Registration is now open for the Foundations of Merchandising Management Live! program, hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) at the 2025 National Hardware Show.
Foundations of Merchandising Management Live! is a two-day industry-focused, educational program for both new and seasoned home improvement retail professionals responsible for managing merchandising functions at their stores.
Designed by NHPA with industry retailers, the program provides strategies and tactics for participants to successfully improve and manage merchandising, assortment planning and vendor relations.
Students in the program will benefit from expert-led course sessions, breakout workshops, networking opportunities, hands-on learning on the NHS Show floor and ROI-driven assignments to take back to their stores.
Stacy Oliva, CEO of Nikiski Hardware in Nikiski, Alaska, was attended the Foundations of Merchandising Management Live! classes with colleagues Amber Oliva-Douglas and Jakelynn Wheeler last year and left with practical and applicable takeaways.
“Last year was mine and Jakelynn’s first National Hardware Show, and it was a great way to see new ideas and new products,” Oliva-Douglas says. “The merchandising management class was helpful to learn the why of merchandising and understand the strategies behind it.”
Dalton Meny, director of operations for Meny’s True Value in southern Indiana, says he enjoyed being able to interact with other retailers and glean insights from their operations and take a look at his operation from an outside view.
“Attending FOMM Live helped our operation by letting us take a step back and look at our merchandizing and buying habits from a different point of view,” Meny says. “It helped show us all the different ways you can improve your merchandising strategy. Merchandising management is about much more than displaying products on your shelf.”
Meny’s biggest takeaway from the course was discovering all the little ways retailers can improve their merchandising strategy.
“I honestly thought this class covered so much more than just merchandising management, and I see the class more as an extension of NHPA’s Retail Management Certification Program, which is a great program in itself,” Meny says.
To receive an early bird discount, register by Feb. 1, 2025. Learn more and register here.