Another InstallerSHOW done and dusted… and what a week it was!
Three days of conversations, networking, product launches, giveaways, iced coffee and ice cream in attempts to keep cool (!) and of course, more steps than most of us manage in a month.
However, beyond the busy aisles and impressive stands, every year the show gives us a chance to step back and spot the trends shaping the industry.
After spending three days speaking to installers, brands and marketers, here are the biggest things that stood out to us this year.
1. Community continues to be the industry’s biggest strength
If there was one thing InstallerSHOW reinforced this year, it’s that this industry thrives on people.
Yes, everyone comes to see the latest products and technology, but it’s the conversations that keep people coming back. Whether it was catching up with familiar faces, finally meeting someone you’ve only spoken to on Instagram, or making new connections over a coffee, the sense of community was impossible to miss, especially during the Heating Installer Awards and Plumber Awards announcements!
Tradespeople don’t just want to buy products anymore. They want to learn from one another, hear real experiences and build relationships with brands that understand the realities of life on the tools.
The brands that embraced this, creating spaces for conversations rather than just sales pitches, were constantly busy – the Powered Now pub and Danfoss’ podcast studio were perfect examples of this.
2. Installers are always looking for ways to grow their business
One thing became clear across almost every conversation we had.
Installers aren’t just interested in products anymore – they want to know how a product or service can grow their business or how they can turn their time on the tools into more paid work.
The busiest talks and the most engaged conversations weren’t always about technical specifications. They were about attracting more customers, increasing profits, improving efficiency and finding new revenue opportunities.
Whether it was renewable technologies, social media, or business advice, installers wanted practical ideas they could take home and use to make their businesses stronger.
It’s a reminder that while great products matter, brands that clearly demonstrate how they can help installers grow their businesses will always have an advantage.
3. The best stands answered one simple question immediately
InstallerSHOW is a busy place and this year, it felt busier than ever!
Thousands of people, hundreds of stands and very limited attention spans (in the best possible way!).
The exhibitors that consistently attracted the biggest crowds all seemed to have one thing in common. Within a few seconds, visitors understood exactly who they were, what they did and, most importantly, why it mattered to them.
No guessing. No complicated messaging. Clear branding, simple explanations and an obvious benefit gave people a reason to stop.
The strongest stands then backed this up with experiences that actually made sense for their brand. Whether it was interactive product demonstrations, competitions, hands-on experiences or content opportunities, the activations weren’t there just for the sake of it. They reinforced the brand story and gave installers another reason to engage.
The games and giveaways will always attract attention, but when they’re connected to what your business actually does, they become far more memorable.
4. Innovation is becoming easier to understand
Every year, InstallerSHOW showcases more innovation across heating, plumbing and renewables.
But this year, instead of talking about technology for technology’s sake, brands focused on explaining how innovation solves real problems.
Whether it was making installations quicker, reducing paperwork, improving compliance, increasing efficiency or helping businesses save time, the messaging was rooted in practical benefits.
Artificial intelligence also made more appearances than ever before, alongside smarter connected products, digital platforms and software designed to simplify installers’ day-to-day work.
The companies generating the most interest weren’t necessarily showcasing the most complex technology. They were the ones explaining it in the simplest and most accessible way – take Powered Now for an example, they used their pub to literally provide advice on tap!
When installers could immediately understand how a product would save them time, make them money or improve the customer experience, the conversations naturally followed.
5. Content is no longer a nice-to-have
It wasn’t just the stands that were busy this year – cameras were too.
Everywhere you looked, installers were filming product demos, interviewing brands, recording podcasts or creating social content as they made their way around the halls. InstallerSHOW has become one of the biggest content opportunities in the industry’s calendar, not just for brands, but for the tradespeople themselves.
Whether it was a hands-on demonstration, Danfoss’s podcast recording space, Polypipe’s simple but effective challenge that encouraged friendly competition or simply a well-designed stand that looked great on camera (we’ll claim ours here!), the best activations generated content that continued reaching audiences long after the NEC had emptied.
It also highlighted something we’ve been seeing across the industry for a while now. Installers are increasingly becoming creators, building engaged communities and influencing purchasing decisions through authentic recommendations and real-world experience.
For brands, that presents a huge opportunity. The conversations at InstallerSHOW don’t have to end when the doors close. The brands that think beyond the three-day event and create content that lives on will continue to see the value long after the final stand has been packed away.
Download our free guide, designed specifically to help exhibitors (just like you!) to maximise their impact after InstallerSHOW 2026, here.