Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Each afternoon of the 2025 Independent Home Improvement Conference, experts from inside the industry and out will leave attendees with practical takeaways and applicable best practices to improve all areas of their operations. The stage will play host to presentations and panels covering some of the hottest topics in the channel.
State of the Industry: Elevating the Edge of Independent Retail | July 30 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Speaker: Dan Tratensek, NHPA
Independent retailers have long been known for their resilience, adaptability and deep connection to their communities—but in today’s market, those traits aren’t just assets—they’re your edge. In this essential opening session, NHPA’s Dan Tratensek delivers an insightful look at the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the independent home improvement industry today.
Backed by data, informed by real-world insight and grounded in NHPA’s industry research, this session 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 | July 30 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Panel Moderators: Lindsey Thompson & Scott Jerousek
They’ve grown their businesses, challenged the status quo and led their teams through some of the industry’s toughest moments—and they’re not done yet. This year’s Top Guns take the stage for a powerful panel conversation that pulls back the curtain on what bold leadership looks like in independent home improvement retail today.
Hear how these award-winning retailers are tackling labor challenges, navigating growth, embracing technology and staying laser-focused on their communities and customers. From strategic risks to lessons learned, this is your opportunity to learn from the best of the best—live and unfiltered.
Macro-Economic Factors Impacting Home Improvement Behaviors | July 30 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Speaker: Dave King, Executive Director, HIRI
From inflation and interest rates to labor shortages and consumer sentiment, macro-economic 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.
Attendees will gain an up-to-date view of the broader economic environment and learn how those trends are translating into shifting project priorities, demand cycles and purchasing decisions. Whether you’re a retailer, supplier or executive, this session will help you better anticipate market movement—and plan your strategies accordingly.
Voices of Impact: A Conversation With Young Retailer of the Year and Beacon Award Honorees | July 31 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Panel Moderators: Craig Cope & Scott Wright
From bold new ideas to time-tested leadership, the honorees of NHPA’s Young Retailer of the Year and 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.
Whether you’re an emerging leader or an industry veteran, this session offers inspiration and practical insights straight from those who are shaping the future of the channel—one bold move at a time.
Customer Experience Meets Creativity | July 31 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Duncan Wardle, Former Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney
The best brands in the world may have great products and service, but they thrive because of an unrelenting passion and focus on customer experience. In this keynote by globally acclaimed speaker Duncan Wardle, you’ll learn how to harness creativity to turn a product centric culture into a consumer-centric one. Using real-life examples, Wardle will share innovation tools developed from experience with thousands of global Fortune 500 companies and 30 years of experience with the Walt Disney Company, most recently as Head of Innovation & Creativity. 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.
Learn more about Duncan Wardle here.
