News

Small business owners have recently expressed more uncertainty about the economy than they have in over four decades, according to a Nov. 2 report from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). The information comes from the NFIB Uncertainty Index. The index shows …

This week, True Value Company reported both revenue and gross billings increases for the first nine months of 2016. The home improvement co-op posted year-to-date gross billings of $1.59 billion as of Oct. 1, up 1.6 percent or $25.6 million. Revenue was $1.16 billion …

The holiday shopping season is upon us. Is your store ready? From holiday advertising to hiring seasonal workers to setting up holiday displays, there’s plenty for independent retailers to do in November and December. The shop-local trend has continued to …

PRO Group, Inc. has promoted Shari Kalbach from managing director to vice president, advancing her to a position in which she will oversee merchandising and marketing for the organization. “Shari’s outstanding work ethic, devotion to PRO Group customers and staff and …

Here’s an unusual alternative to a garden center or farmer’s market: In-store vertical farms for growing and selling fresh produce. Target is planning to test vertical farming in some U.S. stores in spring 2017, potentially allowing customers to see how their green vegetables …

How employees interact with each other and customers directly relates to store performance, according to Home Depot executive Ann-Marie Campbell. This fall, Campbell—who is executive vice president of U.S. stores—ranked No. 20 on Fortune‘s 2016 Most Powerful Women List, which highlights the American business world’s most important female executives. …

Employee problems, new regulations, market conditions, new competition—you have a lot to worry about besides normal, day-to-day operations at your business. To help retailers like you streamline human resources processes, the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and human resources company Tilson have …

Android device users who have abandoned mobile shopping carts to avoid typing in passwords or credit card information will soon have an alternative. Google has partnered with MasterCard and Visa in an effort to make mobile payments faster and easier to complete, starting in 2017. …