Research & Guides

In the September issue of Hardware Retailing magazine, we gathered data from consumers, retailers and industry organizations to provide a clear view of five trends in the outdoor living category. As mentioned in the story, more consumers are expanding their …

NRHA’s 2015 Cost of Doing Business Study is now available! This study has been conducted annually for the last 98 years and provides detailed financial information from hardware stores, home centers and lumber/building material outlets. This year, more than 1,000 stores …

The prices on home improvement products are growing, and so are retailers’ efforts to keep those prices competitive and retain customers. Price continues to be a key factor consumers consider when choosing where to shop. Over the years, product pricing has …

Outdoor living is a growing category for retailers, as more consumers are putting emphasis on their outdoor living areas. Homeowners are renovating and adding to their patios to create entertaining, eating and living spaces that add more functional square footage. To better …

To download a PDF of this story, click here. To download the Outdoor Living Selling Guide, visit hardwareretailing.com/outdoor-resources.  Light Up the Yard and Fire Up the Grill Five Trends Taking Over Outdoor Spaces The backyard has always been recognized as a spot for people to …

Some California retailers’ model for offering each other business feedback inspired this peer critique that Hardware Retailing tested with two retailers in the Midwest. The goal of the project is to provide you with resources and ideas for connecting with and learning from …

“I’ll be brutally honest with you if you’ll be brutally honest with me” is what three retailers in California promised each other when they started visiting each other’s stores to offer feedback. Those retailers started what they call the Pterodactyl …

Retailers know what they want their relationships with sales reps to look like, and their participation in a North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) study offers insight into their preferences. About 69 percent of home improvement retailers prefer sales reps to …