As part of its ongoing mission to help independent home improvement retailers become better and more profitable merchants, the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) is pleased to announce that it will be offering an entirely new suite of benefits to …

On Monday, Ace Hardware Corp. announced it had finalized plans to acquire Spokane, Washington-based Jensen Distribution Services. This acquisition comes less than a year after Ace purchased Emery-Waterhouse of Maine. Hardware Retailing had the opportunity to speak with John Venhuizen, …

Just a few short weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take part in one of the most inspiring events in the home improvement industry, The Young Retailer of the Year Awards. For 18 years, NRHA and its sponsors have …

Here are a few quick numbers most everyone is familiar with… Four out of five doctors recommend chewing Trident gum. You only use 10 percent of your brain. Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. My wife …

Once a year at the Tratensek household, which is run like a well-oiled Fortune 500 company, I sit down with our Chief Financial Officer (read, my wife) and we take a look at all of our expenses to determine if …

Driving past Kinnick Stadium, home to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes football team, Jerry Meis slows his driving to a crawl as something catches his eye. The university has planted corn on either side of the main entrance to the …

This popular presentation, presented by Dan Tratensek, publisher of Hardware Retailing magazine, offers tips and advice for retailers on how to stay ahead of the big-box competition. Topics include management and operations, employee training, promotions and marketing, merchandising and more. …