Research & Guides

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 …

Independent home improvement retailers have a natural competitive advantage against the big boxes –they are independent. This locality allows hometown hardware stores to differentiate their product mix through the incorporation of products from local vendors, something big boxes don’t normally do. The February …

The “Retailing 101: An Overview” story in the February 2015 issue of Hardware Retailing discussed what retailers need to know about the marketing, finance, operations and human resources aspects of their business. To read the full story, click here. Once …

The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) is looking for retailers who value fresh, pertinent research on best practices and trends in the home improvement retail sector. If you fit this description, join our Retailer Research Panel. Read the instructions below …

As the shop local movement continues to gain momentum in towns and cities across America, the emphasis is being placed on small local businesses. However, a majority of these small businesses source their products from different countries or from manufacturers …