Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
With 30 years working at the most magical place on Earth, Duncan Wardle knows a thing or two about innovation and creativity and will be sharing those insights with attendees of the 2025 Independent Home Improvement Conference, hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and The Hardware Conference. During his keynote—Innovating Customer Experience—Wardle will share innovation tools developed from experience with thousands of global Fortune 500 companies and 30 years of experience with the Walt Disney Company using real-world examples.
Attendees will learn how to harness creativity to turn a product-centric culture into a consumer-centric one, create a sustainable culture of innovation and creativity throughout their organization and lead every employee to think creatively.
“So many people identify themselves as not creative, but I define creativity as the ability to have an idea, and we all have hundreds every single day,” Wardle says. “The hard part is that most people don’t give themselves time to think, but the moment they do—step in the shower, go for a walk, lose time while driving—suddenly there’s that epiphany of a big idea.”
Wardle will also share how to leverage high-tech to enable high-touch, deliver record guest satisfaction and address the biggest consumer pain points.
“We overthink everything and constantly have analysis paralysis,” Wardle says. “The tool kit I created has three principles and it takes innovation and makes it accessible to normal hardworking, busy people. It makes creativity tangible for people who are uncomfortable with ambiguity and makes the process fun, giving people tools that are enjoyable to use, and they’ll use them when you’re not around.”
At Disney, Wardle helped teams at Disney Parks, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, Imagineering and Animation to innovate, creating magical new storylines and amazing experiences for consumers around the globe. He now brings his Disney experience to audiences around the world, delivering a series of keynotes, master classes and ideation forums that help people capture unlikely connections, leading to both disruptive thinking and revolutionary ideas. He is a multiple TEDx speaker and frequent contributor to Fast Company, Harvard Business Review and Forbes, and he teaches innovation and creativity master classes at Yale and Harvard Universities.
The 2025 Independent Home Improvement Conference will take place July 30-31, 2025, at the stunning JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes.
This premier event, designed exclusively for independent home improvement retailers, brings together thought leaders, industry experts and top industry peers to help you strengthen your operations, expand your network and discover new growth opportunities.
Join hundreds of independent retailers committed to strengthening their businesses and shaping the future of our industry. Don’t miss out on this must-attend event and experience:
- Engaging keynotes from industry innovators.
- Targeted educational sessions to address your biggest challenges.
- Unparalleled networking opportunities to connect with key decision-makers.
- Entertainment and activities in a vibrant Orlando setting.
Register for the 2025 Independent Home Improvement Conference today!
