Amazon and Walmart, two of the country’s largest retailers, are taking drastically different approaches to choosing locations for their corporate headquarters, The New York Times reports. Doug McMillon, Walmart’s chief executive, sent a letter to employees earlier this month, announcing …
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Research Conference Details Optimistic Home Improvement Outlook
The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) recently presented the latest research on home improvement trends and the economic and social factors affecting the channel. Speakers at September’s 2017 Insights Conference in Chicago addressed topics including customer service, home technology and …
Read More »Equifax Breach Reportedly Affects 143M Americans
On Sept. 8, credit monitoring firm Equifax announced a data breach that affected 143 million Americans, as well as some in Canada and the U.K., reports The Wall Street Journal. Initially, it was reported that the breach occurred in May, …
Read More »Kohl’s to Sell Amazon Smart Home Devices, Accept Retailer’s Returns
At a time when all eyes are on Amazon, it appears that Kohl’s is eyeing the online retailer as well. This month, the department store chain has announced two ways it is teaming up with Amazon, and some wonder if there …
Read More »Sales and Attendance Increase at HDW Fall Market
Hardware Distribution Warehouses, Inc. (HDW) saw record attendance and sales during its recent fall market. Retailers, vendors and staff composed the group of more than 1,000 people who attended the event, which was Sept. 8-10 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Tim Teague of Meadors Lumber in Alma, Arkansas, commented …
Read More »Retailer Panels to Shed Light on Independent Industry
High-performance independent home improvement retailers will discuss industry economic conditions, obstacles to growth, technology usage and the next generation of leaders during the 2017 North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) State of Independents Conference. Sponsored by the National Hardware Show®, …
Read More »2017 Cost of Doing Business Study Now Available
Data from the 2017 Cost of Doing Business Study shows that at a typical independent home improvement store, the average customer spends $22 per transaction. At a high-profit store, that number jumps to $30 per sale. When was the last time …
Read More »RadioShack Brick-and-Mortar Presence Dependent on Independent Dealers
RadioShack, a consumer electronics company that was once one of the best-known chains in America, has shrunk from thousands of locations around the world to merely 70 company-owned stores in seven states, according to a press release from the company. At its peak, …
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