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Article : Nibletts Mica Hardware: A Taste of Vegas

Date: Friday 6th July, 2012

Owners of Nibletts Mica Hardware in Builth Wells, Robert & Wendy Evans, attended the National DIY Tradeshow ’Totally DIY’ this February, and were the lucky winners of the prize draw - first prize being a trip to Las Vegas to attend the US National Hardware Show.

It comes as Robert celebrates his fiftieth year, many congratulations to him for a such a great achievement, and what a wonderful way to celebrate! Read on to hear first hand about Robert & Wendy’s trip:

By Robert & Wendy Evans
Nibletts Mica Hardware

”What a surprise! We won a trip to the National Hardware Show to be held at Las Vegas Convention Center, U.S.A. Thank you very much Totally Tools and in particular Mr. Paul Grinsell, Sales Director.

After checking the staff holiday calender, we accepted the invitation and made our plans. Even an 11 hour flight did not deter us, as it was such a great opportunity to experience a Hardware Show, American style.

So on day 2 of the Show, we arrive at the Convention Center, and at check in are meet by Sonya Ruff-Jarvis, Vice President of Attendee Programs, who had kept us informed in the two weeks leading up to the Show.

We are allocated “Channel Leaders” badges, indicating we are important visitors and arrange to meet Paul, who was having a very busy day with business meetings.
We then launched ourselves into the enormous arena of trade stands, reflecting all aspects of hardware. tools, housewares, paints & decorating, plumbing, electrical, storage & International sourcing.

The Best Product awards, seminars and a New Invention room were also featured, and all very interesting. The inventors pitched their products with great passion. An adjacent hall displayed an amazing range of gardening & outdoor living products. Huge barbeques and so many variations on snow clearing tools! It was great to chat with Ace Hardware, the American version of Mica DIY, a little larger than us with over 500 members. Most trade stands were quite modest in size, some just a table & backdrop. Our Totally Show Tradeshow compares very favourably with its layout & professionalism. Later in the afternoon, we attended the International Reception held in the Inventors Exhibit room, where we met Jayne Seagrave, President of Worldwide DIY Council, whose husband had invented the very successful grout smoothing tool; distributed by Everbuild in the UK; who was also an interesting gentleman, an importer & shipping expert from New Zealand.

We were treated to a fabulous evening by Paul, Totally Shows, dinner at the Stratosphere, the highest building in Las Vegas, with a revolving restaurant giving us the best views ever of the famous lights of Las Vegas.

It was a fabulous way to celebrate Rob’s 50th year in the Hardware Trade. We didn’t win a fortune, so will continue for the 51st year!”

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