Behind the Scenes at the Home Depot Product Walk
My Experience at the Home Depot Product Showcase in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a city of spectacle – bright lights, high energy, and over-the-top entertainment at every turn. It was a fitting environment for a week of showcases by the fine folks from Gozney. I am going to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the Home Depot Product Walk, where some of the biggest names in home improvement, grilling, and outdoor cooking came together to make their mark.
I spent the week filming and capturing content for Gozney, working alongside chef and pitmaster Rasheed Philips, as he demonstrated the true versatility of Gozney pizza ovens. But this event was more than just a product demo—it was a high-stakes opportunity for brands to showcase their innovation to Home Depot executives and store managers from across North America.
Stepping Into the Showcase
The Home Depot Product Product Walk is a massive, two-day event that brings together vendors, industry leaders, and executives in a single convention center. Think of it as a high-powered trade show, except instead of simply displaying products, brands get to interact directly with decision-makers who control what makes it into Home Depot stores across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Walking into the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, I was immediately struck by the sheer scale of it all. This wasn’t just a handful of booths – it was a sprawling setup featuring top brands like DeWalt, Makita, Traeger, Weber, Masterbuilt, EcoFlow, and of course, Gozney.
Each vendor had their own dedicated space, outfitted with elaborate displays, live demos, and even private chefs cooking on-site.
The goal? Make an impression. Stand out. Secure better placement in Home Depot stores.
And for Gozney, that meant proving their pizza ovens could be used to cook differently.
Showcasing Gozney with Rasheed Philips
As part of Gozney’s team, Rasheed Philips wasn’t just here to cook—he was here to challenge perceptions.
Most people hear “pizza oven” and think of, well… pizza. But Rasheed was on a mission to change that. Over the course of two days, he prepared everything except pizza—proving that Gozney ovens are as versatile as any outdoor oven on the market.
I was just there to capture the magic.
I spent my time behind the lens, filming everything from close-ups of sizzling steaks to the reactions of store managers tasting the food for the first time. Watching attendees shift their mindset in real time—going from "This is just for pizza" to "I need one of these". Proof that showing always beats telling.
And it wasn’t just about the product – it was about Rasheed’s ability to connect. Whether he was explaining cooking techniques or chatting with executives about flavor profiles, he made sure every interaction felt personal, engaging, and memorable.
The Executive Dinner
Before the main showcase began, Gozney hosted a private dinner for top Home Depot executives.
Held at a private Japanese-style residence, the evening was intimate and intentional. It was a space where Gozney’s could forge deeper connections with key decision-makers. The guest list included executives, brand representatives, and even Gozney’s founder, Tom Gozney.
Tom’s story left an impact.
A self-taught welder from the UK, he built the first Gozney pizza oven as part of his recovery from substance addiction. What started as a personal project turned into a thriving business, helping him rebuild his life while bringing people together through the communal act of cooking.
At the dinner, he shared this journey, gifting each executive a black notebook engraved with his sobriety date, a nod to the journal that helped him through his toughest moments. It was a deeply personal touch that resonated far beyond business.
Meanwhile, Rasheed and Sandtown Pizza handled the food. Guests were treated to a lineup of dishes cooked in the very ovens they were considering for Home Depot shelves, from artfully crafted pizzas to delicious steak.
The setting, the storytelling, and the flavors came together seamlessly. And by the night's end, Gozney wasn’t just another oven maker. It was a brand with a story that mattered.
The Home Depot Showcase in Action
Once the official showcase began, the energy shifted.
For two days, Home Depot store managers cycled through in waves, exploring new products, meeting brand reps, and, most importantly, tasting what was being cooked.
The Gozney booth became a crowd favorite, thanks to the spectacle of pizza making and open-fire cooking. Store managers, industry insiders, and Home Depot execs all stopped by to try it for themselves.
Visibility means everything and Gozney made sure they were seen.
Reflections
When people think of Las Vegas, they think of casinos, clubs, and luxury hotels. But my week in Vegas was anything but typical.
Instead of late nights on the Strip, I spent my time filming brand storytelling, capturing industry interactions, and experiencing firsthand what it takes to become a household name. Overall, this experience was one you had to be there to see. And it will be hard to forget what I saw.
