Ace Hardware and Menards recently earned the highest scores in the customer experience (CX) category in Market Force Information’s 2025 Home Improvement Retail Benchmark Study. The two companies outperformed national big-box competitors on factors surrounding loyalty, including helpful staff, store …
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Ace Hardware Recognized for Customer Service and Top UX Performance
Ace Hardware was recently named one of the nation’s top brands for customer service, ranking No. 36 overall on the Forbes 2026 Best Customer Service List. This ranking places Ace in the top 2% of more than 3,500 companies evaluated …
Read More »Enhancing the Customer Experience in 2025
Retailers in the independent channel have the opportunity to cater to specific customer needs, tailoring their offerings and providing personalized customer service. According to the 2023 Zendesk Customer Experience Trends Report, over 50% of customers will switch to a competitor …
Read More »Friedman’s Home Improvement Streamlines Drive-Through Pick-Up Process
Friedman’s Home Improvement recently implemented changes to its drive-through pick-up process to simplify and secure the customer experience. Friedman’s drive-through pick-up process allows customers to search for products online and order over the phone or in-store for pick up at …
Read More »AI Brings the Buzz at NRF 2025
Billed as “Retail’s Big Show,” NRF 2025 brought together the biggest names in retail for educational sessions, networking and product discovery. Hosted by the National Retail Federation (NFR), NRF 2025 took place in New York City from Jan. 12-14. John …
Read More »Service Strategies: 3 Tips To Improve Customer Experience
In an age of retail where consumers have countless choices on where to spend their money, building brand loyalty is an aspect of your business to take seriously in 2025. According to the Qualtrics 2025 Consumer Trends Report, 53% of …
Read More »Best of Both Worlds: Study Finds Consumers Want a Well-Balanced Omnichannel Experience
In September, Ryder System Inc. released its 2024 study, The Influence of Omnichannel Excellence on Consumer Behavior, which benchmarked consumer behaviors, preferences and expectations when shopping online. The study found that consumers want a mix of online and brick-and-mortar shopping …
Read More »Do it Best ‘Activates Growth’ With Focus on Data, Assortments, Pricing at Fall Market
Indianapolis welcomed back Do it Best members, vendors and channel partners for the co-op’s 2024 Fall Market September 6-9. The focus of the event—and the co-op’s priorities for its next fiscal year—are all related to driving growth for members through …
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