Industry News

During July, August and September, the nation’s economic output grew at a faster rate than the government expected, according to an article by The New York Times. Gas prices have dropped, leaving additional funds for other purchases, and consumers continue to boost …

Thanksgiving weekend sales for brick and mortar and online retailers fell about 11 percent year over year. Thanksgiving, Black Friday and holiday weekend sales totaled about $50.9 million this year, down from the $57.4 billion of the same timeframe in 2013, according to …

Hardware industry veteran, Pat Murphy, is hosting a free webinar on integrating mobile engagement into in-store experiences. The webinar topics include: Why do I need to include mobile in my advertising? How do I get my customers to opt in to …

There are many ways to reward employees without handing out bonuses or promotions. Sometimes a heart-felt “thank you” can go a long way. The following Inc. article provides a list of 20 techniques to reward employees without “spending a dime.” While …

Ace Hardware stores in the Springfield, Massachusetts, area are collecting pet food for local humane societies and animal shelters. Rocky’s Ace Hardware, a family-owned business, will collect the pet food through Dec. 23 at its nine stores in the Springfield …

Online shopping and purchasing have become mainstream within the United Sates. “Between 2008 and 2013, e-commerce sales grew ten times faster than in-store retail,” according to a McKinsey & Company article. Not only are consumers using their smartphones and tablets to …

There are only 26 days between Black Friday and Christmas this year, meaning brick-and-mortar stores will be busy and online shopping carts will be full during the coming weeks. According to an infographic by Invesp, U.S. retail commerce is expected to …

Customer service is now getting recognition as a marketing tool for retailers, and Ace Hardware’s service is getting applause along with retailers such as Zappos.com and Morton’s The Steakhouse. Traditionally, the customer service and marketing departments were two separate entities, but …