Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
The Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) is the premier event designed exclusively for independent hardware and home improvement retailers. This event brings together industry leaders, retailers and channel partners for two days of education, networking and business growth opportunities.
Taking place July 30-31, 2025, at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, the IHI Conference offers opportunities for attendees to network with peers, manufacturers and service providers and gain valuable insights and connections that can help drive their businesses forward. The conference also includes the Independents Celebration, a high-energy networking event, as well as the Young Retailer of the Year Awards, Beacon Awards and Top Guns Awards, which each recognize outstanding independent retailers.
Attendees can also choose from a dynamic lineup of expert-led sessions, panel discussions and keynote presentations tailored to help retailers navigate challenges, implement new strategies and strengthen their operations. Learn more about these educational sessions and visit IHIConference.org to sign up and set yourself—and your operation—up for success.
On the Main Stage
Each day of the conference will include afternoon general sessions featuring industry experts and award-winning retailers sharing insights on channel hot topics.
Customer Experience Meets Creativity
In this keynote by globally acclaimed speaker and former head of innovation and creativity at Disney Duncan Wardle, you’ll learn how to harness creativity to turn a product-centric culture into a consumer-centric one. Attendees will learn how to create a sustainable culture of innovation and creativity throughout their organization and lead every employee to think creatively. Discover how to leverage high-tech to enable high-touch, deliver record guest satisfaction and address the biggest consumer pain points.
State of the Industry: Elevating the Edge of Independent Retail
Backed by comprehensive data, informed by real-world insight and grounded in industry research, this session presented by North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) COO Dan Tratensek will help you understand where the market stands and how you can position your operation for growth in the year ahead. From shifting consumer behavior to inventory trends, labor dynamics to competitive positioning, this is the pulse check every independent leader needs.
Top Guns Live: Leadership Lessons From the Industry’s Boldest Leaders
In this panel moderated by NHPA managing editor Lindsey Thompson and Farm and Home Hardware CEO Scott Jerousek, the 2025 Top Guns Awards honorees take the stage for a powerful panel conversation that pulls back the curtain on what bold leadership looks like in independent home improvement retail. Hear how these award-winning retailers are tackling labor challenges, navigating growth, embracing technology and staying focused on their communities and customers.
Macro-Economic Factors Impacting Home Improvement Behaviors
From inflation and interest rates to labor shortages and consumer sentiment, macroeconomic forces are reshaping the way homeowners think, spend and invest in their homes. In this data-driven session, Dave King, executive director of the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), breaks down the key economic factors influencing home improvement behaviors in 2025 and provides an up-to-date view of the broader economic environment.
Voices of Impact: A Conversation With Young Retailer of the Year and Beacon Award Honorees
From bold new ideas to time-tested leadership, the honorees of NHPA’s Young Retailer of the Year and The Hardware Connection’s Beacon Awards represent the best of what independent home improvement retail has to offer. In this energizing panel, award-winning retailers will share their stories, strategies and lessons learned from building strong teams, embracing innovation and driving meaningful change in their communities and businesses.
Solution-Focused Breakout Sessions
Attendees can also register for morning breakout sessions that will cover topics including technology, employee engagement, advertising and marketing and more. The breakout sessions will include presentations and panels from experts, retailers and vendors and send attendees home with practical best practices.
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Rewriting the Rules of Engagement: Gallup Research in Action
The workplace has changed—and so has the science behind what makes employees show up, stay engaged and succeed. In this powerful session, Dr. Rob Mathews unpacks Gallup’s most recent data on employee engagement, with a focus on what it means for independent retailers navigating labor challenges, generational shifts and evolving team expectations.
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Beyond Your 4 Walls: Expanding B2B Sales Strategies for Long-Term Success
Retail growth isn’t limited to what happens inside your store. In this strategic executive panel, leading retailers share how they’ve built successful B2B programs to expand their reach, deepen customer relationships and unlock new revenue streams—without adding square footage.
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The Future Is Now: How Independent Retailers Are Using AI to Innovate & Win
If your daily operations feel more reactive than strategic, you’re not alone. From receiving inventory and tracking sales to scheduling staff and managing communication, the grind of retail can get overwhelming—fast. The good news? Emerging tech and smarter systems are now more accessible than ever—and they’re built to help independent retailers take back control.
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Driving Traffic Through Store Events & Local Influencers
Looking for ways to create buzz, boost foot traffic and build deeper connections with your community? In today’s experience-driven retail world, events and influencer partnerships are no longer “extras”—they’re essential tools for customer engagement and brand growth.
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The Price Perception Hackathon: Changing Minds Without Changing Margins
Independent retailers know the value they offer—but too often, customers only see the price tag. In this hands-on, high-energy hackathon, participants will roll up their sleeves to tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: price perception.
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From Boomers to Zoomers: Creating a Customer Experience for Every Generation
From Boomers who value service and expertise to Gen Z customers who expect speed, self-service and social proof—retailers today are navigating a customer base as generationally diverse as their product mix. This retailer panel explores how independent home improvement stores are adapting their customer experience strategies to meet the needs of every generation—on the salesfloor, online and everywhere in between.
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Leading Through Change: How Resilient Leaders Adapt, Inspire and Win in Uncertain Times
From shifting workforce dynamics and supply chain challenges to evolving customer expectations and economic pressure, today’s leaders are expected to navigate more—and inspire more—than ever before. You’ll hear insights and real-life examples of how to stay grounded, maintain team morale and make confident decisions in fast-changing environments.
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The Pricing Equation: Balancing Margin, Movement & Market Trust
Pricing is one of the most powerful levers in retail—but also one of the most misunderstood. In this interactive panel, industry leaders will explore how independent retailers can build dynamic pricing strategies that protect margin, communicate value and respond to real-time market conditions.
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Foundations of Merchandising: Maximizing the Sales Potential of Every Square Foot
In today’s retail environment, foot traffic isn’t guaranteed—but maximizing every customer interaction is. Whether you’re looking to increase average ticket size, improve profitability or simply make better use of your space, one key driver stands out: effective merchandising.
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The Niche Market Hackathon: Turning Gaps into Growth
The strongest independents don’t just sell what everyone else does—they lean into what their communities want most. In this high-energy hackathon, participants will team up to explore niche department ideas that could unlock new revenue, attract new customers and build brand differentiation.
