Painting

For over 80 years, the National Hardware Show has been a staple for the home improvement industry to share best practices, engage with educational sessions and discover new products. In 2026, NHS will debut NHS Concept to Commerce, an evolution of the key components that NHS has always offered to the industry. The newly redesigned event—which includes a more …

For over 80 years, the National Hardware Show has been a staple for the home improvement industry to share best practices, engage with educational sessions and discover new products. In 2026, NHS will debut NHS Concept to Commerce, an evolution of the key components that NHS has always offered to the industry. The newly redesigned event—which …

Annual spending for home remodeling is expected to soften in 2026, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. “Weakness in the current housing market is expected to have a dampening effect on home improvement spending,” says Rachel …

Single-family housing starts decreased in June to the lowest rate since July 2024, due to elevated interest rates, rising inventories and ongoing supply issues in the housing sector, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). While overall housing starts increased 4.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.32 million units, …

Behr Paint Company recently announced its partnership with Google Cloud to provide a personalized paint shopping experience for customers.  Combining Behr’s color data with Google Cloud’s AI capabilities, Behr has built an AI-powered agent named ChatHUE to help homeowners with color decisions.  “We are constantly listening to our customers and striving to simplify the home …

Stocking the right paint brushes and applicators can make a big difference in customer satisfaction and sales. From high-quality tools for professional painters to affordable options for DIYers, independent retailers have an opportunity to build trust and boost revenue by offering a well-rounded selection. Brushes The Thin Angle Paint Brush from Wooster Brush Company features …

Summer is a good time for homeowners and professionals to upgrade the exteriors of their homes and businesses. Whether it’s staining a deck, painting a front door or touching up outdoor trim, the warm weather is a popular time to work on outdoor projects.  Paint and Decorating Retailer recommends stocking these four exterior paint and …

The Pittsburgh Paints Company (PPC) notified customers that it will implement price increases of 5.8% on its products beginning August 15, citing rising production and distribution costs. Additional higher increases on a smaller group of products were also announced, but not specified. In the letter signed by Brian Carson, PPC president and CEO, the company …

Black and Silver Tools (SPONSORED) Hyde Tools has tirelessly worked over the decades to build the best quality tools at a reasonable price. Their Black & Silver tools—multitools, scrapers, joint knives and more—are made in North America, some of them in the factory in Southbridge, Massachusetts. No matter what overseas tariffs may bring, The post …

The 17th edition of Bricoday, the leading B2B event for the DIY, technical, home improvement and decoration industries, is expected to be a record-setting event.  460 companies are participating in Bricoday so far, with 150 new entries. The show will be hosted at Fiera Milano Rho in Milan, Italy, from September 24-25, 2025, and will …

Back-to-school shoppers have already begun purchasing items for the upcoming school year this month, according to an annual survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Two-thirds (67%) of shoppers began their shopping in early July, up 55% from last year and the highest number since NRF started tracking early …

The average home improvement store has thousands of SKUs, so it’s easy to see why anyone starting a job there could easily be overwhelmed. For many years, retailers have turned to the North American Hardware Association’s (NHPA) product knowledge courses to give their employees the foundational knowledge needed to start a successful retailing career.  To …

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the second quarter of 2025. The index reported a reading of 59, down four points from the previous quarter. While Q2’s reading of 59 is positive, this is only the second time the index has dropped below 60 since …

Undergoing its most significant transformation in its 80-plus year history, the National Hardware Show will debut NHS Concept to Commerce in 2026.  The newly redesigned event—which includes a more purposeful layout, curated programming and measurable ROI—will take place March 31–April 2, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall, preceded by an International Exhibitor …

Dunn-Edwards Corporation recently announced the launch of the ULTRASHIELD, a heavy-duty industrial maintenance coatings series designed for professionals. “As a response to the rising demand for long-term asset protection in industrial projects, I’m elated to be pushing forward a line of two-component, problem-solving technology solutions engineered to meet the protective needs in moderate and severe …

Retail sales slowed in June due to continued consumer anxiety about the impact of government policies on the economy, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released by the National Retail Federation (NRF). In the building and garden supplies sector, seasonally adjusted month-over-month sales were down 0.76% in June, with a year-over-year decrease of 5.33% last …

The National Retail Federation (NRF) recently released its 2025 list of the Top 100 Retailers, compiled by Kantar. The list consists of the industry’s largest companies according to 2024 U.S. sales. “This year’s Top 100 Retailers represent a diverse group of businesses that have adapted and evolved to a changing economic landscape,” says NRF executive …

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is expected to bounce back this month after a significant decrease in late spring, but is expected to fall again after previously paused tariffs take effect, according to the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates’ Global Port Tracker. “The tariff situation remains highly fluid and retailers …

The impact of new tariffs and other governmental policies on the U.S. economy are still unpredictable halfway through 2025, according to National Retail Federation (NRF) chief economist Jack Kleinhenz. “This year began with high expectations for the strength of the U.S. economy,” Kleinhenz says. “Since then, anxiety and confusion have taken center stage in the …

Not only will the 2025 Independent Home Improvement Conference bring the channel together to learn from industry experts, celebrate channel leaders and explore solutions for operational obstacles, it will also be an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and have fun under the Florida sun. As part of the event’s social …

In today’s competitive retail landscape, home improvement store owners need strategic financial solutions to thrive and expand. Join the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and hardware store financing expert Brian Misenheimer from Live Oak Bank for this essential 45-minute webinar designed specifically for independent hardware retailers. Discover how to leverage specialized financing options …

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Happy Returns 2024 Customer Returns in the Retail Industry Report, retailers estimated that 16.9% of their annual sales in 2024 were returned, making customer returns a headache for many retailers, regardless of their size. And customers are not making it any easier on retailers; the NRF report …

This month’s feature story takes a closer look at customer returns policies and ways retailers can improve their own policies to keep customers happy while still protecting their operation’s bottom line. As part of the feature story on Page 18, during Q2 of 2025, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) conducted a survey …

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Happy Returns 2024 Customer Returns in the Retail Industry Report, retailers estimated that 16.9% of their annual sales in 2024 were returned, making customer returns a headache for many retailers, regardless of their size. With clear and simple policies, however, retailers can make the return process easy …