Media Brands
About NHPA
NHPA is a nonprofit organization started by retailers in 1900. Today, it is still led by a board of independent retailers. NHPA serves 40,000 diverse independent home improvement and paint and decorating retailers across the U.S. and Canada.
Revenue generated by NHPA is re-invested to develop programs and services to help retailers. NHPA helps retailers address today's biggest challenges, such as technology, business
and employee engagement.
NHPA creates in-person and virtual experiences so retailers, regardless of wholesaler affiliation, can discover new ideas, share best practices and build connections with one another.
NHPA is the industry leader in training for all levels of staff including hiring, onboarding, leadership and overall business improvement. Since every retailer has unique needs as they train employees and develop their organization, NHPA offers a wide range of products, services and customizable tools to help them find success.
NHPA advocates on behalf of all independent retailers by representing them to the wholesaler and vendor communities.
On March 12, seven state
associations
The North American Hardware and Paint Association’s mission is to help independent home improvement and paint and decorating retailers, regardless of affiliation, become better and more profitable.
1951
Moves into own building on Pennsylvania Street in Indianapolis
1955
Affiliates with Canadian Retail Hardware Association
1968
Publishes "Forty Years with Mister Oswald"
1973
Begins publication of consumer magazine How To: the make it, fix it, grow it magazine
2020
Paint and Decorating Retailers Association (PDRA) joins NRHA and name changes to North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA)
1996
Launches internet website
2020
NHPA rallies channel executives to urge Congress to designate home improvement retailers as “essential” during the Covid-19 pandemic
2023
First NHPA Independents Conference held in Dallas, Texas
2024
NHPA partners with The Hardware Conference to form the first Independent Home Improvement Conference
The Channel Authority
Industry Magazines
NHPA publishes two respected monthly magazines that serve as trusted resources and the channel authority for independent retailers. Hardware Retailing magazine is dedicated to the hardware channel, while Paint & Decorating Retailer magazine focuses on the paint and decorating segment. Together, these publications deliver in-depth coverage on management best practices, operational strategies, new products and evolving category trends that impact day-to-day business decisions. Both brands extend their reach through digital newsletters, robust websites, digital editions and additional online content— ensuring retailers have access to timely insights and practical guidance whenever and wherever they need it.
ICONIC
Hardware Retailing and Paint & Decorating Retailer magazines are names universally known across the industry among retailers, wholesalers and industry partners.
INFLUENTIAL
We champion the most passionate, innovative and interesting retailers and stories in each issue, featuring topics that will propel the industry forward.
CREDIBLE
Endlessly quoted and referenced, these publications have long stood as the definitive benchmarks by which the industry measures performance, insight and progress.
Industry Newsletters
Under its two media brands, NHPA produces several digital newsletters to help retailers dive into the topics most important to them. Whether you’re looking for the latest industry news, best practices for running a successful business or the newest category trends and new products, NHPA has you covered.
Subscribe Today
Subscribe to what matters most and receive NHPA’s trusted newsletters and digital and print content. Choose the topics that apply most to your business and stay informed on the issues shaping independent hardware and paint retail.
The Trusted Source in the Industry
While the name has changed several times in its 125-year history, the mission of the North American Hardware and Paint Association has never wavered—helping independent retailers, regardless of affiliation, become better and more profitable.
Our media brands, Hardware Retailing and Paint & Decorating Retailer, tell the stories of the successes, obstacles, passions and triumphs of independent retailers from across North America. We champion the most passionate, innovative and driven retailers who graciously share their best practices, insights and strategies to help other retailers succeed.
From one store to multiple locations, small towns to urban neighborhoods, nationwide co-ops to regional distributors, the diversity of the channel is fully represented in the magazines, newsletters and digital content NHPA produces.
Whether you're looking to extend your marketing reach, revamp your inventory management, improve employee engagement or just want to make those incremental improvements to your business, you can rely on the expertise, authority and credibility of NHPA.
Lindsey Thompson Editor and Director of Content Development lthompson@YourNHPA.org
Are You a Member of NHPA?
All independent home improvement retailers in the U.S. and Canada are automatically members of the association. This means every industry retailer has access to numerous free resources, events and training tools. For retailers looking for additional training options, NHPA also offers a premier membership for a low annual fee.
RETAILERS
NHPA serves all independent home improvement and paint and decorating retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
TRAINING MODULES
An NHPA Premier Membership gives you access to hours of online training for your entire staff.
FREE LESSONS
NHPA’s free resources help retailers educate their employees on important topics in 5 minutes or less.
500+
GRADUATES
Hundreds of retailers have enhanced their careers through NHPA’s two college-level leadership and retail management programs.
