Paint & Decorating Retailer

While paint tools and accessories are a broad category with a large number of items that could fall under that department in a store, it’s important to utilize smart merchandising so customers can find the products and information they need and you can better manage inventory. Thoughtful merchandising also makes a store look fully stocked, …

In mid-December the Federal Reserve took measures to lower interest rates for the third time in 2025, by an additional quarter point, attempting to bring inflation rates back down to 2% long term and as insurance policy against a weakening labor market due to policy uncertainty and tariffs. In a press conference detailing the measure, …

Nonfarm payroll employment was largely unchanged across the U.S. on a monthly basis in September 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Eye on Housing. 29 states and the District of Columbia saw nonfarm payroll employment increases in September compared to August 2025, which saw …

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis over the 2 months from September 2025 to November 2025. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.7% before seasonal adjustment. BLS did not collect survey data …

Sam Taylor, a business expert at LLC.org, says small businesses underestimate how early holiday demand starts and how strongly people respond to anything nostalgic. He shares the five most common holiday mistakes small businesses make. Launching holiday campaigns too late. Most small businesses wait until December, while national chains start building anticipation weeks earlier. Using generic holiday …

The unemployment rate rose to its four-year high of 4.6%, up from 4.4% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Positively, employers added 64,000 jobs in November. Household survey data for October 2025 were not collected due to the federal government shutdown. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for teenagers …

Cabinet painting continues to be a steady category for independent paint retailers, driven by homeowners looking to update kitchens and baths without a full remodel. Stocking the right mix of coatings, prep tools and accessories helps stores support both DIY customers and professionals who want durable finishes and efficient workflows. From cabinet-specific paints to drying …

Supplier switching behavior is rising, especially among younger homeowners, according to the Quarterly Home Improvement Tracker, released by The Farnsworth Group. Gen Z are the most open demographic, with almost 50% saying they would try a new supplier, while only 1 in 10 Baby Boomers would. To grab those customers looking to make a change, …

Independent retailers come into 2026 with a cooling renovation market, a cost-sensitive customer with a shift toward DIY. Dave King, executive director of the Home Improvement Research Institute, says those pressures hit independent retailers differently than big-box chains because they have less pricing power when customers start shopping harder for value.  King says the slowdown …

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Builder confidence inched higher to end the year but remains well into negative territory as builders continue to grapple with rising construction costs, tariffs and economic uncertainty, and as many potential buyers remain on the sidelines due to affordability concerns. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose one point to 39 …

Around 158.9 million consumers plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The number is up from 157.2 million shoppers in 2024, and surpasses the previous record of 158.5 million in 2022. “As the final Saturday before Dec. 25, …

Retail sales saw strong year-over-year growth in November, with the first half of the month posting results on track to meet the National Retail Federation’s spending forecast, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. “Retail sales showed healthy year-over-year gains in November while month-over-month data was largely flat,” says Matthew Shay, NRF President and CEO. “Shoppers looking …

PPG announced that Todd M. Schneider, president and chief executive officer of Cintas, has been elected to join PPG’s board of directors, effective Jan. 14, 2026. Schneider will serve on the nominating and governance and sustainability and innovation committees of PPG’s board. “PPG’s board of directors continuously seeks to strengthen its experience and membership to …

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a vote of 9-3, a smaller margin than typically seen. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the panel of Federal Reserve officials responsible for setting monetary policies, dropped the interest rate range to 3.5% to 3.75%, a 0.25% reduction. Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding …

Pittsburgh Paints Company launched Pittsburgh Paints Anti-Scuff™ Interior Zero VOC paint, a new product that has scuff resistance for high-traffic areas in commercial and residential spaces. The new product is the first in the industry. “Our data from competitor testing and side-by-side comparisons proves that Pittsburgh Paints Anti-Scuff paint is in a league of its …

Combining AI chat, task management and operations analytics—tied directly to a retailers POS inventory—FastQuery is an AI copilot built for independent home improvement retailers. FastQuery helps store associates quickly find product information like aisle numbers, price and comparable items using voice commands and manages and routes tasks automatically, reducing the time employees spend searching for information, …

Year-over-year declines in import cargo volume seen at the nation’s major container ports in recent months are expected to continue in 2026, according to the Global Port Tracker report recently released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. “Stores are stocked up and ready for a record holiday season but there is still …

A new paint recycling program began in Illinois on Dec. 1, 2025, enabling households and businesses to recycle leftover paint, stain and varnish conveniently and sustainably. The program is operated by PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association (ACA) to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint …

The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) released the Quarterly Homeowner Project Activity Tracker Q3 2025, detailing homeowners’ attitudes and motivations driving home improvement initiatives, purchasing patterns and future home improvement activity. Here are some fast facts from the study:  Home improvement activity peaked for the year in the third quarter: 84% of respondents completed routine …

Clark+Kensington, a paint line exclusively available at Ace Hardware, recently revealed its new Enchantedly Bold palette, featuring pink and green shades, aligning with the release of the highly-anticipated movie, Wicked: For Good. The palette features four shades: Pure Pink, a bubblegum pink shade; Emerald Cliffs, a muted emerald green; Ominous Clouds, a warm grey; and …

Thanksgiving weekend brought in a record 202.9 million consumers during the five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, according to the annual consumer survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics.  “Thanksgiving weekend is an important time for families and friends to come together, and holiday shopping plays a …

Aggregate residential building material prices rose at the fastest pace since January 2023, according to the latest Producer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.3% in September after falling 0.1% in August. The index for final demand goods increased 0.9% in September. Final demand energy …

Private residential construction spending increased by 0.8% in August, primarily driven by more spending on multifamily construction and home remodeling, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Total residential spending was down 2% year over year as the housing sector continues to navigate the economic uncertainty amid ongoing tariff concerns and high mortgage …