As part of its annual State of Independents Conference held in Chicago on December 8, the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) honored Stihl Inc. as one of its 2016 Channel Partnership Award winners. This is the second straight year Stihl has been chosen for the award.
The Channel Partnership Awards were presented to four home improvement industry manufacturers that were selected by independent home improvement retailers as representing “best-in-class partners in supporting their success.”
“The relationship between manufacturers and independent retailers is so vital to the health of this channel that we want to honor companies who engage in practices that strengthen these ties,” says Dan Tratensek, NRHA vice president of publishing. “We view these awards as a real compliment to the manufacturers who receive them because the winners are selected directly by the industry’s independent retailers.”
The 2016 NRHA State of Independents Conference is sponsored exclusively by the National Hardware Show and was a one-day, interactive event that delivered proprietary research, live feedback, networking opportunities and advice on how channel partners within the home improvement industry can work more closely with independent retailers.
The 2016 Channel Partnership Award winners were recognized during the final segment of the conference. The winners received plaques recognizing the honor and will be featured as part of the conference coverage in an upcoming issue of Hardware Retailing magazine, which is published monthly by NRHA and circulated to the industry’s 35,000 independent home improvement retailers.
“Stihl does so much to support independent retailers and small businesses that it is truly fitting they should be a two-time recipient of this award,” says Tratensek. “Stihl goes above and beyond the call to provide independent retailers with access to products and support that allow them to be successful they should truly be considered one of the strongest partners independent retailers have.”
Additional Channel Partner Award recipients for 2016 were Weber Grills, Benjamin Moore & Co. and The Valspar Corp.
