Operations

The next time you head to your distributor market, keep in mind that you can find more than new products or inventory there. You may discover your next great idea. That’s what happened with Joe DeRoest, owner of Joe’s Hardware …

At Hooten’s Hardware, we’re all about selling hardware. We’ve got the products consumers need, whether they’re professional builders looking for enough lumber to build houses or DIYers who need just one more quart of Superman Blue to finish their son’s …

From furniture to bedding to appliances, Town & Country Do it Best in Crawfordsville, Ind., has it all. One of its big sellers? TVs. With competition such as Walmart and Amazon, store staff is looking for ways to stay ahead …

Regardless of who is going to buy your business (a family member, key employee or someone else in the industry), the advisers you choose to work with will be very important to the successful transition of your company. Most of …

Retailers can’t predict the future, but if they’re preparing for seasonal and inclement weather, they have to try. If they guess incorrectly, they might find the disruption in product delivery can be as catastrophic as the weather itself. By looking …

Just about every home improvement store offer paint assortments. So how can you make yours stand out? One way is by offering the services of an in-store color consultant, who can help overwhelmed customers choose the perfect colors for their …

Just like any other retailer, Jeff Tilem receives regular shipments of new inventory for his store. But he also receives packages other store owners may not expect—like a model’s wardrobe shipped from Turkey. Tilem, owner of Pioneer Hardware in Beverly …

Your customers already shop your store for all their hardware and housewares needs. A natural extension of those categories? Furniture. About three years ago, Ceva Courtemanche, owner of Hensel’s Ace Hardware in Arcata, Calif., added a 900-square-foot furniture department to …