The Golden Hammer strikes in Vegas
LAS VEGAS — After a multiple-year hiatus, the Golden Hammer Awards roared back to life at the sparkling Resorts World Las Vegas, bringing live, in-person recognition to golden achievers in the hardware and building supply industry.
The event, hosted by Hardware & Building Supply Dealer, continued its streak of honoring the best of the best of home improvement products. And the Golden Hammer struck a new chord in 2023, honoring retailers, dealers and others for the support they provide to communities, charities, children, hospitals and veterans.
The 2023 Golden Hammer Products & Purpose Awards event drew from the wide industry, many of whom were in town for the trio of major industry trade shows at various halls of the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center: The International Builders’ Show, KBIS and the National Hardware Show.
“The Golden Hammer Awards have a long tradition of recognizing industry excellence,” said Amy Grant, associate publisher of Hardware & Building Supply Dealer. “And this year, we are proud to recognize not only new and innovative products, but also recognize those companies that are doing great things in their communities.”
HBSDealer Editor in Chief Ken Clark pointed to some of the leading figures of home improvement who in past years have accepted awards at Golden Hammer events. These include Arthur Blank of Home Depot (2004); Joe Orgill of Orgill Inc. (2004); Robert Strickland of Lowe’s (2007); Bob Taylor of Do it Best Corp. (2012).
Prior to the 2023 event, the Golden Hammer was last held live in 2014, during which time Joe Scarlett, CEO emeritus of Tractor Supply Co., accepted a Golden Hammer/Home Channel Hall of Fame award.
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From left: Brett Millard, of event sponsor Anchor Peabody; Westlake Ace Hardware's Leigh Shaner and Amanda Young; and Clark. -
John Skelly of AZEK (center) with Amy Grant and Ken Clark -
Aubuchon Company was honored for its support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. -
From left, Griff Overton and Dave Kile of Trex, with Amy Grant and Ken Clark of HBSDealer. -
Carr Hardware of Pittsfield, Mass., was recognized for its community service. Above are Mark Kovac, store manager in Lee, Mass.; and Bart Raser, president. -
The LP Building Solutions team, recognized with a Golden Hammer.
In 2023, the Golden Hammer Products were selected from a pool of new products nominated by the industry in an open call. Products were judged on innovation, value and shelf-appeal.
Accepting Golden Hammer “Product” awards in Las Vegas were representatives from Evolve Stone; Siligun, ToughBuilt, Tropical Forest Products, Masonite, AZEK, Rinnai, Trex, Quality Craft, DaVinci Roofscapes, Daich Coatings, OMG/FastenMaster and OLFA. For more on the award winners, click here.
Turning to the “golden hearts of the industry,” HBSDealer editor Ken Clark said: “So many companies in this business contribute in so many meaningful ways to their communities, we feel compelled and honored to recognize them here with the first ever Golden Hammer Purpose Awards.”
Anchor Peabody, which provides banking services to the industry, sponsored the awards. On hand to accept Golden Hammer Purpose Awards in Las Vegas were Carr Hardware; A Few Cool Hardware Stores; 84 Lumber; Westlake Ace Hardware; Aubuchon Company, Kabat's Ace Hardware, Builders FirstSource, LP Building Solutions, Tractor Supply and US LBM.
