NHPA Expands Media Brands With Acquisition of Hardware Connection
For over 125 years, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) has been serving the needs of independent home improvement retailers across North America, helping retailers be better and more profitable.
NHPA publishes two respected monthly magazines that serve as trusted resources for independent retailers across the channel. Hardware Retailing is dedicated to the hardware industry, while Paint & Decorating Retailer focuses on the paint and decorating segment. Together, these publications deliver in-depth coverage on management best practices, operational strategies, new products and evolving category trends that impact day-to-day business decisions.
NHPA is expanding its media brands and role as the independent channel authority with the acquisition of Hardware Connection. Founded in 2009 as a digital-first publication, Hardware Connection has grown into one of the hardware industry’s leading media brands serving independent hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards across North America. The publication is known for retailer-focused coverage that combines practical advice, merchandising strategies and product coverage with in-depth storytelling about the people and businesses shaping the independent home improvement channel. Hardware Connection has earned multiple awards for editorial excellence and founded the Beacon Awards, which recognizes lifetime achievement, new store innovation and digital excellence.
The addition of the Hardware Connection media brand will help NHPA better serve the independent channel with additional insights, further reach and collaborative content. Additionally, Hardware Connection readers benefit from expanded coverage and the backing of the only trade association serving independents.
“We are incredibly proud of what Hardware Connection has built over the years, and we are equally excited about its future with NHPA with its rich history of publishing excellence within the independent home improvement industry,” says former Hardware Connection owner Craig Cope. “Their long-standing commitment to serving independent retailers made this a very natural fit. The collaboration truly started with the IHI Conference, where our teams worked side by side to develop the Independent Awards Gala celebrating the Beacon Awards and Young Retailer of the Year winners. Expanding the gala this year to also include the Top Guns honorees reflects the shared vision both organizations have for recognizing excellence across the independent channel.”
Each of NHPA’s media brands will extend their reach through robust websites, digital editions and additional online content—ensuring retailers have access to timely insights and practical guidance whenever and wherever they need it. Each media brand’s digital e-newsletter will be brought under the NHPA umbrella with daily NHPA e-newsletters powered by Hardware Retailing, Paint & Decorating Retailer and Hardware Connection.
As the two organizations become one, leadership has set its sights on aligning frequency, format and focus to provide the best media products to the independent channel. Each of the media brands will provide a different frequency, varying formats and a unique focus to keep content fresh, relevant and useful for readers.
Championing the best, innovative and most interesting retailers and stories in each issue, NHPA’s media brands place an emphasis on topics that will propel the industry forward. Endlessly quoted and referenced, these publications have long stood as the definitive benchmarks by which the industry measures performance, insight and progress.
“Bringing Hardware Connection into the NHPA media network improves our reach and brand positioning as the leading publisher in the independent home improvement retail industry—providing timely, focused content that independent retailers rely on to operate successful hardware stores, home centers, lumberyards and paint and decorating stores,” says Scott Wright, NHPA president and publisher. “Combined with Hardware Retailing’s monthly print magazine and daily e-newsletter, Hardware Connection’s bi-monthly, digital format offers retailers (and advertisers) multiple mediums and a hybrid approach to meet independents where they are and how they want to receive our content, whether it’s keeping up with industry news, learning about retail best practices or access to the latest new products. We are thrilled to bring Hardware Connection and its loyal readership into the NHPA media network.”
