Ideas Worth Bringing Home

One of the greatest strengths of the independent hardware channel is its willingness to share. That spirit of collaboration returns to the J.W. Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida, from July 28 to July 30 as the Independent Home Improvement Conference brings together retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and industry experts for three days of education, conversation and ideas.

From partner events hosted by Orgill to educational sessions led by retailers, consultants and industry experts, the conference is built around one question: What ideas can independent retailers bring home to improve their business?

ORGILL SETS THE STAGE

The conference opens July 28 with Partner Events hosted by Orgill, giving retailers a full day focused on pricing, marketing, operations, merchandising and technology before the broader educational program begins. New attendees can begin with “How to Win at IHI: What to Expect & How to Maximize Your Time,” at which Greg Stine, Orgill’s executive vice president of marketing and communications, offers strategies for making the most of the conference experience. Retailers looking for immediate financial takeaways can attend “Margin Pressure Playbook: Pricing, Tariffs & Profit Protection,” presented by Jackie Bacon, vice president of pricing, followed by “Strategies for Driving In-Store Traffic and Customer Loyalty” with Craig Cowart and Paul Comeau of CNRG. Operational improvement continues throughout the day with “Operational Efficiency for Time-Poor Retailers: Maximizing Your Labor,” while Orgill marketing consultants Jennifer Wineberg and Fred Arthur present “Marketing That Fits: Practical Solutions for Every Independent Retailer,” emphasizing scalable marketing strategies that fit retailers of every size.

Dealers will also hear directly from Orgill president and CEO Boyden Moore during the annual company update before Jordan Tice, vice president of retail services, presents “Innovation in Action: How Orgill Actually Improves Your Store,” highlighting retail services designed to strengthen store performance. The afternoon shifts toward technology with chief digital information officer Sharms Bala outlining Orgill’s long-term technology road map before sessions examining technology lessons learned by the Intermountain Farmers Association and a panel discussion on practical AI applications in retail.

The day concludes with the Independents Celebration, providing retailers an opportunity to continue conversations with peers and suppliers in a relaxed setting.

TECH MOVES FROM BUZZWORD TO BUSINESS TOOL

Artificial intelligence continues to mature from industry buzzword to practical business resource, and several sessions explore how retailers can implement technology without overwhelming their operations. “The AI Blueprint: Practical Applications and the Future of Independent Retail,” “From Hype to Hardware: AI Tools That Are Changing Independent Retail” and “The Three Levels of AI Usage” approach artificial intelligence from different perspectives, focusing on practical implementation rather than theory. Retailers can also attend “Innovations in Technology: 3 Things That Are Key to Saving You Time & Money” to explore operational efficiencies available today.

Equally important is understanding how technology supports customers. Sessions including “From Search to Store: How Smart Retailers Turn Online Visibility Into Foot Traffic” demonstrate how digital marketing and online visibility influence in-store sales.

PROTECTING MARGINS AND IMPROVING OPERATIONS

Profitability remains one of the conference’s strongest themes. Several sessions address the financial realities retailers face, including “Inside the Margin 1.0: The Real Story Behind Gross Profit Margin,” “Inside the Margin 2.0: Protecting Your Business with Margin Management” and “Recalibration, Not Retreat:Unpacking Macroeconomics’ Impact on the Independent Channel”—the latter a presentation by the Home Improvement Research Institute’s executive director, Dave King. Together, these presentations examine pricing, profitability and broader economic trends that are currently shaping the business environment.

General operations also receive significant attention at the summit. “Operational Agility: Building Retail Operations for an Ever-Changing Market,” “Effectively Hiring Business Builders in Your Key Positions” and the two-part “Relating Talent Relationship Management the Disney Way to Your Business” explore staffing, leadership and organizational development—critical issues as retailers continue navigating labor challenges.

Succession planning appears throughout the conference as well, with “Succession Planning Starts Now: Building the Foundation for the Future of Your Business,” “Beyond the Transition: Strategic and Innovative Approaches to Succession Planning” and “Selling Your Business—Building Your Team to Maximize Value.” These sessions recognize that successful succession begins years before ownership changes hands.

LEARNING FROM FELLOW RETAILERS

Some of the conference’s most valuable lessons come directly from independent retailers willing to share
their experiences. “Technology Lessons Learned: Intermountain Farmers Association” will detail how that organization implemented critical new tech to boost its operations. Denise Brookhouse of Koopman Lumber joins NHPA editor and director of content development Lindsey Thompson for “From Hype to Hardware: AI Tools That Are Changing Independent Retail,” providing a retailer’s perspective on emerging technology. Matt Nichols of Koopman Lumber and Jared Brown of Aubuchon Hardware discuss organizational growth during “Aligning Strategy, Structure and Opportunity for Growth.”

Future leadership takes center stage during “The Future Is Independent: Next-Generation Leaders Redefining Home Improvement Retail,” featuring Newton’s True Value owner Megan Menzer. Meanwhile, Anthony Bogucki, COO of Bogucki Enterprises, joins NHPA’s Thompson for “Shaping the Future of Independent Retail,” seeing where the channel is headed next.

Retailers looking for merchandising inspiration can choose sessions including “Building a Merchandising Continuum in the Independent Home Improvement Channel” and “Advancing on the Merchandising Continuum: Turning Strategy into In-Aisle Execution,” while Darryl Rose, founder and CEO of Get Dwell and Hardware Store Hero, explores service expansion opportunities in “Beyond the Counter: Why Independent Hardware Stores Should Offer Services—and How to Do It Successfully.”

CONVERSATIONS THAT CONTINUE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

As worthwhile as the educational sessions are, much of the conference’s greatest value emerges between presentations. The Partner Pavilion provides opportunities to meet manufacturers and service providers, while networking events including the Independents Celebration, Happy Hours and the Independents Awards Gala create plentiful opportunities to exchange ideas with retailers facing many of the same challenges.

Whether the goal is improving margins, strengthening operations, exploring new technology or discovering the next merchandising idea, this year’s Independent Home Improvement Conference offers retailers practical strategies they can begin implementing immediately. The sessions may end when attendees leave Orlando, but the conversations—and the ideas they spark—are designed to strengthen independent retail long after the conference concludes.