Operations

Todd Kirschner is proud of how Trio Hardware has bought into the community near Plainview, New York. The store has built a strong following in the community through its support of local organizations. That following made an appearance when dozens …

Increasing productivity and reducing employee turnover are two struggles independent business owners often face. One of the most practical ways to address these issues is to take a look at your management team. Do your team leaders have the interpersonal …

Mills County General Store and Ace Hardware is a mainstay in Goldthwaite, Texas, a town of about 1,800 people in the center of the state. Austin is the closest big city, just more than 100 miles south. Because it’s remote, …

In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, Mark Shook got his customers thinking about how they could give back to veterans. Shook, manager at Waters True Value in Emporia, Kansas, joined forces with two other businesses in town to …

Managing returns and developing a return policy that protects your business and keeps customers coming back for future purchases can vary depending on the needs of your business and your customers. Hardware Retailing explored that concept and presented one retailer’s …

Click the picture to download a PDF of this story. Earlier this year, outdoor apparel retailer L.L. Bean converted its no-questions-asked lifetime return policy to a one-year policy, receipt required. In a letter dated Feb. 9 on the company’s Facebook …

How often are your employees selling entire projects rather than just single products? Project sales increase your overall transaction size and usually offer larger margins. They can also lead to more satisfied customers, as they will get everything they need …

Click the picture to download a PDF of this story. Employee training is essential to any business, and it doesn’t always need to be time-consuming. As a way to kick-start or supplement your employee training efforts, the North American Retail Hardware Association …