Free Training
Train the Trainer
This quick-start guide gives trainers the knowledge they need to start a formal training program or to make their existing programs better. With easy-to-read, step-by-step instructions, the Train the Trainer guide is full of practical tips and instructions for creating an effective training program.
Path to Success
Working in a home improvement store can be an exciting career full of challenges and opportunities. Whether you are on the salesfloor in direct contact with customers or in the office overseeing operations, there are a variety of skills you need to be successful. NHPA can help you get there. Here are the educational courses NHPA offers and how they can help you advance your retailing career.
Tools and Guides
Retailers also have access to a growing library of additional tools and guides on a variety of topics. Resources are available for all levels of store employees. Some materials are suitable for quick training sessions with store associates, while others are tools retailers can use to aid their day-to-day operations. Discover resources like a termination checklist, social media toolkit, store critique worksheet, selling guides and more.
Hiring Toolkit
This kit offers tools for retailers struggling to find quality employees. It includes job description templates, marketing tools, tips on where to find quality candidates, ideas for incentive programs and more.
125+
YEARS OF SERVICE
NHPA has been serving the independent home improvement industry since 1900.
14+
ANNUAL EVENTS
NHPA hosts several retailer-focused events covering a wide range of topics each year.
Academy for Retail Development
NHPA’s Academy for Retail Development offers resources for training and enriching individual employees, whether they are brand new to the home improvement industry or have decades of experience. The Academy for Retail Development also offers organizational development opportunities for fine-tuning your entire organization.
In this catalog, you’ll find a complete list of NHPA’s training resources. Use them to develop a training plan for your company. If you need help choosing the resources that are best for your company, just ask. NHPA can help design a training program that will meet the needs of your specific business.
Training Tools for Your Business
Having grown up in independent retail and later leading store operations, I experienced firsthand how the right training program can transform a team, strengthen operations and create lasting competitive advantage. Today, in my role with NHPA, I am honored to partner with retailers across North America to provide those same opportunities through our Academy for Retail Development.
The programs you’ll find on the following pages were built with and for independent retailers. They reflect decades of industry insight, real-world best practices and the shared belief that developing people is the most meaningful investment a business can make. From frontline selling skills to advanced leadership and management training, these courses help cultivate confident teams, stronger cultures and more resilient businesses.
I’ve seen these tools at work on the salesfloor, in back rooms and across multistore organizations, and I know the impact they can have. I invite you to explore how NHPA training can support your goals, empower your people and elevate the future of your business.
Cody Goeppner Director of Education & Training cgoeppner@YourNHPA.org
Three Pennies of Profit
This video gives employees a basic understanding of the fundamental elements of retail profit and loss. It is ideal for all employees because it helps them understand how their actions on the salesfloor directly affect the store’s profit—and their own success in the business.
Basic Training in Selling Skills
This course teaches employees the basic selling skills for delivering top-notch customer service. It covers topics such as how to make a good first impression, deal with customer complaints, overcome objections, close the sale and more.
Basic Retail Merchandising
Proper merchandising helps a store improve sales, so it is essential that every employee be familiar with best merchandising practices. This course will help employees understand merchandising fundamentals and what they can do to maximize the impact of every display.
Loss Prevention: Store Safety
Store safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it’s important that every business has a store safety program. This course will explain how each person has a role in creating a culture of safety, how to prevent accidents and what to do if one occurs.
Joining a Retail Team
This course helps employees understand the important role they play as a member of a retail team. They will learn about teamwork, customer service and why independent retailers are an important part of the community.
Retail Terms
Employees learn 60 terms common to retail in an interactive game format.
Basic Training in Hardware Retailing
This series of courses covers the basics of items and categories sold in a typical home improvement store. In addition to outlining the products and features of basic products, this course offers selling skills and frequently asked questions. It will equip employees with the basic product knowledge they need to start selling.
100 LEVEL COURSES
Basic Training in Building Materials
This series of courses covers different types of products sold in a typical lumberyard or home center. In addition to outlining the products and features of basic products, this course offers selling skills and frequently asked questions.
Basic Paint Sales
Basic Paint Sales covers the fundamental retail skills employees need to know to start selling paint. With an emphasis on best practices and selling skills essential to the category, the course is applicable to any retailer who wants to develop and maintain a strong paint business, whether they are a home improvement store or a paint and decorating retailer. Topics include how to help a customer choose a color, selling skills, product sales, merchandising and store safety.
Advanced Paint Sales
Advanced Paint Sales is an updated version of the Coatings Specialist and Paint Customer Specialist courses. This series of courses covers coatings, applicators and sundries, color and customer service. After taking Advanced Paint Sales, sales associates will have an in-depth understanding of the different types of coatings sold in paint and decorating stores and be able to help customers choose the best one for their project. Sales associates will learn through interactive content, printable study guides and review tests.
