COVID-19

One of COVID-19’s biggest impacts on retail is the unemployment rate it has left in its wake. In January, U.S. unemployment stood at 3.6 percent, but rose sharply by April to 14.7 percent as the pandemic forced many businesses to …

The 2020 Retail Selector Study from market research firms The Farnsworth Group and the Home Improvement Research Institute is a thorough overview of the current home improvement marketplace, packed with more than 300 pages on what’s motivating shoppers, where they’re …

Marketing your business strategically is more important than ever as customers quickly adopt new shopping habits and view the retail experience through a new lens of safety and security during the pandemic. The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) recently published …

True Value’s 2020 Fall V-Union, its first virtual Reunion, is slated to start Sept. 29 and run until Oct. 1. Registration for the event is now open to all retailers. The V-Union will be available via any internet-connected device, and attendees will …

Big-box home improvement chain Lowe’s has announced plans to install pickup lockers at all of its 1,700 U.S. stores by the end of March. The company says the self-service lockers are a safe way for customers to access same-day online …

Home Hardware is celebrating the success of its 2020 Virtual Fall Market, which began Sept. 13 and ran until Sept. 23. “We are thrilled with the success of our 2020 Virtual Fall Market, which built on the experience and capabilities …

House-Hasson has decided to forego its previously scheduled virtual October buying event in an effort to focus on improving performance on everyday business, company president Don Hasson confirms. The event was previously scheduled to take place Oct. 29-30. In a …

Managing stress in the workplace is a priority under normal circumstances—but amid COVID-19, this topic is both important and timely.  In August, NRHA hosted a webinar: “Tools & Tips to Help Your Team Through Stressful Times.”  NRHA retail consultant Kim …