Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
As it celebrates 125 years, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) contacted past board members to get their reflections on their time at the association. Megan Menzer, owner of Newton’s True Value in Cherryvale, Kansas, was a member of the NHPA board from 2009 to 2017, serving as chairman in 2017. During her time in leadership, NHPA launched the Retail Management Certification Program, which has since graduated more than 300 emerging leaders.
Hardware Retailing (HR): Why did you decide to join the NHPA board and what value did you find in being a member of the board?
Megan Menzer (MM): I had been a long-time member of NHPA and very active with the organization. I believe in an association where like-minded individuals can come together to collaborate, share ideas, vent about the world and make the hardware industry a better place overall. I wanted to make a difference not only in our community but in the industry as a whole. I love talking to other retailers and joining forces to ensure the small independent hardware stores stay relevant and thrive in today’s world. By joining the board I was able to do just that.
HR: What were some of the challenges and opportunities facing NHPA (then NRHA) at that time, and how did you and the board help us meet them?
MM: Some of the challenges/opportunities were the declining number of independent hardware stores. People began wanting to retire and they had not set up any type of succession planning. They did not know where to turn or how to get out of the business. The NRHA had resources available to help navigate those waters.
Another big opportunity for us was our office. When I first joined it was north of Indianapolis and small. Downtown Indy was beginning to grow and organizations needed places to host events. We began searching for a building and found the perfect building in the best location. We were able to remodel the building into a beautiful space for people to host events. We were able to create a learning space to host NRHA schools, roundtables and events. This was prior to COVID when people loved getting together and having an event space that was welcoming.
HR: What do you think was the biggest contribution you and the board made to the association during your term of service? Could you talk specifically about the start of the Retail Leadership Institute (with the Retail Management Certification Program) and how that has shaped the future of the association?
MM: The biggest contribution our board made to the industry was the Retail Leadership Institute and the launch of the Retail Management Certificate Program (RMCP). I believe this program has changed the trajectory of the small independent hardware store. So many times owners would like to expand but they do not have the manpower. This program not only allows for owners to expand their business but it allows their businesses to thrive, whether it’s through for example expanding a department or expanding into multiple stores.
The program allows for owners to be set up with success. We all know how hard it is to let go and we know there are only so many hours in a day. When an employee attends RMCP, they and the owner find more time to work on the business, not in the business. The employee also feels ownership of their work. We’ve proven that the ROI on the class pays for itself. I believe this was one of our biggest accomplishments that helps keep the small independent hardware store relevant and thriving in today’s market.
