News

Banks are pushing to change a cap on debit card swipe fees that the Federal Reserve implemented in 2011. However, 89 percent of consumers believe the “swipe fee limits should not be undone,” according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. Additionally, 84 percent of …

North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) staffers are regularly visiting independent home improvement stores, getting to know owners and employees and learning lessons on retail everywhere they go. In late June, NRHA’s Hilary Welter and Renee Changnon spent two days in Ann Arbor, …

The Home Depot is continuing to expand its use of hydrogen energy and plans to use the power to generate electricity at 200 stores by the end of this year. The company’s goal is to use hydrogen fuel cells, which generate energy through a chemical …

New and complex government regulations — especially rules connected to taxes, health care and employee safety—can discourage small business growth and entrepreneurship, according to new data from the National Retail Federation. The reasons? Owners of small businesses often work long …

The British exit from the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit, has global ramifications, but its impact on U.S. businesses is still to be seen. The U.K. is feeling the strongest and most immediate economic impacts of the Brexit vote in June, but the decision will affect the …

Walmart is now offering an online membership to customers that is similar to Amazon Prime and provides free and fast shipping. Starting June 29, the retail giant began offering 30-day free trials of ShippingPass, which is a program that provides shoppers with unlimited two-day shipping. USA …

You might do annual employee reviews, but how often do you check how happy and motivated your employees are? High employee engagement at work is linked to a business’ overall success, and companies such as John Deere are taking that …

In an article written for Forbes, customer service and experience expert Shep Hyken discusses how Ace Hardware stores stay competitive in an industry glutted with big boxes. The reasons he credits for Ace’s success are true of many independent home improvement …