David Novak, retired CEO of the company that owns the KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands, recently interviewed Ace Hardware’s president and CEO for a podcast on leadership. John Venhuizen, who is president and CEO of Ace Hardware Corp., …
Read More »Kate Klein
Sears Layoffs Hit Corporate Workers
Sears recently laid off more than 200 corporate workers as part of “ongoing restructuring,” according to the Chicago Tribune. The layoffs “affected various business units and roles across the organization,” a Sears spokesman says in the Chicago Tribune article from Jan. 31. Sears …
Read More »Employee Compensation Report Now Available
The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) has released the only in-depth, industry-specific study on employee compensation. The new 2017 Employee Compensation Report is a benchmarking tool for independent home improvement retailers to use for general guidance as they assess their payroll …
Read More »Chatting With Lowe’s, Courtesy of Apple
When Apple announced details of its not-yet-released iOS operating system this month, the name Lowe’s popped up as a partner in a new feature called Business Chat. That new feature will offer an avenue for Lowe’s to offer customer service …
Read More »Perspective: Friends Who Help Make Business Better
When Adam Busscher started meeting fellow independent home improvement retailers from bigger businesses and other countries, he was surprised to gain many business allies. In fact, Adam began developing industry friendships that have made him a better retailer. For years …
Read More »Planning for Shoppers’ Impulse Snack Buys
Click the image above to view a full PDF. Your customers may shop impulsively when they are hungry, but you shouldn’t plan your impulse product offering on a whim. You likely already sell individually packaged snacks, which Nielsen, a consumer …
Read More »Combat the Growing Cost of Return Fraud
Return fraud is a growing cost for retailers, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Recent research from the trade association shows that the average loss per return fraud incident is $1,766. That amount is higher than the average loss …
Read More »Sears Borrows Millions More From CEO, Plans Further Liquidity
Sears borrowed $100 million more from CEO Edward Lampert’s investment companies and may get an even bigger loan through a new agreement, according to a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The loan agreement gave Sears an initial …
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