Welcome to the ultimate hub for home improvement enthusiasts and industry innovators – the National Hardware Show (NHS)! For three-quarters of a century, the NHS has served as the unparalleled marketplace where groundbreaking inventions meet eager buyers. It’s the definitive destination for visionary inventors to showcase their creations and for leading retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Amazon, Costco, and Wayfair to discover the next generation of products that will shape our homes and lifestyles.
For me, a home and lifestyle expert with over two decades of experience delving into the world of residential innovation, the National Hardware Show is truly a “fun zone park.” Having spent 17 years working directly with consumers in the home improvement retail space, I’ve honed my ability to identify emerging trends and predict the products that will genuinely enhance daily living. Each year, I immerse myself in the vibrant atmosphere of the show, exploring every aisle to uncover the most impressive and practical solutions for modern homes. It’s where the pulse of the industry beats strongest, offering a glimpse into the future of DIY and professional craftsmanship.
This year’s show was no exception, brimming with ingenuity and practical solutions designed to tackle contemporary challenges. From critical disaster preparedness tools to eco-conscious gardening systems and convenient household gadgets, the NHS once again demonstrated its pivotal role in shaping the home improvement landscape. Join me as I share some of the most compelling products and trends that truly captured my attention.
Embracing Preparedness: The YOYO Trend
One of the standout trends identified by NHS in their “HABITAT” area was “YOYO” – You’re On Your Own – focusing on disaster preparedness. In an era marked by unpredictable weather events, power outages, and various emergencies, the need for robust home preparedness has never been more critical. The show highlighted a significant shift towards self-reliance, with an impressive array of products designed to help homeowners weather any storm (short of a zombie apocalypse!). A prominent feature of this trend was the widespread availability of solar-powered generators, marking a significant evolution in portable power solutions.
Until recently, gas or propane generators dominated the market, with only a few battery-powered exceptions like EGO and Goal Zero, the latter being a pioneer in solar charging. This year, the landscape has dramatically changed, with numerous innovative brands offering cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable power alternatives.
Generark HomePower ONE Solar Generator
The Generark HomePower ONE Solar Generator emerged as a top contender in this category. This lightweight, versatile unit boasts an abundance of outlets, making it suitable for both professional and consumer use. Paired with two efficient solar panels that can fully recharge in just 8 hours of sunlight, it’s capable of powering essential home appliances for up to seven days. Its portability and ease of use make it an invaluable asset for emergency preparedness, ensuring you have access to crucial power when the grid goes down, all without the noise, fumes, or fuel storage issues of traditional generators.
Beyond Generark, the show floor also featured other notable portable power stations, underscoring the rapid growth in this vital sector. These included the robust Westinghouse Portable Power Station, the high-capacity EcoFlow Delta Portable Power Station, and the compact yet powerful Lion Safari LT. Each offers unique features and capacities, but all share the common goal of providing reliable, clean energy, echoing the growing consumer demand for energy independence and emergency readiness. Much like these generators, I too thrive on soaking up the sunshine for strength and vitality!
Quick Dam Flood Bags: Sandless Solution
Continuing with the theme of preparedness, I’m always on the lookout for products that provide peace of mind without the last-minute scramble. The Quick Dam Flood Bags, also known as sandless sandbags, are a stroke of genius. These innovative barriers absorb, contain, and divert problem floodwater – or even heavy rain, a common issue in California – using a water-activated gel. What makes them so brilliant is the elimination of messy sand; they simply expand upon contact with water, the very element they are designed to repel. This ingenious design means they can be stored compactly on a garage shelf, taking up minimal space until an emergency arises, offering a smart, clean, and efficient solution to water management.
Ingenious Tools for Everyday Tasks
Rhino Cart: Effortless Mobility for Heavy Loads
While I would never ask friends to help me move, if they owned a Rhino Cart, I’d certainly be asking to borrow it! This product truly stood out, especially for contractors, professional movers, and serious DIYers. The Rhino Cart is designed to effortlessly move virtually anything, from heavy appliances like washing machines to cumbersome furniture and building materials. Its robust wheels are engineered to glide smoothly over challenging terrains, making heavy lifting a thing of the past. I was particularly impressed by their live demonstration, where a small individual could easily push a full-grown person sitting atop a washing machine. It was a testament to the cart’s superior engineering and ease of use, making tough moving jobs significantly simpler and safer.
Conserving Water: The H2Flow Trend
Another critical trend highlighted at the NHS was “H2Flow,” focusing on water conservation—a vital concern in many regions. The way we traditionally water plants, from the top down, is notoriously inefficient and wasteful. This is precisely why I champion the inventor of the Root Quencher.