Paint Problem Solver
This reference guide helps sales associates understand the probable causes and recommended solutions for a broad range of interior and exterior paint performance problems. Full-color photos and detailed explanations make it easy for associates to help customers identify why paint is failing and find the correct product for remediation. Paint Problem Solver is available as an online reference tool or printable PDF guide.
5 REASONS TO MAKE
Higher transaction sizes. Well-trained employees can anticipate the needs of customers working on projects. In addition to suggesting add-on sales, these employees can upsell customers to better products, also resulting in a higher transaction size.
Basic Retail Training
Project Selling/Project Pro
Raise your average transaction size by teaching employees how to sell some of the most common home improvement projects. The courses focus on how to provide the best customer service when selling a project and how to suggest add-on sales.
Loss Prevention: Internal Theft
Internal theft accounts for a large percentage of retail shrinkage, and it’s a difficult problem for retailers to address. In this course, you’ll learn about some of the reasons employees steal from their employers, the different types of internal theft, how to detect it in your business and tactics for preventing it.
Loss Prevention: External Theft
External theft includes different types of theft and fraud resulting from individuals who are not employed by the store. It may include longtime customers, individuals posing as customers or vendors your store does business with. This course will focus on the most common type of external shrinkage—shoplifting. Course content will cover different types of shoplifting, how to deter it and how to confront a shoplifter.
Basic Inventory Management
The course in Inventory Management is a primer on the basic concepts and best practices of managing inventory in a home improvement retail operation. In seven modules, the course outlines the components of the inventory cycle, including ordering, receiving and stocking. It also covers ways retailers should maintain the accuracy of their inventory records and manage slow-moving and discontinued inventory.
Basic Retail Pricing
This course introduces the basic principles of pricing in a typical home improvement operation. The course will review key concepts such as pricing terms and calculations, common pricing techniques, price audits and price shopping. The course will also review how retailers manage their price image and how they can strengthen their overall pricing strategy to improve profitability.
Basic Retail Accounting
This course introduces the often-complicated topic of accounting by explaining the terms used in the two most common financial statements: the income statement and the balance sheet. The course also defines basic financial ratios retailers use to compare their operation against others in the industry.
5 REASONS TO MAKE TRAINING A PRIORITY
Better customer service. Well-trained employees are confident they can answer customers’ questions, so they are not afraid to interact with them, leading to higher transaction sizes. Good customer service means shoplifters will have less of a chance to do their work, reducing your shrinkage.
200 LEVEL COURSES
100 LEVEL COURSES
License NHPA Training
If your company already utilizes a learning management system (LMS) for training, you can still take advantage of NHPA’s library of more than 43 training courses and over 270 individual modules. Licensing gives you the ability to easily add any of our courses to your LMS, and we’ll help you get it set up.
WHY LICENSE NHPA’S CONTENT?
Avoid Recreating the Wheel
Instead of creating educational content from scratch or searching far and wide for information that fits your business needs, NHPA allows you to get your program off the ground quickly and easily with content created by experts with years of knowledge.
Provide Industry-Specific Content
NHPA has 43 courses with 273 modules that are specific to the needs of the hardware, lumberyard, home improvement and paint and decorating retailers. Plus, the association is constantly developing and releasing new content to continue serving its members.
Showcase Brand Presence
For many retailers, utilizing their own LMS is a great way to strengthen their company’s branding and online presence. NHPA will provide the content and your company will get the recognition for being a leader among employees with top-notch content from NHPA, a reliable industry leader.
Compliance Training Courses
Do you need an easy and affordable way to get your employees trained on specific compliance issues? Through a partnership with JJ Keller & Associates, Inc., a trusted name in compliance training, NHPA offers HR compliance and workplace safety training courses in some of the most common topics affecting home improvement stores. Courses are kept up to date to reflect current compliance standards. They are for individual sale on the NHPA Training Store. Both Basic and Premier members will need to purchase these courses, as they are not included in any membership plan.
