Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
By Jeremy Melnick What’s the shortest amount of time a new hire has lasted on the salesfloor before quitting or being fired? A month? A week? A day? An hour? For me, it was 10 minutes. “I don’t sweep or …
Read More »Cross-Training for Survival
Tag Archives: operations
Nation’s Best Taps New COO
Nation’s Best announced the promotion of Kim Peffley to chief operating officer, effective April 12. Peffley previously served as regional vice president of the company’s North Region, bringing more than 30 years of experience in the independent home improvement industry. …
Read More »Break Into Live Goods With Intentionality and Purpose
When we opened our first larger home center 22 years ago, we decided to jump into the live goods business. We had never been in the garden center business before, so it was all new to us. Needless to say, …
Read More »Growth, ROI Is on the Agenda at the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference
No other event this year will bring the independent channel together or provide meaningful ROI like the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI), hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and The Hardware Conference. Drawing together retailers, …
Read More »From Service to Sawdust: A Veteran’s Blueprint for Home Improvement Success
Always ready. Always there. The venerable motto of the U.S. National Guard is what Tim Kromholtz lived out during his time in the Washington Air National Guard and still adheres to in his executive role in the independent home improvement …
Read More »Salt Air and Second Homes: Leaning Into Niches to Sell Outdoor Furniture
For 80 years, Seashore Ace Home & Outdoor Living has been the go-to source for coastal comfort and outdoor living in the seaside community of Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Now in its third generation of family ownership, the store has …
Read More »From Lawn Care to Lifestyle Capital: Where Growth Is Taking Root
As lawn and garden season accelerates, mid-to-large yard investments are proving to be more strategic and segmented than many may assume. According to the Home Improvement Research Institute’s (HIRI) 2025 Project Decision Study, yard, garden and outdoor projects reflect a …
Read More »Faster, Better, Stronger: Growth Awaits at the Newly Imagined National Hardware Show
Providing the space to source smarter and scale faster, NHS Concept to Commerce is the retail industry’s premier event connecting retailers, product development teams, wholesalers and distributors with inventors, private label partners and global factories, streamlining product discovery, supplier sourcing …
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