Operations

Larry and Chris Drennen both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout when they were teenagers. Now, as owners of two stores in Pennsylvania—Oxford Feed & Lumber in Oxford and Brandywine Ace, Pet & Farm in West Chester—they want to help …

Finding qualified employees is a top concern for independent business owners, according to the latest jobs report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “Eighty-seven percent of owners who hired or tried to hire reported difficulty finding qualified workers” …

“A penny saved is a penny earned,” or so goes the old adage. When you think about improving profitability, it may be easy to spot the big ways to cut costs. But if you start looking for smaller cost-cutting measures …

As consumers turn to technology for home improvement tips, there are opportunities for retailers to offer advice before a customer even walks into their business. One easy way is through maintaining a blog. Blogging is a great tool to use to create a stronger web presence …

Click the picture to download a PDF of this story. By Jesse Carleton, jcarleton@nrha.org, Chad Husted, chusted@nrha.org, and Liz Lichtenberger, llichtenberger@nrha.org Despite an enviable location in Hawaii, HPM has survived its share of hard times. Established in 1921 during the Great Depression, it survived a …

Establishing a plan that addresses your business’s needs immediately before, during and after a disaster could be the key to keeping employees safe, protecting your building and staying operational. No matter what kind of emergency you face, having guidelines in …

Finding quality employees who stay long term and have the potential to become a next-generation store leader is a concern independent home improvement retailers express to the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA). Recruiting members of Generation Z—who are the …