Retailer Notebook Nuggets From the 2026 IHI Conference

Representing all wholesalers and distributors and coming from all across North American, attendees of the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) left with new ideas, renewed connections and a reinvigorated spirit to strengthen their operations.

Hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and The Hardware Conference, the IHI Conference took place at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes and delivered practical education, meaningful networking and fresh perspectives on the issues shaping independent home improvement retail. Take a peek into attendees’ notes and discover the ideas and best practices retailers and vendors are taking back to their operations.

Craig Morrison
Assistant Director, Hardware Hawaii

Craig Morrison, assistant director for Hardware Hawaii, filled his pages with takeaways from Tuesday’s Partner Day education sessions, particularly from the session “Strategies for Driving In-Store Traffic and Customer Loyalty” which included ideas around Orgill’s FanBuilder loyalty programs and community-focused children’s events. Morrison says the concepts stood out because they offer practical ways to strengthen customer relationships while introducing more families to contractor-focused stores. For a retailer heading back to Hawaii, that’s the kind of baggage worth carrying.

Richard Beard
General Manager, Nichols Hardware

Less than an hour into his first IHI Conference, Richard Beard already had something worth writing down. During the Partner Day session “Operational Efficiency for Time-Poor Retailers: Maximizing Your Labor” the Nichols Hardware representative was particularly interested to learn about Orgill’s new HR and workplace safety services available to retailers—resources he says could be especially valuable for a small, family-owned business. He says that with a tight staff such services really could help the business. 

Jeff Eshleman
Product Manager, Gap Power

Jeff Eshleman’s notes focused on one familiar business principle: if you can measure it, you can improve it. During Tuesday’s sessions, the Gap Power Rentals product manager was intrigued by discussions around vendor purchasing analytics and redemption rates for event coupons. One item immediately made his to-do list—finding a way to track how much inventory his company purchases through promotions from individual suppliers and Orgill so the team can make even smarter buying decisions. “Anytime you can track it, you can improve it,” he says.

Alison Korell
Co-Owner, AL&M Building Supplies

Alison Korell left one education session with a phrase she doesn’t plan to forget: “It’s not pretty, it’s a priority.” After attending a merchandising presentation, the AL&M Building Supplies co-owner said the session reinforced that merchandising isn’t simply about making a store look better—it’s a strategic investment that deserves greater attention. The takeaway now is turning that realization into action.

Jammie Joseph
General Manager, Paradise Lumber & Hardware

Jammie Joseph’s notes were filled with one recurring theme: making AI practical. Rather than viewing artificial intelligence as a back-office tool, the Paradise Lumber & Hardware general manager is exploring how it can help employees answer product questions outside their areas of expertise and create a better experience for customers. “How can I implement it into the store to make the experience for the customer better?” Joseph asks. “How can I help them with that experience through AI?” It’s a question he’ll be taking back to St. John.

Daniel Bernat
Owner, Blue Spruce Building Materials

Daniel Bernat came to Orlando looking for technology insights, but the biggest note he wrote wasn’t about a specific product—it was one word: action. After watching AI and retail technology evolve over three consecutive IHI conferences, the Blue Spruce Building Materials owner says the lesson is no longer about researching every option. It’s about getting started. “I need to move forward,” Bernat says. “If I make the wrong decision, I can adjust, but I need to start doing.”

Edith Almeida
Regional Operations Manager, AL&M Building Supply

Edith Almeida’s notebook is full of questions—and that’s exactly how she likes it. The AL&M Building Supply regional operations manager wants to dig deeper into customer surveys and reporting tools such as Fast Query to better understand how the data can help improve store operations. For Almeida, IHI was about discovering the next questions worth asking.