22
Fall 2013 •
Hardlines
Strategies
MARKET PREVIEW
Blish-Mize also knows that one of the
best ways to dominate the Hand and
Power Tool categories is to offer strong,
vendor-focused assortments.
In fact, according to the 2013 Product
Branding study by the North American
Retail Hardware Association, Hand and
Power Tools are some of the most brand-
sensitive categories in home improvement
stores today. In the survey, nearly half of
all male respondents and nearly a third of
female respondents described themselves as
loyal to brands in Hand and Power Tools.
The Fall Buying Market will help you
capitalize on that brand loyalty. A portion
of the Mini-Store will have Blish-Mize
assortments, allowing you to mix and
match brands to fit your needs. However,
the store will also have vendor-specific
assortments on display for you to consider.
In addition to attracting purchases
from brand-loyal customers, stocking a
complete set of products from a vendor
allows you to get the price advantage that
often comes with a drop-ship order. Many
of the Hand and Power Tool Vendors at
the Fall Market will offer deep discounts.
As it has been in past years, the Mini-
Store will also offer you a firsthand look
at other programs and services that can
improve your retail operation, whether it’s
the totally customizable and economical
store signage program from Blish-Mize
or a complete POS system to help you
improve the efficiency of your business.
New at Hardware House
Before you leave the Mini-Store, check
out the wide range of product categories
available from Hardware House, Blish-
Mize’s private label product line.
At this Market, you have more options
from Hardware House to make your cabinet
hardware category competitive with anyone
in your market. Start by seeing a new display
option, which easily adapts into your current
gondola. The display puts sample cabinet
hardware out where customers can see and
touch them. It’s easy to adjust and change as
you adjust your program in future years. The
cabinet program also includes a new header
Prepare Leaders for Tomorrow
Learn about NRHA’s Retail Management Institute
Have you considered how you will prepare the next generation of leader-
ship for your store? When you consider all of the challenges facing the
home improvement retailing industry today, whether it’s the changing
demands of consumers or competitive pressures from big-box retailers,
it becomes more and more difficult to know how best to prepare those
individuals who may one day lead your business.
At the Fall Market, there will be an opportunity for you to learn more
about the Retail Management Certification Institute, a program devel-
oped by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA).
The Institute is designed to help prepare future retail leaders by provid-
ing them with the education they need to lead their companies into the
future. Developed in conjunction with Butler University’s Graduate School
of Business, the Institute consists of a six-month, college-level program for
those individuals who may be the next generation of owners.
Class themes will include leadership, applied business strategy, marketing,
operations, finance and accounting, and application of retail technologies.
To learn more about the program, as well as other
employee training opportunities NRHA has to offer,
visit the NRHA booth at the Fall Buying Market.
Or, contact Scott Wright, vice president of member
services, at 317-275-9417 or
.
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