Operations

Independent home improvement retailers have stepped up to meet the challenges of serving customers during a pandemic. Many shoppers have avoided in-store shopping, while others have swarmed to stores to stock up on everything from hand sanitizer to bags of …

The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) invites all members of the independent home improvement industry to its upcoming webinar charting the impact of COVID-19 on the home improvement industry. The online event will take place Sept. 30 at 2 …

Managing your home improvement team’s stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential. When managers don’t understand the pressures and complexities their team members face as individuals and as hardworking members of the home improvement channel, they aren’t positioning their …

COVID-19 has posed challenges for every home improvement retailer, including those operating stores in multiple states. Building materials supplier Spahn & Rose Lumber counts 24 locations across Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. CEO Dave Davis recent spoke about the challenge of …

Since March, The Farnsworth Group and the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) have collected data on DIYers’ and contractors’ home improvement sentiments during COVID-19. The complete report for the organizations’ Weekly COVID-19 Tracker reveals contractors are relying on brick-and-mortar home …

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has compiled helpful resources for business owners to review as they continue to safeguard customers and employees from COVID-19. Review OSHA’s COVID-19 guidance now, to get information on a host of topics critical …

As the U.S. passes more than 3.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide, understanding how an employee testing positive will affect your business is crucial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released an FAQ to help business …

In the past few weeks, a spate of confrontations at retail establishments has made clear the importance of training your team to de-escalate potentially hostile situations. Helping employees at all levels calm customers and soothe situations can be a critical …