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By BOB
VEREEN, Director
of Communications
News from around the world
FALL TRADE SHOWS BEGIN SOON FOR MEMBERS
Members are beginning to think about fall trade shows, with their attention focusing very much on Latin America. A trade show in Costa Rica was taking place in June, with local distributors and agents showing many members' products, but the main focus will be on Expo Nacional Ferretera in Guadalajara in September.
This year, the Council will have an expanded group pavilion there, in addition to members exhibiting on their own, with local agents and distributors and a few with the American Hardware Manufacturers Association.
In November, another smaller show will take place in Guatemala City, Guatemala, attracting buyers from that country and El Salvador.
Visitors to this site should check our membership list (see FIND OUR MEMBERS) at the left and make plans to visit members at any of these shows.
AN UPDATE ON CANADA COMING UP
Council members interested in the Canadian market will want to attend the 15th annual Hardlines Conference taking place Oct. 22-23 at the Toronto Renaissance Airport Hotel, with key players in the market on the program and in attendance. Details and registration available from Bev Allen at
bev@hardlines.ca A VERY USEFUL WEB SITE FOR YOU TO VISIT
Whether you are a business person or a consumer trying to contact one of our members, we want to tell you about a clever web site to visit:
www.allmyfaves.com gives you access to about 100 web sites with just one click!
The sites are organized by category--travel, translations, news, etc. Then click on any logo shown and you will be taken to that site. Check it out; you'll want to save it and use it regularly. It's a great time-saver.
BUYERS FIND MANY NEW ITEMS AT
2009 NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW®
Thousands of buyers looking for something new to excite concerned consumers found it worth their while when they visited the National Hardware Show® in Las Vegas in early May.
There were 600 new exhibitors and about 3,000 in all who had worked long and hard to come up with new items and ideas that would appeal to anxious buyers.
To make it easy for buyers to seek out new items, Show management set up several New Product displays—one in each major section of the show, plus a Green Products Display so buyers interested in enlarging their green merchandising programs could easily locate such products.
Key accounts came, and more importantly, many senior officers also attended the show. And so did many smaller retailers and wholesalers seeking, perhaps somewhat desperately, something that would add sparkle to inventories, ignite consumer interest and begin generating needed cash-register rings. $170 billion of buying power had pre-registered to attend the show, management reported.
While exhibitors always work hard to introduce new products to their lines, this year their efforts seemed more aggressive. They realized that consumers are looking for problem-solvers and time-savers. Plus, the addition of 600 exhibitors who had never before been at a National Hardware Show meant that buyers could find interesting products to establish new niche departments or categories in their businesses.
Recognizing the problems facing buyers, show management reorganized the show to make it easier to shop and also seriously expanded the educational program to provide them with more information to help them cope with the economic problems facing them. Playing a large part in this program was the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA), which set up shop in the North Hall Lobby and conducted ongoing educational seminars, many focused on how to survive in tough times.
The DIY industry in America today is $304.9 billion, according to NRHA, and is projected to grow at a 4.5% rate, somewhat less than in previous years. Home Depot and Lowes, the world's two largest home centers, account for $125.6 billion in sales, while smaller chains and independents account for the balance.
Buyers had plenty of choices—900 exhibitors of hardware and tools and another 900 of lawn, garden and outdoor living products; 250 paint and accessory suppliers, 300 in a new Homewares section, plus several hundred in plumbing and electrical. Another 200 were in a new Storage and Organization show section, since space utilization seems to be a critical consumer need these days.
Next year's National Hardware Show® will return to Las Vegas May 4-6
EXPERTS ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE HIGHLIGHTED 2009
COUNCIL'S ANNUAL MEETING MAY 4 IN LAS VEGAS
Members of the Worldwide DIY Council and other American and Canadian manufacturers interested in exporting learned firsthand about current conditions in Europe, Asia and Latin America from 3 Council members experienced in those areas during the Council's annual meeting being held May 4 in conjunction with the National Hardware Show® in Las Vegas. The meeting will be held in the Convention Center.
In addition, an executive from Ace Hardware's International division described the dealer-owned wholesaler's aggressive international expansion.
Bill Marsheck of Dap, Bill Funk of Asia Inroads and Philip Ali of Ali Industries were the 3 Council members describing current exporting opportunities. Marsheck discussed Latin America; Funk, Asia and Ali current European conditions.
BUYERS SEARCHED FOR BARGAINS, EXCITING NEW ITEMS
AND MORE INSIGHT INTO TODAY'S PRICE- SHOPPERS
Never an easy business, retailing today is tougher than ever as consumers seek retailers who will offer the greatest value on everyday items as well as those who continue offering exciting new products to tempt budget-minded shoppers.
