The Beacon Awards are an important recognition program that honors the best of the best dealers who represent the future of the hardware industry.
The Beacon Awards ceremony is hosted annually at Independent Home Improvement Conference. The 2026 winners were recognized during the Independents Awards Gala on July 29.
Winners are chosen in three categories, including Best New Store, Retail Beacon Awards and the Digital Beacon Awards. The Beacon Awards are sponsored by Epicor, Ettore Products Company, Fluidmaster, IHI Conference and Hardware Connection magazine. Wholesale sponsors are Do it Best, Orgill and True Value. The Digital Beacon Awards are made possible by WD-40 Low Odor.
2026 Beacon Award Winners
- Recent Features
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…
Read More »
2025 Beacon Award Winners
- 2025 Beacon Awards
2025 Beacon Awards Winners Announced
Honorees to Be Recognized During Awards Gala at the 2025 IHI Conference, July 30–31 at JW Marriott Grande Lakes in…
Read More » - 2025 Beacon Awards
NEW! Digital Beacon Awards Recognize Standouts in Online Engagement, Social Media, and E-Commerce
Hardware Connection is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Digital Beacon Awards, a new initiative launched this year…
Read More »
2024 Beacon Award Winners
- Dealer Profiles
Building Business on Relationships, Innovation
Koopman Lumber Beacon Award for Best New Store Koopman Lumber’s Dennis, Mass., location transformed an antique dealership into a modern…
Read More » - Dealer Profiles
Legacy Expands with Community-centric, New Location
Kevin and Ann Evers had a quick introduction to the retail hardware business. Putting in an offer on their local…
Read More »
2024 Retail Beacon Award Winners
- Dealer Profiles
Winning Formula: Teamwork, Tradition, and Community
Buchheit has grown to include 850 employees 20 retail stores, a logistics company, agricultural division, cabinet manufacturing unit, and metal…
Read More » - Dealer Profiles
Building with Heart, Strategic Leadership
Nation’s Best Retail Beacon Award “I’ve learned that numbers alone don’t tell the whole story,” Miller says, and he believes…
Read More »