Research and Guides

As more and more baby boomers reach retirement, the older population is adapting their homes so they can live safely and independently. These design elements are not just for the elderly however, as universal design is useful for all ages. In the …

Dedicating time to formal employee training develops sales associates who are knowledgeable, sell products well and deliver excellent customer service. Yet fewer than half of independent home improvement retailers who participated in North American Retail Hardware Association’s 2014 Employee Compensation Report provide formal employee …

In the April issue of Hardware Retailing, our story about an operation’s online presence (“Is Anyone Doing Online Right?”) offers some tips for best practices for retailers looking to make the most of their basic websites, email marketing, social media …

Tailgating is a growing category across the country, and almost a sport itself. In Hardware Retailing‘s April 2015 issue of the magazine, editors spoke with retailers in college towns across the country to understand how they promote their tailgating products within the community. …

Overall, hardware stores excelled in 2013. According to North American Retail Hardware Association’s 2014 Cost of Doing Business Study, hardware stores reporting prior-year’s sales saw a 2.54 percent increase in same-store sales growth. As defined in the study, hardware stores …

DIY television programs and social sharing sites have made consumers trend-savvy and project focused. In Hardware Retailing‘s March 2015 issue of the magazine, editors spoke with designers and retailers across the country to identify popular paint trends in 2015. In …

Hardware Retailing magazine’s March 2015 issue features an article focused on the changes in pricing strategies over the years. The story also discusses how retailers can stay competitive today as variable pricing evolves and dynamic pricing spreads. The full story can be found here. The …

During the recession, many families had to tighten their budgets in a variety of ways, including buying less expensive, generic products. The lifestyle changes have had lasting effects on consumers because people have learned to price shop and found that …