Industry veteran and owner of Sullivan Hardware and Garden in Indianapolis, Pat Sullivan, is taking the stage at the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference, July 29-30 in Orlando, Florida. Sullivan will be joined on stage by Anthony Bogucki, COO of …
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Single-Family Housing Starts Down in April
Single-family housing starts declined in April as builders faced continued economic uncertainty and affordability challenges, including higher construction costs, ongoing labor shortages and elevated financing expenses, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Overall housing starts decreased 2.8% …
Read More »Pittsburgh Paint Co. President and General Manager of Commercial Shares Insights Into New Pro Product Line
Pittsburgh Paints Co. is gearing up to launch a series of products for the spring and summer season, specifically targeted to Pro customers. Hardware Retailing talked with Pittsburgh Paints Co. president and general manager of commercial, Dennis Karnstein, about the upcoming …
Read More »Texture, Warm Colors and Nostalgia Define Summer 2026 Design Trends
Houzz recently released the 2026 U.S. Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report, detailing upcoming design trends based on the latest research from U.S. home professionals, homeowners and design enthusiasts. The report found homeowners are leaning towards tactile, sensory-rich environments that combine …
Read More »Housing Affordability Sees Modest Improvement in Q1 2026
Housing conditions have improved modestly in the last year, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI), but housing affordability is still a struggle for millions of Americans. The …
Read More »Lowe’s AI Tool Speeds Material Quotes
Lowe’s recently announced the launch of Material Lists, an AI-powered solution that converts handwritten notes, photos, spreadsheets and other supported file types into quote-ready orders in minutes, with support for both English and Spanish. For many pros, balancing purchasing, project …
Read More »Pricing Concerns Weigh on Retailer Satisfaction
Overall satisfaction with home improvement retailers has held steady in 2026, rising one point from 2025 to 672 (on a 1,000-point scale), according to the most recent JD Power 2026 U.S. Home Improvement Retailer Satisfaction Study. Shoppers noted higher satisfaction …
Read More »Richards Building Supply Acquires Colorado Building Products Distributor
Richards Building Supply Co. (RBS) recently announced the acquisition of the assets of United States Building Supply (USBS), a distributor of siding, windows, gutters and other complimentary products in Colorado. “We are thrilled to welcome this team into our family,” …
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