who are familiar with the value of the show. This one is run by the Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association March 23-25.
In between these shows is a relative newcomer, the Winter Buying Show, put last weekend by the Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association. In only its third year, this show’s star is still on the ascendancy, as it gains more critical mass each year, including double the pre-registration of last year’s event. However, because its dealer base is drawn from Ontario, most of these dealers, especially in central and southern parts of the province, have the benefit of easier access to the vendor base, which is largely located here. Nevertheless, the new show is fast becoming regarded as a must-attend for the LBM community in the province.
Now Canada has a new show: the National Hardware Show Canada. Owned by Reed Exhibitions, the same organization that mounts the successful National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, the new arrival will set up October 17-18, 2006 at the Toronto Congress Centre. I don’t believe the new show will really compete with the regional association LBM shows. NHS Canada will be a hardware/home improvement/paint & décor/lawn & garden/outdoor living show, dedicated to the broader idea of "Home Enhancement".
Here at Hardlines, we’ve been invited to hold our incredible Annual Hardlines Conference during the same time. We have moved the date and location of the Hardlines Conference so that those delegates who also wish to attend the new National Hardware Show at the Toronto Congress Centre, which follows directly from our event, can do so.
Same great Hardlines Conference, simply a new date and a new location.
So mark your calendars: Oct. 16-17, 2006, which overlap with the Show’s on Oct. 17 and 18. Not only that, but the one and only Outstanding Retailer Awards are coming too. Those prestigious awards, presented by Hardware Merchandising magazine, first joined with the Hardlines Conference two years ago.
I believe the industry can benefit from a conference and awards program that features a trade show. The combined event will attract a broader range of retail and buyer delegates, enhancing the value of the Conference overall, without compromising its appeal to the senior management level.
Thank you; I look forward to seeing you Oct. 16-18 at this exciting combined event.
Michael McLarney
Editor & Publisher, Hardlines
