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Curing the Downsides of Smart Home Tech

Smart oven

Smart home technology, such as remotely controlled security systems and appliances, has downsides, such as the many apps needed to control products and incompatibility between different devices that prevent them from working together. “Home automation systems like Nest and Hue are all …

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Don’t Let Bad Customer Service Slide

While customer service has and always will be a top priority for you, have you considered whether your store really has the best customer service around? Are your customers getting excellent product knowledge, plus prompt service, friendly interactions and respect? These questions are extremely important …

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International Hardware Fair to Highlight Trends

Koelnmesse

In a few months, independent retailers from around the globe will gather in Cologne, Germany, for the EISENWARENMESSE International Hardware Fair. The show, which is slated to run from March 6-8, is one of the leading European trade events in the industry. The International …

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Target Works to Jump on Mobile Wallet Bandwagon

Target is developing a mobile pay option of its own, following the lead of Walmart and several other major companies, Reuters reports. Target’s mobile wallet would most likely use barcode scanning technology, which customers could use at checkout terminals, Reuters says. This is the same …

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Lights, Camera, Home Depot?

Home Depot Studio Store

In addition to serving DIYers and professionals, The Home Depot has made its way into show business with a store devoted to the film industry. The Home Depot Studio Store is located inside the the film and entertainment studio complex Pinewood Atlanta Studios in …

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Smart Home Project Conserves California Water

A smart home built for research at a university has already conserved thousands of gallons of water. The Honda Smart Home, which is located on the University of California’s Davis campus, features energy efficient appliances, lighting and heating and cooling systems. However, …

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An Evolution: Online Shopping Holidays

For last-minute holiday gift buying and, really, all-year shopping, it’s no secret: consumers have increasingly turned to their computers and handheld devices as gateways to a global world of retailing. Following the brick-and-mortar stores, online retailers haven’t skipped out on the shopping …

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Strong Industry Growth, Big Possibilities

As seen in the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and Hardware Retailing’s 2015 Market Measure, the home improvement industry experienced favorable growth in 2015, growing nearly 5 percent above 2014. This steady growth was also seen in research gathered by …

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