Store Services

If you serve customers who have gas furnaces in their homes, keep this troubleshooting flowchart close to the service counter and the phone. Train your staff on each step of the guide so they are prepared to answer any follow …

Certain departments in hardware stores attract customers more easily than others. Who doesn’t want to look over the latest smoker for the backyard or the most advanced drill for the toolbox? But a category like heating, ventilation and air conditioning …

The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) regularly develops tools and resources you can use to train your staff to help customers with climate control. Read the highlights of two resources below, which are part of the Trainer’s Toolbox series. …

Turning a hobby into a job often means you are passionate about going to work every day. For Johnsons Home & Garden nursery associate Joan Easton, her hobby led her to find a part-time job opportunity. “I’m an avid gardener …

Home improvement retailers who talk about their competition these days inevitably include Amazon on the list. Fortunately, there are many ways to compete against this formidable retailer. One of the tactics many retailers are now pursuing is by offering a …

There’s a reason offering strong customer service is a common mantra for independent home improvement retailers: It’s an extremely important component of a retailer’s business when competing with big boxes and e-commerce competitors. But store services can play just as …

To view a PDF of this story, click here.  By Jesse Carleton, jcarleton@nrha.org  The restaurant industry has been doing it for years. Customers call in or place an order online, then go to the restaurant to get their carryout dinner. The …