NHPA’s Taking Care of Business

On this episode of Taking Care of Business we talk Business by the Numbers as we sit down with NHPA's CFO Dave Gowan and discuss the importance of managing your business using Key Performance Indicators. We also talk about how retailers can participate in this year's Cost of Doing Business Study.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

It's been just over a year since COVID-19 began tearing through our lives. In this episode of Taking Care of Business we talk with Grant Farnsworth of The Farnsworth Group to get a better idea of how consumers' home improvement habits have changed over the past 12 months and what we might expect to change in the months ahead.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

This week on the Taking Care of Business podcast, we talk once again to our legal expert Mick Terrell to get some insights about what employers need to know about the COVID vaccine and their workforce. Can vaccines be required? Do you have to pay for your employees to get vaccine? Mick will weigh in on all this and more.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

This week on Taking Care of Business, Dan has a chat with two guests. The first is Dan Harris, owner of Palos Ace Hardware and Lemont Ace Hardware. He is also the current chairman of NHPA. The second guest is Jake Smith, owner of Jared's Ace Hardware who is also the vice chairman of NHPA.    Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere "Puzzle Pieces" by Lee Rosevere

In this episode of Taking Care of Business, Dan chats with Jonathan Mize, the CEO and president of Blish-Mize Co., to discuss the distributor's 150th anniversary and how it has adapted to doing business in this new era. We will also talk about the company's upcoming Dealer Market, which is scheduled as an in-person event this March.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere "Puzzle Piece...

In 2020, the concept of supporting small businesses took the spotlight. So as we start 2021, we sat down with Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self Reliance to talk about how we can translate that heightened support for small business into action. We also learn what independent retailers can do to help level the playing field with the big corporate retailers.

Rounding out the year for the Taking Care of Business podcast, we welcome NHPA President and CEO Bob Cutter and LeAnn Day, NHPA's executive director of paint and decorating programs, to talk about the association's expanded membership and what is in store for hardware, paint and decorating retailers in 2021.

In our penultimate episode of 2020, Dan Tratensek sits down with The Farnsworth Group's Jim Robisch to reflect on the unique year that was 2020 and look forward to what 2021 might have in store for the industry.

On today's episode we chat with industry veteran, author, marketer and consultant Sonya Ruff Jarvis. Sonya, shares her unique insights into the importance of addressing diversity and inclusion within your operation and shares some best practices for marketing your small business.

Today, we talk to Darrin Stern from Koelnmesse Inc., which produces the International Hardware Fair and the SPOGA/GAFA lawn and garden show. Both these global events are going full-steam ahead for 2021 and Darrin will share how they plan on doing this safely and why North American attendees and exhibitors should make these shows part of their New Year's plans.

On this edition of Taking Care of Business, we talk to Emily DeMarco from the National Hardware Show. She shares what attendees and exhibitors can expect from this year's virtual event, scheduled for Oct. 12-15. To register or demo the event, head to  www.nationalhardwareshow.com .

On this episode, we talk with Marc Hamer, Orgill Inc.’s first-ever Chief Digital and Information Officer to learn about how one of the industry’s oldest wholesalers is fully embracing technology to drive growth and create operational efficiencies.

In the final installment of our series on this year’s Young Retailer of the Year Awards, we talk to Scott Wright, executive director of NRHA’s Retail Leadership Institute, about the impact of the awards, what they represent and what everyone can learn from watching them.

On this episode, we chat with 2020 Young Retailer of the Year honoree Cody Goeppner from Bleyhl Co-Op in Grandview, Washington. We also speak to Teesee Murray from Epicor, one of this year’s program sponsors.

On this episode, we visit with 2020 Young Retailer of the Year honoree Weston Jacobs from Weakley-Watson Hardware in Brownwood, Texas. We also speak to Dave Lewis from IPG, one of this year’s program sponsors.

This week we sit down with Do it Best President and CEO Dan Starr to learn about how business is shaping up for the co-op, the latest on its recent announcement about working with the Nation's Best retail group and discuss the concept of "disruption" in the industry.

On today's episode, we visit with 2020 Young Retailer of the Year honoree Sam Olson from Buffalo Hardware in Buffalo, South Dakota. Sam shares his thoughts on his journey in the industry and the role independent business owners can play to elevate their communities. We also speak to Mike Nelson from MiTek, one of this year's program sponsors.

In this episode, we learn why veteran industry analyst Fred Miller, president of Consumer Specialists, says there "has never been a single force that has so significantly shaped the home improvement market" as much as COVID-19. Listen in to what Miller learned from his new consumer research into how COVID will shape homeowner behavior for years to come.

In our next visit with a Young Retailer of the Year award winner, we talk to Ryan Buck of Buck's Home Building Centre and New Germany Home Hardware. We also chat with Bill Sokol from Pony Jorgensen about the company's commitment to the independent channel.

Today we are talking to the National Hardware Show's Rich Russo who is going to tell us about what went into the decision to cancel this year's live show and what his team has planned for the virtual event.

On this episode we talk to Lynzi Radermacher of Ag Partners Town & Country in Minnesota. Lynzi shares her interesting path to joining the hardware retailing industry and how it has helped her grow the business. We also hear from Gary DuBoff, president and CEO of Arrow Fastener about why supporting the industry's young leaders is so important to Arrow.

On the next installment of our Young Retailer of the Year interviews we connect with Katie DeMaris from DeMaris Hardware in Iowa. We learn how Katie and her husband took the plunge into hardware retailing and quickly became fixtures in their local community. We also hear from Fluidmaster's Greg Galen on why sponsoring the Young Retailer of the Year program is so important to their business.

In this week's podcast we talk to our first 2020 Young Retailer of the Year honoree, Matthew Holmes from Holmes Building Materials in Baton Rouge, LA. Holmes gives us insights into his transition from working in the contractor trades to leading this family business. We also talk to Glen Gevaart from Midwest Fastener about how his company proudly supports the Young Retailer of the Year Awards and t...

This week, we take a look at the importance of diversity and inclusion within the home improvement industry with our guest Antoine Hinton who is the chairperson of True Value's Diversity and Inclusion Council. We discuss some of the ways companies can help promote more inclusive and diverse teams and the value that brings to the industry as a whole.

While we have all learned a lot living through this pandemic  some companies in the industry have been around to see other major events that have rattled the nation. This week, we talk with Jonathan Mize, CEO and president of Kansas-based distributor Blish-Mize. Next year, Blish-Mize will turn 150 years old and Jonathan shares some insights into how the company and its customers are making it thro...