Beacon Awards: Celebrating Excellence Across Independent Retail
The 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) will bring together retailers from across North America for two days of education, networking and industry celebration. One of the event’s signature moments will take place the evening of July 29, when Hardware Connection presents its annual Beacon Awards.
Held during the Independent Awards Gala at the J.W. Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida, the ceremony recognizes retailers and industry leaders whose businesses have left a lasting mark on the independent home improvement channel.
Established in 2010, the Beacon Awards honor innovation, leadership and service across a range of categories, from lifetime achievement and new store development to digital engagement. This year’s winners reflect the breadth of independent retailing—from long-standing industry leaders to retailers embracing new ways to connect with customers both in-store and online.
Retail Beacon Awards Honor Industry Impact
The Retail Beacon Awards recognize individuals and companies whose sustained contributions have helped shape the independent home improvement industry. Considered the program’s highest honor, the award celebrates long-term leadership, innovation and service to customers and communities.
The 2026 Retail Beacon Award recipients are:
- Bill Gilbert, Gilbert’s Hardware, Michigan
- Mark and Joe Jaconski, Stanley’s Hardware, Philadelphia
- Tommy Simpson, Beaufort Hardware, Beaufort, North Carolina
Each honoree has demonstrated a lasting commitment to independent retail, building businesses that serve as examples for the broader industry.
Best New Store Winners Showcase Innovation
Retail environments continue to evolve as retailers seek new ways to serve customers and strengthen community ties. The Beacon Award for Best New Store recognizes retailers that have successfully launched or transformed locations through thoughtful design, merchandising and customer experience.
The 2026 Best New Store honorees are:
- Big Rapids Lumber & Hardware, Big Rapids, Michigan
- Howard Walker’s True Value Hardware, Henrietta, Texas
- Riverside Building Materials, Rio Grande City, Texas
These retailers demonstrate how innovative store design and execution can create memorable shopping experiences while supporting long-term business growth.
Digital Leaders Continue to Raise the Bar
Now in their second year, the Digital Beacon Awards recognize retailers leveraging their websites, social media, e-commerce and digital storytelling to strengthen customer relationships and extend their reach beyond the four walls of the store. Comprising five specialty categories, the Digital Beacon Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in online retailing, with the Beacon Award for Digital Excellence reserved for the retailer whose digital efforts shine brightest across all areas.
The highest distinction, the Beacon Award for Digital Excellence, goes to:
- Ambridge Do it Best Home Center, Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Although not part of the Awards Gala ceremony in Orlando, category winners of the Digital Beacon Awards include:
- Outstanding Community Engagement: The Pick & Shovel, Newport, Vermont
- Top Digital Advertising Campaign: McCoy’s Building Supply, San Marcos, Texas
- Best Social Media Campaign: T&M Hardware, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
- Best Individual Social Media Post: Newton’s True Value Hardware, Cherryvale, Kansas
- Best Website or E-Commerce Experience: Bloedorns, Torrington, Wyoming
The Digital Beacon Awards were launched in 2025 and reflect the growing importance of online engagement in independent retail.
In addition to being honored during the Awards Gala on July 29 as part of IHI, full profiles of the winners will appear in the September issues of Hardware Connection.
