On Jan. 22, the Trump administration announced tariffs on imports of solar panels and washing machines as part of the administration’s focus on “America First,” The Wall Street Journal reports. According to the article, the tariffs were imposed in an …
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2017 State of Independents Conference Explores Opportunities for Retailers
Click the image above to view a full PDF. Redefining Service If your business doesn’t have an online presence, you’re not prepared for the future. That sentiment was a strong takeaway from the North American Retail Hardware Association’s (NRHA) third annual …
Read More »NRF: 2017 Holiday Sales Exceed Expectations
The National Retail Federation (NRF) says increased wages, consumer confidence and strong employment contributed to holiday sales that exceeded expectations in the final two months of 2017, the organization reports. According to NRF data, sales in November and December were …
Read More »House-Hasson Upgrades Tech to Boost Efficiency, Store Owner Profitability
Mobile computers and headsets in House-Hasson Hardware’s corporate headquarters warehouse and upgraded electronic scanners for the company’s independent hardware stores and lumberyards will enable 20 percent faster response to orders and speed retailers’ ability to get items on shelves, the …
Read More »Comment Period Open on Proposed Small Business Health Care Rules
In October, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that asked the Department of Labor to establish rules to allow small businesses within the same industry or geographic area to form associations across state lines to access less expensive health …
Read More »Walmart to Close 63 Sam’s Club Locations, Lay Off Thousands
Walmart unexpectedly announced it is closing 63 Sam’s Club locations across the U.S., potentially impacting up to 11,000 workers, Business Insider reports. According to Business Insider, many employees were unaware of the store closures until showing up for shifts to …
Read More »Millennials Helped Amazon Take 4 Percent of All Retail Sales in 2017
According to e-commerce analytics company One Click Retail, Amazon took 4 percent of all retail sales in the U.S. in 2017, with millennials driving sales in home and kitchen goods, reports CNBC. Sales on the platform also represented 44 percent of …
Read More »Speller’s True Value Invests in the Community
Click the image above to view a full PDF. Casting the Right Spell Since the 1960s, the east side of Waterloo, Iowa, hasn’t seen very much economic activity other than restaurants and convenience stores. Allen Speller and his father, Wendell, …
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