Merchandising

As the holiday selling season approaches and many consumers are out scouting stores in search of the perfect unique gift for everyone on their gift list, consider adding a novel product niche. Determining the right gift niche for your market …

Most consumers head online or to toy stores when they’re looking for gifts for babies or toddlers. But the residents of Dubuque, Iowa, go to Steve’s Ace. It might seem a little odd to go to a hardware store for …

It’s important to follow safety guidelines for the displays featured in your store. Retail safety and security expert Kelly Brown shares best practices for retail display safety in a handout he created for expert witness firm Robson Forensic Inc. Click …

Staying warm and being prepared for winter weather are top-of-mind for your customers as the season approaches. Encourage your customers to buy the basics early by promoting them near the front of the store with snow removal-themed endcaps stocked with …

When a customer comes in asking for a dead bolt, a well-trained employee will almost immediately start discussing the features and benefits of the locksets stocked in the store. But what if we told you that the ability to close …

October’s National Fire Prevention Week is a great time to talk with your customers about fire safety and sell some fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. But that should just be the start of the conversation. Lurking around the store are …

If you feel you’re running out of space to display some of your harder-to-merchandise inventory, get creative. That’s what Sarah and Reid Davis, owners of R&S Hardware in Hinckley, Minn., did when showing bikes. “We’ve only been open about a …

Today’s consumers are motivated by convenience so whether you decide offering personalize impulse items or go with more traditional items, you can anticipate some healthy returns. Here are some tips to get the most return from the consumables you carry: …