Operations

Understanding how your business compares to similar operations is a crucial step in mastering your finances and planning for future success. Each year, the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) surveys thousands of retailers to deliver that knowledge to independent …

Mergers and acquisitions are powerful forces in home improvement retail. The rate by which they’re completed has risen by 58 percent in the U.S. in the last decade, and in 2017, the total of all such deals amounted to $1.9 …

  Finding ways to grow closer to customers is paramount for independent home improvement operators. By establishing a more personal connection with customers, retailers can solidify their reputations as must-shop destinations.  Zach Williams says how home improvement products are marketed, …

If you serve customers who have gas furnaces in their homes, keep this troubleshooting flowchart close to the service counter and the phone. Train your staff on each step of the guide so they are prepared to answer any follow …

As a former general manager of seven home improvement centers, Kim Peffley knows the importance of creating a resourceful team and establishing a culture that supports its success. Now as an NRHA Vision Process consultant, she helps teams understand how …

When the leaders at Clarence Thomas Ltd. Home Center (CTL) in Fish Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, made the decision to invest in their employees by offering online training, they had no idea how popular the program would become. Initially, …

Keeping your eyes out for potential new hires is critical for retail success. These days, you have many resources to help you determine if a candidate will be a benefit to your operation, including their social media profiles. Stacey Furtado, …

The 2019 NRHA STIHL Foundations of Leadership Conference took place on the show floor of the 2019 Independent Garden Center Show at McCormick Place in Chicago. The site was also home to the first annual Independent Home Improvement Show, presented …