News & Events from Trentco Innnoventions

Real-world wins, major retail placements, and the industry events shaping what comes next.

From rapid retail placements to major industry events, Trentco Innoventions and InventSmartUSA stay at the forefront of product innovation and retail strategy. Below are recent highlights - from inventions we’ve helped bring to market to the shows and conversations influencing the future of retail.

In the News

SMART BIOHEMP WOOD PROTECTANT

From the National Hardware Show to
Lowe's + Home Depot in 6 Months!

On March 31, Trentco founder Frank Saladino met Smart BioHemp creator Tim Braun at the National Hardware Show. By September 30, Smart BioHemp was available online at Lowe’s. Six days later, it launched at The Home Depot.

Tim had a strong product—and he trusted Trentco’s experience, relationships and retail process to help take it to the national marketplace.

Trentco Innoventions Expands Its Retail and Global Capabilities
Through Partnership With Kudos

October 2026

Trentco Innoventions has entered into a new partnership with Kudos, connecting Trentco’s established expertise with The Home Depot and Lowe’s to a broader global retail and e-commerce network.

Kudos is a full-service retail and e-commerce partner with teams across the United States, Asia, and Europe. The company supports brands through market-entry strategy, retailer onboarding, compliance, account management, supply-chain coordination, localization, and long-term channel growth.

As of December 2025, Kudos reported more than 30 North American retail channels, 20,000 local SMB channels, 100 global brand partnerships, and 200 clients served.

Combining Established Expertise

For more than 30 years, Trentco has helped product companies understand and navigate the path into major retail. That work has included evaluating retail readiness, shaping product and channel strategy, preparing brands for buyer conversations, managing retailer relationships, and supporting the process after an opportunity is secured.

Kudos engaged Trentco to bring its Home Depot and Lowe’s experience and relationships into the broader Kudos network. As part of that relationship, Trentco President Frank Saladino has joined the Kudos global team as Senior Vice President and will oversee its Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards channels.

Frankie Saladino, III has also joined Kudos as Vice President, with a focus on automotive products and channels.

Expanded Resources for Trentco Clients

The partnership gives Trentco access to a broader network of retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, supply-chain, and operational resources.

Depending on the product, market, and opportunity, Trentco clients may now benefit from:

• Access to additional retail and e-commerce channels

• Broader market-entry and channel-development expertise

• Retailer onboarding and account-management support

• Global manufacturing and sourcing resources

• Supply-chain and fulfillment capabilities

• Creative, listing, and localization support

• Potential manufacturing or investment opportunities for selected products

Access to these resources does not guarantee retailer acceptance, placement, investment, or sales. Every opportunity still depends on product readiness, buyer demand, category fit, operational capacity, and the strength of the business case.

What the partnership provides is a broader platform from which Trentco can evaluate opportunities, open the right conversations, and help qualified brands pursue growth across more channels.

More Reach Backed by the Same Practical Experience

Trentco’s work has never been limited to making an introduction. Successful retail growth requires understanding what buyers need, preparing the product and company to meet those expectations, and supporting the relationship after the first conversation.

The partnership with Kudos expands the resources available behind that process while preserving the experienced, hands-on representation Trentco clients expect.

If your product is ready for broader retail distribution, let’s talk about where it fits and what it will take to move forward.

Bright-Grips Illuminated Lineman Pliers

Into Home Depot in 24 Hours!

Just got a great new invention called BRIGHT-GRIP® illuminated electrical pliers into Home Depot in just 24 hours.

This is a perfect example of what’s possible when the right product meets the right retail strategy. Speed matters—but credibility, preparation, and buyer trust matter more. Our long-standing relationships and proven process allowed this product to move from opportunity to placement almost immediately.

View BRIGHT-GRIP® at Home Depot →

Shadazzle natural cleaner

Into Lowes in 8 Minutes!

Just when we thought we couldn’t do better, we got SHADAZZLE® into Lowe’s in just 8 minutes.

This kind of result doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from decades of buyer trust, deep category knowledge, and knowing exactly how to position a product so retailers see the opportunity immediately.

Retail links will be added once Lowe’s placement is live.

Upcoming Events

Recent Events

2nd Annual Lowe's Marketplace Sellers Summit

Sears Tower, Chicago

June 22, 2026

Trentco Innoventions founder Frank Saladino was invited to attend the 2nd Annual Lowe's Marketplace Seller Summit in Chicago, joining buyers, suppliers, and industry partners to discuss the retailer's evolving strategy and future initiatives.

