Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Taking place July 30-31, 2025, at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, the 2025 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) offers a dynamic lineup of expert-led sessions, panel discussions and opportunities to make connections with peers, manufacturers and service providers. Along with education and networking, IHI Conference attendees will enjoy the luxury and modern comforts of the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, set amid 500 acres of tropical gardens, lakes and undulating fairways.
During the morning breakout sessions, attendees can join breakout sessions covering five educational tracks and gain practical insights and takeaways from fellow retailers and industry experts. Learn more about each track and the sessions that will be offered at the IHI Conference. Sessions will take place at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, and repeat at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 31.
Employee Engagement
From addressing labor challenges to navigating generational gaps with employees and customers, these sessions provide solutions to guide employers to help their employees avoid burnout and provide a framework to develop committed, highly productive teams.
Executive Leadership
In today’s ever-evolving landscape, leadership requires a blend of vision, strategic thinking and emotional intelligence. These sessions take a deep dive into becoming a leader who can foster innovation, guide through change and inspire high-performance teams.
Retail Operations and Technology
When you get into the weeds of day-to-day operations, it can be difficult to take a broader look at those processes and strategies that could improve overall operations. These sessions will highlight how retailers can take on today’s operational challenges through small-scale tools or enterprise-wide solutions.
Marketing, Merchandising and Advertising
Independent retailers hold various roles in their operations, especially in marketing and merchandising. These sessions will showcase must-know marketing trends or merchandising strategies that even the least experienced retailers can use to save time and find success.
Hackathon
A hackathon is a collaborative event where individuals or teams work intensively to solve problems or create innovative projects within a set timeframe. In these hackathon sessions, participants will come together to brainstorm, strategize and prototype solutions for common industry challenges.
10:00am Breakout Sessions
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Rewriting the Rules of Engagement: Gallup Research in Action
Speaker: Dr. Rob Mathews
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. Packed with fresh insights and real-world application, this session gives you a front-row look at how top-performing teams are built today—and what you can do tomorrow to start improving engagement on the sales floor, in the stockroom and beyond.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Leading Through Change: How Resilient Leaders Adapt, Inspire and Win in Uncertain Times
Speaker: Cody Goeppner
The pace of change in retail isn’t slowing down—and neither can your leadership. In this timely session, we’ll explore what it means to lead with resilience, clarity and adaptability when the only constant is uncertainty. 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.
RETAIL OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
The Future Is Now: How Independent Retailers Are Innovating to Win
Moderator: Lindsey Thompson
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. This session dives into the tools and automation strategies that retailers are using to reduce manual processes, close labor gaps and unlock real-time visibility into daily operations. Learn how store owners and managers are simplifying the back office and the sales floor by integrating systems that work with them—not against them. Whether you’re exploring automation for the first time or looking to enhance your tech stack, this session offers a modern roadmap to running a leaner, more efficient operation.
MARKETING, MERCHANDISING & ADVERTISING
Foundations of Merchandising: Maximizing the Sales Potential of Every Square Foot
Speaker: Tony Corsberg
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.
Led by Tony Corsberg of Merchant5, this session dives into the fundamentals of merchandising that every independent retailer should master. You’ll explore how thoughtful merchandising impacts sales, performance and customer experience and how to evaluate and evolve your strategy for immediate results. From category flow and promotional space to inventory performance and visual execution, this session offers a practical framework for making merchandising a daily business advantage—not just a seasonal project.
HACKATHON
The Price Perception Hackathon: Changing Minds Without Changing Margins
Moderator: Renee Changnon
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. From signage and marketing to customer service and digital experience, every detail shapes how shoppers judge value. This session invites attendees to work in teams to generate creative, practical solutions that help independent stores shift the narrative from “expensive” to “worth it.” Whether you’re a marketer, operator or frontline leader, your perspective is needed. Bring your ideas, your whiteboard energy and your willingness to break the mold.
11:00am Breakout Sessions
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
From Boomers to Zoomers: Creating a Customer Experience for Every Generation
Moderator: Dr. Rob Mathews
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 sales floor, online and everywhere in between.
Moderated by Dr. Rob Mathews, this conversation will dive into what motivates each generation to buy, how expectations differ across age groups and how retailers can bridge the gap without losing their core identity. You’ll hear real-world examples of how retailers are tailoring messaging, merchandising, service models and digital engagement to connect meaningfully with every customer—from Boomers to Zoomers.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Beyond Your 4 Walls: Expanding B2B Sales Strategies for Long-Term Success
Moderator: Lindsey Thompson
Retail growth isn’t limited to what happens inside your store. In this strategic executive panel, two 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. From contractor services and outside sales teams to pro pricing models and operational partnerships, industry-leading retailers will explore how independents can grow by thinking beyond traditional foot traffic. Whether you’re just beginning to explore B2B or looking to take your program to the next level, this session offers candid insights into what works, what doesn’t and how to scale sustainably.
RETAIL OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
The Pricing Equation: Balancing Margin, Movement and Market Trust
Moderator: Scott Wright
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. From high-level pricing philosophies to the role of tech platforms, team training and competitive benchmarking, this session moves beyond theory. You’ll hear how retailers are using data to make smarter pricing decisions and aligning their pricing strategy with what customers actually perceive and respond to.
Whether you’re refining your approach or building from the ground up, this panel offers tangible, tactical insights you can bring back to your business without losing sight of the bigger picture.
MARKETING, MERCHANDISING & ADVERTISING
Driving Traffic Through Store Events and Local Influencers
Moderator: Cody Goeppner
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.
In this dynamic panel, NHPA’s Cody Goeppner moderates a conversation with innovative retailers who are successfully using in-store events, workshops and local influencer collaborations to energize their marketing strategies. From DIY nights and seasonal celebrations to partnering with hometown personalities, this session will give you creative ideas and proven practices to turn your store into a community magnet.
HACKATHON
The Niche Market Hackathon: Turning Gaps Into Growth
Moderator: Renee Changnon
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. Whether it’s DIY dog wash stations, specialty tools, local maker markets, garden bars, rental zones or smart home hubs—this is your space to think beyond your current category lineup. Each team will develop a department concept, outline its customer appeal, operational needs and in-store footprint and pitch it to a panel of peers and judges. Let’s find the next department that gets shoppers talking—and buying.
