The Essential Hardware Group held its annual Trade Show and Awards event over two days. This year, the event kicked off with the Supplier’s Awards on the evening of September 28, followed by the Trade Day on September 29.
SUPPLIER AWARDS
On the evening before the Trade Show, Essential Group held its Essential Group Supplier Awards, recognising outstanding suppliers across various categories for the year 2023/24.
The winners were as follows:
- Essential Group Marketing Participation
- Gold: Ruwag, Academy Brushware
- Silver: Swartland, Agrinet
- Essential Group Innovation Company
- Gold: Ingco Tools, Excelsior Paint
- Essential Group Wholesaler
- Gold: Agrinet
- Silver: Matus, Bulk Products
- Essential Group Hand Tool Company
- Gold: Ingco Tools
- Silver: Ruwag, Marshal Tools
- Essential Group Power Tool Company
- Gold: Ingco Tools
- Silver: L&G Tool & Machinery
- Essential Group Power Tool Accessories Company
- Gold: Vermont Sales
- Silver: Ruwag
- Essential Group General Hardware Company
- Gold: Agrinet, Ruwag
- Silver: L&G Tool & Machinery, Matus
- Essential Group Security and Ironmongery
- Gold: House of Locks, Assa Abloy South Africa (Yale)
- Silver: Eureka, BBL Security
- Essential Group Paint Company
- Gold: Promac Paints, Dulux
- Silver: Plascon Paints, Excelsior Paint
- Essential Group Paint Accessories Company
- Gold: Academy Brushware
- Silver: Hamiltons Brushware
- Essential Group Waterproofing Company
- Gold: Flash Harry
- Silver: Promac Paints
- Essential Group Decor – General
- Gold: Rust-Oleum
- Silver: Woodoc
- Essential Group Adhesive and Sealant Company
- Gold: National Adhesives Distributors (GlueDevil)
- Silver: Bostik South Africa
- Essential Group Electrical Supplier Company
- Gold: Eurolux
- Silver: Alrode Cable Supplies, Flash Components cc
- Essential Group Plumbing Company
- Gold: Brands 4 Africa
- Silver: CAM Africa, Splashworks
- Essential Group Garden and Outdoor Company
- Gold: Protek, Ingco Tools
- Silver: Lasher Tools, Agro-Serve (Efekto)
- Essential Group Cement Company
- Gold: Sephaku Cement
- Silver: PPC Cement, Afrisam
- Essential Group Cement Blend Company
- Gold: BB Cement
- Silver: Kwikbuild Cement
- Essential Group Construction and Allied Company
- Gold: Swartland
- Silver: Saint-Gobain Group (Gyproc, Tylon, ABE, Isover)
- Essential Group Specialised Product Company
- Gold: Sika
- Silver: Saint-Gobain Group, A-Shak
- Essential Group Appliances – General
- Gold: Cadac
- Silver: SMD Technologies (initiative new supplier award)
- Essential Group Longest Serving Supplier (+20 years)
- Academy Brushware
- Essential Group Growth Excellence Recognition
- Sephaku Cement, Ingco Tools, Africa Tanks
- Essential Group Staff Loyalty Award
Essential Hardware Trade Day 2024
The Essential Hardware Trade Day, held at the Nasrec Expo Centre on Sunday, 29 September 2024, marked the grand finale of a busy trade show month for the hardware industry. As a key event for industry players nationally, the trade day lived up to its reputation, drawing a significant number of industry players from across the country.
Hosted annually, this edition was nothing short of a success. The show attracted over 120 suppliers who set up an impressive 152 stands. With the majority of Essential Hardware members attending, hosting the event on a Sunday proved to be a strategic move, resulting in a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.
Event Highlights
The day featured several key attractions, including:
- Cash Back Deals: Offering substantial discounts based on the quantity and value of purchases
- Supplier Badge Scanning System: An innovation that allowed for seamless information sharing via QR codes, simplifying interactions for both suppliers and visitors
- Essential Hunt Map Competition: Attendees collected stickers from every stand on a floor plan, with a high-value product hamper awarded to the lucky winner
- Order Book Competition: Another competition with a high-value hamper, rewarding visitors who engaged with suppliers
- Lucky Draw Competition: A final prize awarded from non-winning entries of the above two competitions
- Free Wi–Fi: Sponsored by Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s Women Radio.
Suppliers also offered exclusive deals, exciting competitions, and valuable prizes at various stands, enhancing the overall experience for attendees. The event provided an excellent platform for members and suppliers to network and strengthen business relationships.
Members Awards
A key highlight of the day was the Members Award ceremony, which honoured long-standing members of the Essential Hardware Group. Certificates were presented to members who had been with the group for 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, recognising their loyalty and contribution to the group’s success.
Lucky Draw and Competitions
The day concluded with the awarding of competition prizes just before the 3pm close:
- Order Book Competition: Ennio Molino from Trichardt Builders Market
- Essential Hunt Map Competition: Jaco De Bruyn from Karoo Vleisboere Landbou (accepted by Ancha De Bruyn)
- Lucky Draw: Christine Lindeque from Mustbuild.
With exclusive deals, numerous competitions, and valuable networking opportunities, the Essential Hardware Trade Day left attendees looking forward to the next edition in two years.
