The Foundations of Merchandising Management Live! program, hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) at the 2025 National Hardware Show, provides strategies and tactics for participants to successfully improve and manage merchandising, assortment planning and vendor relations. …

As independent retailers work to find quality employees, one audience that can be tapped into is teenagers and college students. While many in the independent home improvement channel already utilize a younger workforce, for those who don’t, here are some …

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, after rising 0.3% in November, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The all items index rose 2.9% for the 12 …

In the last two weeks, major wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area have killed 27 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures. Several in the independent home improvement retail community have been directly impacted, including the Orlandini family, owners …

Billed as “Retail’s Big Show,” NRF 2025 brought together the biggest names in retail for educational sessions, networking and product discovery. Hosted by the National Retail Federation (NFR), NRF 2025 took place in New York City from Jan. 12-14. John …

When it comes to pop culture icons, he may not be mainstream, but Mister Oswald has garnered celebrity status and a loyal following in the hardware industry. He first appeared in the comic strip bearing his same name in October …

The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) released its 2024 Home Improve­ment Retail Selec­tor Study in late 2024. The study looked at the customers’ motivations to shop at brick-and-mortar locations for their home improvement needs. For 49% of respondents, offering a variety of …