The number of housing starts in the U.S. fell 3 percent from July to August, even though the amount of building permits issued increased by 3.5 percent, according to new federal statistics. “Permit growth indicates that our members feel confident …

Your business should always be growing, or it will eventually die. What questions should you ask when you think you about expansion? And which route should or can you go? These topics and more were covered in Hardware Retailing‘s October issue that …

View a PDF of this story and download a brief store expansion guide that helps you analyze growth opportunities if you want to expand.  Overcoming the Challenges That Come With Growing Your Business In 1998, Jeremy Melnick made a risky life change. He …

It’s time to start planning if you’re going to join tens of thousands of trade visitors at the International Hardware Fair to learn about companies worldwide and view and order products. The event is slated for March 6-8 in Cologne, …

Paint is a top department at Balsam Lake Hardware & Rental in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, and owner Angie Nelson understands the importance of visual aids for choosing colors. She takes pride in matching paint and wood stain colors for customers, …

Independent We Stand is accepting nominations for the organization’s annual Independent Small Business Award, which recognizes outstanding small independent businesses. To get your community home improvement store in the running for the Independent Small Business Award, fill out an application at …

Retailers are putting free NRHA marketing materials to work, using new research to encourage customers to shop at local home improvement stores. The research comes from the Home Sweet Home Study, which NRHA and Independent We Stand, a national shop-local …

A small outdoor aisle lined with pipes on one side and sheets of plywood and two-by-fours on the other is the newest Fuller & Son store’s lumberyard. A box truck parked behind the business is what the store owners call …