Operations

In the June 2016 issue of Hardware Retailing magazine, we shared stories from five retailers about how they serve their communities. The retailers provided so much information and countless examples of how they are involved in their communities that we …

There’s a lot going on these days in the farm, pet and ranch category. Make sure you’re in on the action with the niches attracting the most attention. Whether it’s backyard farming or extravagant spending on pets, what used to …

Spring is a great time of the year for one huge reason—customers are starting lots of home improvement projects and keeping your store busy. To help you make this selling season even more successful, the North American Retail Hardware Association …

For any on-the-go person, a dead cellphone battery can be a huge hinderance to staying connected and getting tasks accomplished. Smartphones have become ubiquitous and the need for powering up is more important to consumers than ever. In response, airports, restaurants and retailers are providing power, …

It’s likely that most of you have a few landlord customers who own rental properties around the neighborhood. These customers are great to reach—not only are they buying homes they intend to rent, but those rentals require ongoing maintenance, so if you …

Payroll, advertising, utilities, rent and more all add up to your total operating expenses–and if one of those expense lines gets too high, it cuts into your store’s profit. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if your expenses are …

Employees are more satisfied with their jobs now than they have been in the past 10 years, according to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The 2016 study, Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement, reports that 88-percent …

Recent shootings and other workplace violence on the news are enough to make any store owner uneasy, but some practical steps in parking lots can improve security for your employees and customers. Incidents of workplace violence have not been tracked thoroughly, but some data from 2003 to 2008 …