As price pressures continue to shape the home improvement market, a significant share of U.S. homeowners factor product origin into their buying decisions. New data from the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) shows that one in three homeowners considers whether a …

QXO announced it has completed its acquisition of Koriak Building Partners from Court Square Capital Partners for approximately $2.25 billion, expanding QXO’s addressable market to more than $200 billion. “By acquiring Kodiak, we’re providing our customers with a wider range …

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, …

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, …

All retailers “slip” sometimes on most aspects of delivering their customer service. It is natural and unavoidable. But can these slips be neutralized in the minds of your customers? I’ve reviewed hundreds of customer surveys with candid comments about store …

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 …

While not unique to the independent channel, wage challenges can cause extra stress on small business owners already juggling tight margins. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in February 2026, wages rose more than expected, increasing 0.4% for …

While market conditions remain reasonably strong for most remodelers, the industry is continuing to experience rising costs and some customer hesitation due to policy and economic uncertainty. Currently, remodeling demand is being supported primarily by an aging housing stock, strong …