Since California and New York approved minimum wage increases this month, minimum wage is fresh on business owners’ minds. But increases–even up to a $15 base wage–aren’t cause for intense anxiety, says Gina Schaefer, who owns A Few Cool Hardware Stores’ 11 locations in Washington, D.C., …
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Helping the Planet on Earth Day and Beyond
On April 22, people will celebrate Earth Day in unique ways, and independent home improvement stores are getting in on the action. Many businesses are hosting events or raising awareness around the holiday in other ways, but several stores have Earth care as part …
Read More »Four Retailers Chosen as Industry’s Top Guns for 2016
The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA), Hardware Retailing magazine and the National Hardware Show® have named four outstanding independent home improvement retail leaders as The Industry’s Top Guns. The honorees are Eli Bliffert of Bliffert Lumber & Hardware, Tim …
Read More »Menards Violates Labor Laws, Says NLRB
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) says that Menards Inc. is violating federal labor laws in the way that it treats its employees. Back in December, The Progressive published an article, which included a section of the Menards’ employee agreement containing proof …
Read More »What Are American Big Boxes and Co-Ops Up to in Canada?
Just within the past six months or so, three American home improvement companies have modified and begun expanding their approaches to selling within Canada – drawing attention to the Canadian home improvement market, which has an ever-expanding competitive American position …
Read More »Lowe’s Still Working to Back Out of Australian Partnership
Lowe’s is still working to sell its one-third stake in an unprofitable Australian home improvement store chain after announcing in January that it was exiting Australia. Lowe’s owns the business – which includes 63 Masters Home Improvement stores, as well as …
Read More »Exclusive Q&A: Ace to Partner With Lowe’s in Canada
Ace Hardware is linked to Lowe’s pending purchase of Canadian home improvement company RONA, and the U.S. co-op plans to partner with Lowe’s as the big box expands in Canada. When Lowe’s closes a $2.3 billion deal to buy RONA this …
Read More »Route 66 With Renee: Seeing Independents’ Impact Firsthand
Last week, I had the opportunity to join Independent We Stand on the Great American Route 66 Road Trip to visit independents across the country. Over the course of five days, we traveled nearly 1,400 miles, starting in Oklahoma City and stopping …
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