Walmart has introduced virtual reality (VR) headsets into its training program, allowing new employees to practice customer service before encountering customers on the salesfloors, the company reports. Walmart says the technology is intended to allow new store associates “to experience …
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Help Pros Shop Local With Home Sweet Home Pros’ Edition Signage
In the July 2017 issue of Hardware Retailing, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and Independent We Stand debuted the their latest joint research project, the Home Sweet Home Pros’ Edition study. The study found that for every dollar pros spend at independent …
Read More »New Items Board Announces New Products for Employees
When there’s a new arrival at Mark’s Ace Hardware, Camille Gibson wants to make sure everyone has a chance to see it. Gibson, general manager for the Tucson, Arizona, store, doesn’t want any new addition to her product lineup to …
Read More »How Does Your Business Compare to a High-Profit Store?
The differences between a high-profit home improvement store and a typical operation can be significant, according to facts from the North American Retail Hardware Association’s (NRHA) 2016 Cost of Doing Business Study. A high-profit home improvement store nets 9.2 percent profit …
Read More »Lowe’s Lays Off About 125 Tech Employees
Lowe’s has laid off approximately 125 of its corporate technology employees and will move many of their positions to Bangalore, India, according to The Charlotte Observer. These layoffs are the latest of many staff cuts for Lowe’s, which has eliminated about …
Read More »Small Business Owners Optimistic About Business Health
Small business owners across the U.S. have an optimistic outlook concerning their operations’ health, when considering plans to hire, their revenue expectations and plans to invest back into the business, according to a new report. The findings come from MetLife …
Read More »Target Testing Next-Day Delivery for Essentials
Target will be testing a next-day delivery service for a limited number of customers in its headquarters city of Minneapolis this summer, the company reports. The service, called Target Restock, will be open to customers in Minneapolis that currently have Target’s …
Read More »Learn from NRHA All-Industry Conference Speakers
What can you do to help your employees succeed? How can you capitalize off the trends in the home improvement industry? What can you do to set your business apart from your competitors? Two retail experts, Dr. Kit Yarrow, a …
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