What is today's consumer looking for in this tight economy?
Affordable “green” products. Just "being green" is not enough if priced too high.
Better designs. Value is important, but so is style.
Items that will last longer—sustainability.
Thousands of retailers, including many from outside the United States, were busy checking out the offerings of some 2,000 exhibitors at this year's International Home & Housewares Show in Chicago, searching desperately for that “something new, exciting and affordable” which would entice reluctant consumers into their stores.
Because women are playing an increasingly important role as decision makers and as customers of hardware stores and home centers, hardlines retailers were among the buyers cruising the aisles.
What they found was a continued emphasis on green products, but with a recognition by manufacturers, as retailers already know, that price-conscious consumers today will buy green products only if they are priced competitively. Being green by itself no longer justifies high prices--maybe a 10% premium.
Manufacturers also were emphasizing the long life of their products, recognizing that sustainability is now more important to budget-minded shoppers. There also was considerable emphasis on energy efficiency, recognizing the budget pressures consumers are facing.
Among the more important consumer trends for today's consumer, male or female, is the realization that frugality is smart and parsimony is chic. To stretch budgets, consumers are shopping value merchants (i.e., dollar stores, Walmart, thrift shops) to a greater degree than ever before. They are “making do” whenever possible, and constantly looking for “deals”--and bragging about them when they've found a real bargain. Many say they feel stupid if they've paid full price for some of their major purchases. Instead of lots of impulse buys, they are shopping with lists.
This search for value also means they are shopping among more stores as they hunt for bargains and are using coupons more. It also means, according to one speaker at an educational seminar, that many consumers will “never want to pay full retail again.” They are using the Internet to check prices among various stores and doing more of their buying on the Internet, especially as they search for hard-to-find items.
Consumer attitudes like that will make retailing even more challenging in the future.
According to a number of speakers in the educational seminars conducted during the show, there will be more vegetable gardens this year than in decades, which should benefit hardlines retailers who emphasize garden tools in their marketing efforts. In fact, the consumer focus on value and budgeting should stimulate DIY activities of all kinds.
Smart retailers will recognize that many of these consumers, who might previously have hired some chores done, will be doing it themselves now and will need instructions and information. It will be important for employees to be well trained and knowledgeable, and for retailers to emphasize the talents of their staff.
NEW LISTING OF IMPORTANT WORLDWIDE SHOWS
Click on the button to the left, WHERE OUR MEMBERS EXHIBIT, and you'll find a compilation of the most important international trade shows around the world--a handy compilation for your travel planning.
2009 TRADE SHOW SEASON STARTED IN LONDON IN JANUARY, THEN TO BILBAO, SPAIN FOR THE FERROFORMA TRADE FAIR
Buyers from throughout the United Kingdom, as well as from Europe and elsewhere, journeyed to London's Earls Court for the Jan. 18-20 running of the expanded, improved DIY Show--Totally DIY/Totally Tools, which added a security section--Totally Secure.
A Council member, Ali Industries, won the Gold Award for its new Zip Sander in the Decor segment of the New Products World exhibition. You can click on the firm name below to learn about this company and its products.
A number of Worldwide DIY Council members exhibited there, either on their own or via their agents and distributors. Here is a partial list. If the firm name is listed in blue, you can click on it and learn more about the product range, who to contact, etc.
Since the show includes a number of exhibiting UK agents and distributors, there were more members' products on display in some of those stands. A complete list of Council members can be found on this list--FIND OUR MEMBERS. Just click on the button to the left. If you want to learn more about the show itself, go to: www.totallydiy.co.uk, the show's web site.
Show management announced that the 2010 show will be held in conjunction with the big Spring Fair in Birmingham, with the dates set for Feb. 7-9.
In March, the industry turned to Ferroforma in Bilbao, Spain, for the first such event now supported by Practical World, the parent organization behind Cologne's International Hardware Fair. Ferroforma, as an every-other-year event, now will alternate with the Cologne Fair in March, appearing in odd-numbered years, whereas Cologne will be staged in even-numbered years.
Exhibitors from 23 other countries showed their wares, including about a dozen from the U. S., plus others from Canada. Among the Council members whose products were displayed there were:
* Key-Bak
* M. K. Morse Co
Meet our
members in person
In coming
months, members of the Worldwide DIY Council will be participating
in a number of industry trade shows, where you can meet them personally
and have face-to-face discussions of mutually beneficial relationships.
Click here for more information about forthcoming industry events.
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