Operations

Spring is a great time of the year for one huge reason—customers are starting lots of home improvement projects and keeping your store busy. To help you make this selling season even more successful, the North American Retail Hardware Association …

For any on-the-go person, a dead cellphone battery can be a huge hinderance to staying connected and getting tasks accomplished. Smartphones have become ubiquitous and the need for powering up is more important to consumers than ever. In response, airports, restaurants and retailers are providing power, …

It’s likely that most of you have a few landlord customers who own rental properties around the neighborhood. These customers are great to reach—not only are they buying homes they intend to rent, but those rentals require ongoing maintenance, so if you …

Payroll, advertising, utilities, rent and more all add up to your total operating expenses–and if one of those expense lines gets too high, it cuts into your store’s profit. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if your expenses are …

Employees are more satisfied with their jobs now than they have been in the past 10 years, according to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The 2016 study, Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement, reports that 88-percent …

Recent shootings and other workplace violence on the news are enough to make any store owner uneasy, but some practical steps in parking lots can improve security for your employees and customers. Incidents of workplace violence have not been tracked thoroughly, but some data from 2003 to 2008 …

The numbers can be overwhelming at times, but it’s important to keep an eye on them to help measure the financial health of your business. Below are five metrics you should know and use to better understand your operation. Average …

To view a PDF of the story click here. Best in Class  There’s no doubt about it—independent retailers in the home improvement industry are an innovative, thriving and progressive group. The industry is full of profit-focused, forward-thinking retailers committed to …