Root Quencher: Revolutionary Underground Irrigation
Developed by In Deep Irrigation, the Root Quencher is an ingenious underground drip irrigation system poised to transform gardening practices. Available in three different sizes, it can effectively hydrate everything from small shrubs to massive trees. Installation is straightforward: dig a hole, connect it to your existing irrigation system, and plug any unwanted outlet holes. This system delivers water directly to the plant’s root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, leading to healthier plants and substantial water savings. As part of the NHS HABITAT Trend for water conservation, it’s a shining example of sustainable innovation. Adding to its appeal, the Root Quencher is proudly Made in the USA and comes from a woman-owned business, demonstrating a commitment to quality and responsible manufacturing.
Smart Solutions for a Sustainable Home
Pivot Spray Bottle: Maximizing Every Drop
For anyone who uses a spray bottle—which is essentially everyone—the Pivot reusable spray bottle is a game-changer. Its innovative pivoting technology ensures that your wrist remains comfortable and untwisted, while also allowing you to dispense every last drop of liquid from the bottle. I appreciate this product for so many reasons: its elegant simplicity, its contribution to reducing plastic waste by being reusable, and its ability to maximize the efficient use of cleaning solvents or any other liquids. Furthermore, it compacts down for easy storage and can be made childproof, adding layers of practicality and safety. This inventor clearly has a winner on their hands, addressing common frustrations with a clever and eco-friendly design.
Elevating Outdoor Living
HALO Pizza Oven: Gourmet Pizza in Minutes
Hosting gatherings just got a whole lot more exciting with the HALO Pizza Oven. This compact marvel transforms me into a gourmet pizza chef in under three minutes! Simply turn it on, set the desired temperature, and hit the spin button to activate the rotating pizza stone. An infrared burner gets to work beneath, ensuring perfectly cooked pies emerge in a mere three to five minutes. Its rapid heating and even cooking guarantee crispy crusts and melted toppings every time. HALO also showcased a fantastic battery-powered pellet grill, which eliminates the restriction of cords and offers the superior convection-style cooking that has made me fall in love with pellet grills, leaving gas grills in the past. This makes outdoor entertaining effortless and delicious.
Enhancing Indoor Comfort and Health
Hugo 3-in-1 Air Purifier: Clean Air, No Pests
I am a firm believer in the importance of breathing clean air and tackling household pests with sophistication. That’s why the Hugo 3-in-1 Air Purifier immediately caught my eye. I’m always drawn to products that offer multiple functionalities, and Hugo truly delivers. This device works tirelessly as an air purifier, a sterilizer, and an effective mosquito/bug catcher, ensuring a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment. Its sleek design and comprehensive approach to air quality and pest control make it a valuable addition to any modern home, killing insects in style while keeping the air fresh.
Sustainable Choices for Every Home: The “One for All” Theme
Finally, another compelling NHS HABITAT theme was “One for All,” highlighting products that are beneficial not only for people but also for the planet, including plants and animals. This commitment to holistic environmental responsibility was beautifully exemplified by the OverEZ Chicken Coop.
OverEZ Chicken Coop: Easy Backyard Farming
The OverEZ Chicken Coop in a box genuinely convinced me that I could embrace the role of a “chicken mom.” The concept is incredibly simple and accessible, even for novice backyard farmers. Available in various sizes to suit different yard dimensions, these coops feature thoughtful details like an easy-access “man door” for cleaning and maintenance, and a convenient external compartment for scooping up fresh eggs. Beyond their practical design, these coops are aesthetically pleasing, blending seamlessly into garden environments. This product perfectly embodies the “One for All” philosophy by promoting sustainable living, providing fresh food, and connecting homeowners with nature in a manageable and stylish way.
The National Hardware Show consistently proves to be a dynamic source of innovation, offering products that address modern challenges from sustainability and preparedness to convenience and style. From solar generators that empower self-reliance to smart irrigation systems that conserve water, and ingenious tools that simplify everyday tasks, the NHS showcases the forefront of home improvement. These innovations not only make our homes more functional and efficient but also encourage a more sustainable and prepared lifestyle.
For an even closer look at some of these fantastic products in action, be sure to visit my YouTube channel, KathrynEmeryTV. The National Hardware Show will return on January 31, 2023, and promises an even grander experience as it combines with the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and the International Builders Show (IBS). Expect an unparalleled gathering of industry leaders and groundbreaking products, further solidifying its status as the premier event for home and lifestyle innovations. Mark your calendars for an even bigger showcase of the future of our homes!
