Research and Guides

By Luke Vander Linden Vice President of Membership Retail & Hospitality ISAC (RH-ISAC)   Today, 81% of IT and security professionals feel at least “somewhat” prepared to handle a cyber incident, per the 2024 CDW Cybersecurity Report. But with steep …

Measuring how independent home improvement operations are performing throughout the year helps the entire channel understand how they compare to the industry at large and how to use that data to make incremental improvements to their operations. Since 2022, the …

By the Home Improvement Research Institute It’s time to focus on how smart home, HVAC and electrical systems work together in the retail space. The Home Improvement Research Institute’s (HIRI) Project Decision Study reveals that under the broad project umbrella …

Every year, the National Retail Federation ranks the retail industry’s fastest growing companies based on year-over-year retail sales. The 2024 list suggests finding ways to save is still a priority for consumers as five of the top 25 companies are …

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 as the Cost of Doing Business Study. Retailers have continually relied on the industry …

In the most recent Gallup survey about employee engagement, respondents report a decline in access to training, less connection to their organization’s mission and infrequent praise in the workplace. Since 2020, the amount of workers who say they know what’s …

Consumer expectations have shifted over the last several years, and a comprehensive online experience is now an expectation for retail. Services like buy online, pickup in store or curbside pickup and access to real-time inventory in mobile apps are increasingly …

Each quarter, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA), in conjunction with The Farnsworth Group, surveys independent retailers on several key operating metrics. The Independent Retailer Index asks retailers across the U.S. about their year-over-year performance in the previous …