Unsure of what the future would hold or even what he wanted his future to look like, Kane Wilbanks turned to the military, joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 2017. “The unknown really drove my motivation to join the Marines,” …
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From Service to Sawdust: A Veteran’s Blueprint for Home Improvement Success
Always ready. Always there. The venerable motto of the United States National Guard is what Tim Kromholtz lived out during his time in the Washington Air National Guard and in his executive role in the independent home improvement industry. Kromholtz’s …
Read More »2025 RMCP Graduates Gain Practical Takeaways, Leadership Lessons
Wrapping up three days of intensive learning, students of the North American Hardware and Paint Association’s Retail Management Certification Program (RMCP) class of 2025 took away skills and knowledge to grow store sales and profits in today’s changing retail landscape. …
Read More »Heath Warren Maintains a Love for Serving
Serving as a combat engineer in the U.S. Marines from 2002 to 2007, Heath Warren loved being able to fix things and solve problems, skills he transferred to the independent home improvement channel. Currently, Warren is the maintenance technician for …
Read More »Staying on Par: Highlights From the 2025 Cost of Doing Business Study
The 2025 Cost of Doing Business Study presents the North American Hardware and Paint Association’s (NHPA) annual financial and operational profile of independent hardware stores, home centers, lumber and building materials (LBM) outlets and paint and decorating outlets. This study …
Read More »Brothers in Service: John and Michael Wallace Proudly Serve Their Country and Channel
With the vision to create a successful wholesale hardware business, W.B. Whittaker, S.M. Holtsinger and D.M. Wallace chartered the Whittaker-Holtsinger Company in 1922 in Morristown, Tennessee. In 1932, D.M. became president, and in 1944, he changed the name to the …
Read More »Independent Retailer Index: Sales Stay Relatively Flat in Q2
Understanding how independent home improvement operations are performing throughout the year helps retailers in the channel compare themselves to others and use that data to make improvements to their operations. Since 2022, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) …
Read More »Submarines to Supply Chains: Ty Sordelet’s Transition From the Navy to the Independent Channel
A shared commitment and the ability to contribute to something greater than himself are what pushed Ty Sordelet to join the U.S. Navy in 2006. “I wanted to serve my country and lead others who had the same commitment to …
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