Celebrate With Us
July 29 | 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m.
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Independent Awards Gala! This event will recognize innovation, leadership and excellence across the channel and feature NHPA’s Top Guns, NHPA’s Young Retailer of the Year and The Hardware Connection's Beacon Award recipients.
Top Guns Awards
For the past 20 years, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) has recognized high-achieving retailers in the independent home improvement channel with the Top Guns Awards program. Top Guns honorees are pillars of innovation and forward-thinking who have helped grow their businesses through strategic leadership with consideration for their communities, their teams and the industry.
Meet the 2026 NHPA Top Guns
Beacon Awards
The Beacon Awards are a premier recognition program that honors the best of the best independent hardware and home improvement retailers. For 14 years, the Beacon Awards have honored innovative dealers who represent the future of the hardware industry. The awards’ categories include the Retail Beacon Award, Best New Store and Digital Beacon Awards.
The Retail Beacon Award is presented to retailers for overall long-term excellence in retail hardware store operations, merchandising and community involvement. The Best New Store Award highlights innovation in retail store operations and design in stores that have recently been built from the ground up or completely reset. Honorees in the Digital Beacon Awards category honor are examples of outstanding achievement in online marketing, social media and digital presence.
Participating wholesale sponsors Do it Best and Orgill nominate stores for these categories.
Digital Beacon Awards
Young Retailer of the Year Awards
The North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) Young Retailer of the Year program, now in its 30th year, identifies and promotes the next generation of aspiring independent home improvement, paint and decorating retailers. The program recognizes individual achievement by industry retailers age 35 and younger throughout the U.S. and Canada. Honorees are chosen based on a number of criteria, including professional milestones, community engagement, continuing hardware industry education and extracurricular activities.
Meet the 2026 NHPA Young Retailer of the Year
Félix-Antoine Moisan | Over $3 Million
Director of Operations
Jean Denis Limitée Home Hardware
Retailers' Choice Awards
Celebrating its 60th year in 2026, the Retailers’ Choice Awards honors the best, most creative and most innovative products of the year. Sponsored by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA), the Retailers’ Choice Awards program has been a channel favorite since the program started at the National Hardware Show in 1966.
A panel of independent retailers browses the show floor at spring buying markets, including wholesaler and distributor shows and NHS Concept to Commerce, looking for products they think would perform well in their operations. Only about 30 products are selected to receive this award each year. The Retailers’ Choice Awards rely on the opinions of actual retailers who know what their colleagues need in a product to attract customers.