As fall weather starts to roll in, it won’t be long until fireplaces and stoves will get heavy use in many parts of the country. A warm fireplace can add ambiance to a room, but it can also add a …

This should be a banner year for consumer spending on Halloween, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF). The survey predicts total spending will reach $8.4 billion, an all-time high in the survey’s 11-year history. That should …

To view a PDF of this story, click here. By Jesse Carleton, jcarleton@nrha.org Be an Early Adopter Meet David and Liz. They just purchased a new home. They also just purchased a new smart thermostat for that home, which means they …

Once you find those employees who fit your company culture and deliver high customer service consistently, you want to keep them. While every hard-working employee deserves a good wage and pay raises, money isn’t the only motivator. Employees usually place …

Lawn and garden retailers making plans for spring 2017 had plenty to see at the Independent Garden Centers (IGC) Show Chicago, held August 16-18 at Navy Pier Festival Hall. Vendors specializing in lawn and garden products were on hand to …

While it seems summer only just began, the start of school is less than a month away for many children. According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) latest Back-to-School Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, it’s not too …

Home improvement stores are often one of the first places people go to prepare for and recover from a natural disaster. Retailers who want to provide a service to their customers should make careful note to stock up on emergency …

According to the 2016 National Retail Security Survey (NRSS), conducted by the National Retail Federation and the University of Florida, retailers’ inventory shrink averaged 1.38 percent of retail sales, or $45.2 billion in 2015, up by $1.2 billion from 2014. …