Operations

When the Bowman family took over Prickly Pear Farm & Home in the small town of Kinsley, Kansas, in 2022, Ellie Bowman, the current owner and manager, and her family knew changes had to be made after seeing how the …

By Jim Close Managing Partner Risk Management Services Loss Prevention In the previous article, we looked at some of the most common methods dishonest employees use to steal. The focus was primarily around fraudulent register transactions. In this article, we …

By Adam Gunnett Director of IT & Business Intelligence Busy Beaver Building Centers Inc. In hardware retail, effective employee communication is essential for smooth operations and a positive workplace culture. Using intent-based communication mapping allows managers to categorize information by …

By Gary Pittsford Partner & Chief Valuation Officer (ret.) and Consultant Creative Planning Business Services In August, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) recognized its 2024 Young Retailer of the Year honorees at the Independent Home Improvement Conference. …

By Gina Schaefer Founder and Former CEO A Few Cool Hardware Stores When I launched our first store in 2003, I knew that managing “the numbers” wasn’t going to be my strong suit. I also knew that it was vital …

In 2024, 39% of homeowners said they had to make a repair to their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, according to the USA Today Homefront 2024 Home Maintenance Survey, and 33% of homeowners regretted not knowing how to …

The latest data you need to keep your operation on track is now available. For over 100 years, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) has surveyed home improvement operators throughout the U.S. to develop the benchmark report known …

By Jared Brown Director of Business Intelligence The Aubuchon Co. I recently had a deep conversation with a peer who boasts over five decades of experience—he’s been working in hardware since before I was born. Despite our experience and age …