House-Hasson Dealer Market Maintains Momentum as Storm Alters Plans

House-Hasson Hardware’s January Buying Market unfolded under unusual circumstances, as an incoming winter storm forced swift changes to the show’s original three-day schedule. House-Hasson condensed the event from three days to two, extending show hours and adjusting meals, meetings and logistics to keep dealers and vendors buying while prioritizing safe travel.

The market at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 22–23 drew strong dealer attendance despite the looming weather system. More than 600 vendors participated, including more than 30 new exhibitors, and breakfast sessions and show-floor activity remained busy from early morning through extended evening hours.

“I’d like to welcome you to the House-Hasson January show here in Nashville,” president and CEO Steve Henry said during opening remarks. “Since Monday of this week, our House-Hasson staff and team has been working wirelessly, determined to make a three-day show in two days, and I believe we’ve successfully done that.”

Henry also said the decision required fast coordination across departments, from sales and transportation to marketing and dealer communication. 

“Once we got that first bad weather forecast, we felt like we needed to come up with a contingency plan,” he said. “We packed basically a three-day show into two days, and it’s been amazing. Everybody’s responded really well.”

Other House-Hasson leaders echoed Henry’s comments: “The traffic on the floor was outstanding,” said Dave Doering, senior vice president of sales. “Dealers showed up ready to shop and make the most of the market, and they truly appreciated the extended hours that allowed them to take their time while still staying ahead of the weather.”

Retailer Reactions Reflect Focus, Flexibility

For many retailers, the condensed format created a sense of urgency without disrupting the purpose of the market.

“It’s been awesome,” said Robert Morgan of Jones Hardware in Huntland, Tenn. “Everybody was afraid of what was going to happen Sunday, so it was a good deal to get us all out of here and headed back home on time.”

Morgan said the shortened schedule did not limit productivity. “I really made a connection with the guys at K9 Fasteners,” he said. “They gave me a sample at a previous show, and I let some contractors try it. They really liked it.”

Jim Bondurant of Bondurant Lumber in Century, Fla., described the show floor as active and opportunity-driven. 

“There’s a lot to see, a lot of good ideas and some great specials to take advantage of,” Bondurant said. He noted particular interest in products aimed at female customers, an area he said his store has been discussing internally.

Gary Grollmus of Al Joe’s Pet and Garden Center in Hamilton, Ohio, said the decision to adjust the schedule reflected House-Hasson’s culture. 

“They do a good job,” Grollmus said. “It’s a nice family-run business, and they always take people into consideration. That’s the main thing.”

Vendors Emphasize Buying Momentum

Vendors noted that dealers arriving at their booths prepared to place orders, connect and keep business moving despite uncertain conditions outside.

“I think compressing the time has made the dealers focus on business,” said Mark Sweatt, a representative with Reliance. “They’re coming through with orders in hand, able to process them quickly and move on to the next booth. It’s kept everybody focused on the mission.”

Sweatt also pointed to House-Hasson’s decision-making as a key factor in maintaining momentum. “They took into consideration families, vendors, their own employees and safety,” he said. “That was very commendable, and I highly respect them for that.”

From a product standpoint, Sweatt said conversations centered on upcoming government regulations affecting water heaters, including heat pump models on the electric side and tankless options on the gas side. 

At Rundoo’s booth, head of sales Matt Kestufkie said attendance exceeded expectations. “I came in with tempered expectations based on the weather,” he said. “But I’ve been blown away by the attendance and folks’ eagerness to be here learning about new products.”

Kestufkie said retailers showed increased curiosity around artificial intelligence tools. 

“There’s been more interest in how AI can help with inventory management and decision-making,” Kestufkie said. “That curiosity is growing.”

First-time exhibitor Chris Doti of Revolution, a manufacturer of heavy-duty contractor bags and liners, said traffic remained solid despite the shortened schedule. 

“This is my first show, so I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “Overall, I think it’s been a good first show.” 

Longtime participants in House-Hasson dealer markets echoed similar themes. Jeff McMahan, account manager at Soudal USA, described the market as familiar and relationship-driven. 

“This show is like a family reunion,” he said. “Dealers are always looking for margin, and House-Hasson gives them good opportunities through super items and coupons.”

Joe DiChiria, national sales manager at Linzer Products Corp., said early hours were particularly busy. 

“The first four or five hours were just swamped,” DiChiria said, as dealers worked to finalize orders ahead of travel changes. DiChiria noted strong interest in breakfast buys, displays and add-on items such as tape, sandpaper and extension poles.

Market Adjustments Made with Retailers in Mind

Henry said the market’s execution reflected one of the cooperative’s long-standing strengths: the ability to move quickly when conditions change.

“One of the advantages of being a family-owned company is we can move fast,” he said. “We get the right people together, figure out the right path, and send everyone off to do their thing.”

He added that internal communication was essential. “You have to communicate and talk to the right people at the right time,” Henry said. “When you walk in here today, you wouldn’t know what we had planned originally. It came off without a hitch.”

House-Hasson’s expanded distribution footprint also played a role, Henry noted, allowing the company to shift product between facilities to meet dealer needs during winter demand for items such as ice melt and snow tools.

Despite the compressed schedule, dealer participation remained strong. Henry pointed to about 1,500 attendees at breakfast sessions as a sign of commitment. 

“Knowing there’s a storm coming tomorrow and still showing up—that’s a testament to what gets done here,” he said.

As the market concluded, House-Hasson leadership described the event as a strong start to the year, reinforcing the importance of in-person buying opportunities even when conditions require adjustment.

“Our markets are critical to how dealers plan for the year ahead,” Henry said. “The adjustments we made allowed dealers to focus on their business, connect with the right partners and get the most value from their time with us.”

House-Hasson will host its next in-person market Aug. 6–8, 2026, in Sevierville, Tenn.