Every year, Hardscape North America (HNA) brings together a huge cross-section of the landscape industry, and this year will be no different.

Taking place October 21–23 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, HNA brings contractors, manufacturers, dealers and equipment companies together for three days of education, networking, product discovery and hands-on demonstrations.

Held alongside Equip Exposition, HNA gives contractors a chance to see hardscape products and equipment all in one place. For me, that combination is what makes the event so valuable. You can spend a few days seeing where the industry is headed while also having conversations with contractors about what they’re dealing with in their businesses.

Daryl Irsik, Ewing’s Director of Category Management–Construction and Installation, calls HNA “the best one stop shop show in the country when it comes to hardscapes and equipment.”

And there’s a lot packed into that one stop.

See What's New and Put It to Work

One of the biggest benefits of HNA is being able to see new products and equipment in person. The outdoor demonstration areas take that a step further, giving contractors the opportunity to see equipment and hardscape products in real-world applications.

“In addition to seeing manufacturer innovation, you get to actually see it in use in the DEMO areas,” Irsik said. “Both the equipment and the hardscape outdoor area are continually demonstrating their products in real world applications.”

That hands-on experience matters. You can read about a product online, but there’s a difference between seeing it on a screen and watching it work in the field.

The educational side of HNA is just as important. Labor continues to be a challenge for many contractors, so finding ways to improve efficiency and do more with less will continue to be a major focus. Irsik also expects artificial intelligence to play an increasing role.

“Not surprisingly, like all other business segments, the use of AI to help run and scale your business will certainly be a focus this year, and I suspect many years to come,” Irsik said.

What You'll Find at the Ewing Booth

We’re putting a lot into our booth this year. Rather than a traditional trade-show display, we’re essentially building a backyard, complete with a couch and sitting area, patio, synthetic turf, fireplace, barbecue, gazebo and lighting.

It takes a lot of work to put something like that together, but it’s worth it. We want contractors to feel comfortable stopping by, spending some time with our team, and seeing what Ewing has to offer. If you’re at HNA, come see us at Booth #23054.

Irsik said the booth will reflect the culture that Ewing has built as a family-owned company.

“Ewing continues to take great pride in our family-owned culture, and our booth will have that same inviting feel,” Irsik said.

We’ll also be introducing expanded product lines and have some fun giveaways planned. One of the biggest is a chance to win 100,000 ProAdvantage points. Contractors can scan a QR code at the booth to enter, and the winner can put those points toward rewards available through ProAdvantage, including experiences like the Ewing Golf Getaway at the Phoenix Open and the Secrets Cap Cana Getaway in the Dominican Republic.

And if you’re looking for a little competition, we’ll have that covered, too. I represented Ewing last year in the Man vs. GeoRipper competition. It was an intense, difficult and fun way to get beat by a machine, but I loved it!

This year, we’re flipping the script with Woman vs. GeoRipper, with Missy Crow representing Ewing. I’m looking forward to seeing how she does.

Come With a Plan

With so much happening at HNA, I always recommend doing a little homework before you arrive.

Isrik agrees, “Preview the exhibitor list, review the educational and demo sessions, and prioritize or plan your days.”

That’s especially important if it’s your first time. There’s a lot to see, and it’s easy to leave the show realizing you missed something you wanted to check out.

But don’t plan every minute. Some of the best parts of HNA happen when you run into a customer, supplier, or industry contact and have a conversation you weren’t expecting.

The Conversations Matter

HNA gives us the opportunity to talk with a large number of contractors in just a few days. We want to hear what’s working, what isn’t, and what challenges are affecting their businesses.

“It’s a great event to not only tell our contractors what’s new with Ewing but also to find out what challenges they are facing and discovering new ways we might help,” Irsik said.

The same goes for our supplier relationships. For Irsik, HNA is one of the most efficient weeks of the year.

“As a national category manager, it is the one show of the year where I’m able to meet with the majority of my suppliers all in a few days,” Irsik said. “It’s an extremely efficient way to review programs with key suppliers in a single week.”

That’s what makes HNA more than just a trade show. It’s an opportunity to learn, see what’s next, and have conversations that help move our industry forward.

If you’re heading to Louisville this year, make a plan, get out into the demo areas, sit in on a few educational sessions and stop by Ewing at Booth #23054.

Haven’t registered for HNA yet? There’s still time. Register now, make your plans, and we’ll see you October 21–23 in Louisville.