Operations

It’s the time of year when you might be getting lots of requests for donations. While you want to be as generous as possible, it’s also necessary to be wise with your resources and have a way for deciding who …

Being attentive on the phone is an important facet of customer service, but how do you retain that when you need to put a customer on hold? Smith’s Ace Hardware, which has five locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with …

Adding a new niche or category can sometimes present challenges that require a little elbow grease to solve. Nearly three years ago, Petersburg Hardware in Petersburg, Indiana, moved to a new location which grew the salesfloor by more than 20,000 …

With the end of the year approaching, it’s a good time to look back over 2018 and think about what worked and what didn’t in your marketing strategy. An online presence has become increasingly important for businesses. If you have …

The community of Granby, Colorado, looks forward to the Christmas model train exhibit set up by the Grand County Railroad Club. Recently, the club secured land that will allow it to keep the display up all year, will feature a …

Many customers today have greener expectations for the businesses they choose to shop. While you don’t need to reinvent your entire business to appeal to this demographic, you can make small changes to your operation that show your eco-conscious side. …

Click the picture to download a PDF of this story. Great independent home improvement leaders break the mold. They inspire teams with motivational pep talks, individually mentor employees or stay behind the scenes to ensure a business stays profitable. Effective, focused leadership …

If you are looking for a training program to give your new managers or supervisors insight into their leadership skills, the NRHA Foundations of Leadership Program is a solid place to start.  The 16-week online program is designed to prepare …