What You Need to Know in August

HIRI Cuts 2025 Home Improvement Growth Forecast

The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) revised its 2025 growth forecast downward to 3.4% from 5%, as the $574.3 billion home improvement market faces sustained economic headwinds, including rising costs, tariffs and housing market challenges.

Walmart Launches AI Shopping Assistant for Customers

Walmart launched Sparky, a new AI shopping assistant in its app that helps customers search products, synthesize reviews and answer questions. The tool will soon expand to handle reordering and booking services while supporting text, image, audio and video inputs.

BMCANA Launches to Address Industry Talent Shortage

The Building Materials Careers Association of North America (BMCANA) launched in July and will be dedicated to addressing the talent shortage in the building materials industry, making the sector North America’s most desirable career destination by 2030.

Merit Distribution Group Comes Under New Ownership

The Merit Distribution Group LLC and its subsidiaries completed a sale transaction with Spartan ParentCo LLC, an affiliate of Czech Asset Management. While Merit Distribution will operate under new ownership, existing operations and management will remain unchanged.

Home Depot, SRS Distribution to Acquire Building Products Distributor

The Home Depot entered into an agreement for its specialty trade distribution subsidiary, SRS Distribution Inc., to acquire GMS Inc., a leading North American speciality building products distributor. The acquisition of GMS will accelerate SRS’s vision of becoming a leading, multi-category building materials distributor.

spoga+gafa Reveals Vision, New Theme World for 2026 Event

spoga+gafa’s new theme world for 2026 will feature its own “outdoor adventure” section, separate from other sections at the event. Other product sections being realigned include the theme Asia-Sourcing being bundled in its own hall. spoga+gafa 2026 will take place
June 22-26 in Cologne, Germany.