Recent Features, News & Products from Hardware Connection
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Forney Frontline 1750A+ Lithium Battery Jump Starter With Air Compressor
Delivers 1,750 amps of peak jump- starting power for 12V batteries. Recommended for gas engines up to 7.5L and diesel engines up to 5.0L. Built-in digital air compressor provides 10-150 PSI pressure range and 1.2 CFM airflow. 51.8Wh lithium-ion internal battery does double duty as a USB-A/USB-C power supply. 300-lumen LED flashlight offers solid white,…
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Hercules Cryo-Tek Original Antifreeze
Ready-to-use formula contains 45% virgin propylene glycol. Provides freeze protection for hydronic heating and cooling closed-loop systems. Suitable for most solar heating systems, snow-melt systems, radiant heating and general plumbing systems. Triple Protection Inhibitor stabilizes pH to help prevent corrosion. Chelates hard-water minerals to help protect system components. Inhibits scale and sediment formation. Approved for…
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Special Section: Winter Products Report
For all the sophistication available to forecast and manage inventory, few hardware categories remain as dependent on one uncontrollable variable as winter products. When winter shows up, demand can move quickly. National Retail Federation and Planalytics data showed just how quickly during February 2025. With the coldest February temperatures since 2022 and the most snowfall…
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2026 IHI Conference Recap: Ideas, Connections and a Look Ahead
Retailers arrived at the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) with plenty to talk about. Technology is advancing quickly. Consumers remain cautious. Labor, margins and operating costs continue to pressure businesses. Meanwhile, the industry’s largest competitors are investing heavily in technology, services and the pro customer. But the mood at the JW Marriott Orlando…
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Courage to Mess With Success
Preserving a family business sometimes means being willing to change it. For three generations, the Falcone family has guided Rocky’s Ace Hardware by recognizing that even a successful business still needs to evolve. Each generation built on what came before while adapting to what customers would need next. Founder Rocco “Rocky” J. Falcone established the…
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AI-First Platform Rundoo Announces $48 Million in Financing
Technology company Rundoo recently announced it has raised $30 million in Series B financing led by Battery Ventures, with participation from existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and CRV, bringing the company’s total funding to $48 million. Rundoo provides an AI-first system of record keeping for independent supply stores, supporting the operations of vital small businesses that serve communities…
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Q2 Big-Box Earnings Point to Cautious Consumers, Growing Pro Competition
Second-quarter results from the home improvement industry’s big-box retailers offered independent dealers a mixed but revealing picture of the market: Customers are still spending, but they remain selective about where—and how much. Home Depot and Lowe’s both reported positive comparable sales, while Tractor Supply’s comparable sales declined. Across the three reports, however, several common themes…
