In the U.S. tool market, the National
Hardware Show (NHS), held each August
in Chicago, holds pre-eminence. This is
the place toolmakers have traditionally
unveiled new products, and the time reserved
for the release of each year's latest models. It
has always been a show for distributors —not
just any distributors, but specifically mass-market retailers. These
days, more and more mom-and-pop hardware stores, lumberyards,
and contractor suppliers are leaving the industry, squeezed
out by bigger buyers whose concern for product packaging and
sales positioning often supersedes interest in product performance.
Shifting Ground
Walking the aisles of the NHS, you can't ignore the signs of a
shifting market. In every category, consumer products — from
bargain