Operations

The National Retail Federation (NRF) released its annual forecast, predicting a 6 to 8 percent growth in U.S. retail sales to more than $4.86 trillion in 2022. Nonstore and online sales year-over-year, which are included in the total figure, are …

In its annual State of the Industry Report, Houzz reviewed data and looked at industry performance from 2021 and provided an outlook for 2022. The report found that companies across the home improvement industry are confident in what 2022 will …

Customers at Beisswenger’s in New Brighton, Minnesota, have access to an unusual but necessary product for rent—live animal traps. The store rents live traps for a more humane trapping and removal process for mice, voles, chipmunks, rats, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, …

Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers jumped 0.8 percent in February after an increase of 0.6 percent in January. The U.S. inflation rate over the last 12 months …

No matter how much experience you come in with, becoming a new manager comes with plenty of challenges. The North American Hardware and Paint Association is looking for managers who can share insights into what they’ve learned since they became …

The connection between your business and your customers in the digital world, your company’s website sets the tone for your operation online. Currently, there are 4.95 billion internet users around the world, so having an effective website is key to …

QR codes are inexpensive, adaptable, easy to implement, user-friendly and provide an excellent opportunity for retailers to connect with customers and build their bottom lines. In the March 2022 issue of Hardware Retailing, retailer Geoff Saunders from Cascade Home Center …

While it may sound obvious, if you want to have a profitable retail business, sales associates need to be good at selling. That doesn’t mean you have to resort to used-car-salesman, high-pressure tactics to close the deal. But they need …