The annual event provided an opportunity to meet directly with Lowe's buyers, strengthen long-standing relationships, and gain firsthand insight into new programs designed to help suppliers bring products to market more effectively.

Among the key topics discussed were expanded integration between Lowe's retail stores and its Pro platform, enhancements to customer review and feedback systems, and new tools aimed at increasing product visibility across multiple sales channels.

For Trentco Innoventions and InventSmartUSA clients, these insights translate into a better understanding of how one of the nation's largest retailers is evolving—and how inventors and product companies can position themselves for success. Combined with more than three decades of experience working with major retailers, events like the Seller Summit help ensure Trentco Innoventions remains at the forefront of the retail landscape.

Frank also shared his personal reflections from the event, including conversations with buyers, behind-the-scenes observations, and why trust and long-term relationships continue to play such a critical role in getting products onto retail shelves.

Want to hear Frank's full perspective on the event and what these changes mean for inventors?

Read his complete recap below.

2026 National Hardware Show

Las Vegas

March 31 - Aptil 2, 2026

We’re excited to announce that InventSmartUSA will be attending the
2026 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas,
where we’ll be actively searching for the next multimillion-dollar products and inventions to bring into Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, and As Seen On TV.

You already know how quickly we can move products into major retailers—so stay tuned to see which winning inventions we choose to bring to market next.

Nothing is more important to us than protecting our integrity. We are extremely selective about the products we represent because our buyers trust our judgment. It took 30 years to build that trust, and we do not take it lightly.

That said, we are happy to review any and all products.

If you’ll be exhibiting at NHS and would like us to stop by, please reach out and let us know your booth number—we’ll make sure to meet with you and give your product a professional review.

The Trentco Innoventions team was on the ground at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, one of the largest gatherings of product manufacturers, suppliers, and inventors in the home improvement industry.

With more than 500 exhibitors in attendance, the show provides a concentrated view of emerging products, competitive trends, and the realities of what it takes to succeed in big-box retail.

Day One: Inventor Pavilion & Early-Stage Innovation

The first day was focused on the Inventor Pavilion—where new ideas and early-stage products are introduced. While the creativity and innovation were evident, it also reinforced a consistent theme: many inventors are still navigating the process without the right guidance.

In several conversations, it became clear how much time and effort can be lost without a clear path forward. In one case, an inventor shared that they had spent over three years attempting to gain traction with a major retailer without meaningful progress.

This is exactly where Trentco Innoventions and InventSmartUSA provide value: helping inventors understand the process, avoid common pitfalls, and move forward with a strategy that is aligned with how retailers actually operate.

Day Two: Established Manufacturers & Competitive Landscape

Day two shifted focus to established manufacturers, where the conversation becomes less about ideas and more about execution.

With a high volume of similar products across categories, the reality is clear: success is not determined by price alone. Positioning, readiness, and the ability to navigate retail relationships play a significant role in determining which products move forward—and which do not.

Another key takeaway: not every opportunity is worth pursuing. The right partnerships matter, and alignment between product, business, and leadership is critical when evaluating potential retail opportunities.

Key Takeaways from the Show

- Competition is intense — many products enter the market, but only a small percentage are retail-ready

- Retail success requires more than a good idea — strategy, positioning, and execution are essential

- Time is often lost without the right guidance — education and process matter

- Partnership fit is critical — not every product or company is the right match

What This Means for Inventors and Manufacturers

Events like the National Hardware Show reinforce the importance of preparation. Whether you’re an inventor or an established manufacturer, understanding how to approach retail—and what buyers are actually looking for—can significantly impact your timeline and success.

InventSmartUSA

"I’ve got to say, getting a contact like you has taken me nearly two years… and then you come in and do more in 24 hours than I managed in 24 months.

I’m starting to think you might actually have superpowers."

- German Anchique

2026 National Retail Federation (NRF) Convention

New York City

We recently attended the 2026 National Retail Federation Convention at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

As new technologies - especially AI - continue to reshape retail, it’s critical to understand how emerging platforms are being integrated into real-world retail environments. At NRF, we met with billion-dollar companies to gain insight into the current and future global economy, retail trends, and consumer behavior.

One conversation that stood out was with Temu, a $6B company with over 100 million U.S. customers - nearly one-third of the U.S. population. We discussed brand perception challenges and how Temu is actively working to move beyond a “low-cost, low-quality” image by introducing higher-quality, higher-priced products - such as our MaxReach 3-in-1 cordless tool system priced at $250.

Access to a market this large allows us to gather sales data, test demand, and leverage that information when presenting products to buyers at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards. InventSmart USA pulls data from multiple sources to build winning national retail strategies for our clients.