Research and Guides

Knowledge is power. For more than a century, independent hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards have relied on the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) Cost of Doing Business Study to see how their businesses compare to typical and high-profit …

After polling more than 200 independent home improvement retailers operating in the U.S., the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) finds the impact from tariffs continues to represent great uncertainty for business operators. Notably, 67 percent of surveyed retailers believe …

The associates who interact with your customers on the salesfloor, offer their advice on products and projects and keep a store running are the lifeblood of the home improvement industry. To reward employees who contribute to sales growth, Island Hardware …

The array of green or eco-friendly home products available to most American consumers is vast, ranging from towels made from sustainably grown bamboo to house paint that is safe enough to eat. But just because the number of green household …

Loss prevention is only effective if everyone on your team knows how to spot a shoplifter and stays engaged on the salesfloor. If you have new team members or if you’ve noticed some habits that need correcting, review this checklist …

Click the picture to download a PDF of this story. By Kate Klein, kklein@nrha.org Growth on the Horizon The home improvement sector is outstripping the growth of the overall retail industry—and independent retailers are finding creative and ambitious strategies to fight off …

How comfortable are you with understanding the metrics and financial figures used in your business’s accounting files and financial statements? If you have trouble differentiating your defensive interval from your EBIT, you’re definitely not alone. Take a moment to review …

The busy holiday shopping season is a great time to remind your customers that shopping local makes a positive difference in your community. The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and Independent We Stand offer a free marketing toolkit for you to …