Course Offerings
• Active Shooter/Active Threat: How to Survive*
• Active Shooter/Active Threat: Organizational Preparedness*
• Back Safety: Keep Your Back in Action
• Defensive Driving for Light & Medium Duty Vehicles
• Diversity & Discrimination for Employees
• Diversity & Discrimination for Supervisors
• Fire Extinguisher Use*
• First Aid Basics
• FMLA for Supervisors
• Forklift Training*
• Forklift Training: Refresher*
• Hot Work Training
• Lockout/Tagout
• Reasonable Suspicion Testing: What Supervisors Need to Know
• Safe & Smart CDL Class A Driver Training
• Safe & Smart Entry Level Driver Training
• Safe & Smart Non-CDL Defensive Driving for the Inexperienced Driver
• Safe & Smart Non-CDL Defensive Driving for the Experienced Driver
• Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Employees*
• Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Managers*
• Substance Abuse Training for Employees
• Substance Abuse Training for Supervisors
• Workplace Bullying and Violence Training for Employees
• Workplace Bullying and Violence Training for Supervisors
• Workplace Safety Basics Course*
*Also available in Spanish
Smart Training, Smarter Teams
RetailWise is a new AI-powered microtraining program featuring 2-minute video lessons designed to enhance continual learning in hardware stores, home centers, lumberyards and paint and decorating retail stores. RetailWise streamlines the training process through 52 two-minute, AI-powered microtraining videos designed to enhance the skills of independent hardware, paint and lumber employees. RetailWise was designed to deliver meaningful development in the moments when teams actually have the time—right before a shift, during a huddle or even between customers.
Course Categories
• Customer Experience & Sales Techniques
• Leadership & People Development
• Operational Excellence
• Retail Tech Simplified
• Merchandising & Inventory
• Marketing & Local Promotion
• Safety & Risk Management
• Store Culture & Team Engagement
Each video is professionally scripted, AI-delivered and paired with a downloadable discussion guide—making it easy to use during huddles, shift meetings, onboarding or on the fly.
The entire video library is available through NHPA’s learning platforms with:
• 100% device accessibility—watch from mobile, tablet or desktop
• Download-ready files—use in your LMS, newsletter or in-store TV
• You decide how and when to use it. RetailWise fits your flow
Testimonial
See how RetailWise is making a real impact inside retail operations. This testimonial shares a firsthand experience from a retailer who used the program to strengthen their team, streamline training and drive measurable results.
Each employee learns differently. These quick videos let us train whenever we have a few spare minutes, and our employees retain far more from short, focused lessons. Ultimately, our main goal is to maintain the reputation of having the best employees in town, and RetailWise is another valuable tool to help us achieve that.”
Gwenn
Werner, Parry's
RetailWise Plus
Unlock our full video library with regularly scheduled quarterly content drops, relevant seasonal modules and deeper, more comprehensive training that keeps your team informed, confident and prepared for what’s next.
RetailWise Premium
Bring your brand to life through custom avatars, store-specific messaging and co-branded microtrainings that are thoughtfully tailored to reflect your unique identity, reinforce key priorities and connect directly with your team.
• Co-branded customization: videos, avatars and messaging
• Quarterly updates and seasonal modules
• 365+ AI-delivered microtraining videos
• 100% device-accessible
• Covers 8 essential categories
Course Categories
• Customer Experience and Sales Techniques
• Leadership and People Development
• Operational Excellence
• Merchandising and Inventory
• Marketing and Local Promotion
• Safety and Risk Management
• Retail Tech Simplified
• Store Culture and Team Engagement
• Product Knowledge
• Paint and Decorating
• Financial Acumen
• Loss Prevention and Shrink Control
• Seasonal Readiness and Retail Rhythms
Foundations of Retail
About the Program
In the Foundations of Retail program, NHPA offers six certifications to help managers understand key concepts of leadership, personal development and store operations. Each course offers industry-specific training for a range of topics, including effective communication, problem-solving, team building, developing financial management skills, understanding how to mentor and learning best practices for managing merchandising.
Leadership Essentials
In this introductory course students will learn about their unique leadership style and strengths that will provide a framework for their ongoing leadership growth and career development needs.
Leading Your Team
This course teaches students the critical components of building and leading a team, including communication skills, conflict management, talent development and performance management.
5 REASONS TO MAKE TRAINING A PRIORITY
Financial Management
Students will focus on the key financial management skills that developing leaders need to manage the financial side of business, including the basics of expense control, budgeting and benchmarking.
Higher job satisfaction. Well-trained employees are more likely to enjoy their jobs and keep their jobs longer. If you show you are investing in them by training them to do their jobs, they will want to invest their time and talent into your business.
Foundations of Retail
Merchandising Management Tactics for Store Operations
This course is designed for owners, managers and retail employees who want to understand how effective merchandising strategies can boost sales. Learn the philosophy and best practices behind successful retail merchandising, including how visual merchandising enhances sales, the purpose and use of promotional spaces and strategies for store resets and remodels.
Merchandising Management Strategies for Buyers
This course offers an in-depth look at strategic merchandising and category management. Learn to build vendor relationships, negotiate effectively, plan assortments and choose the right pricing strategies tailored to your business. The course also covers how to align merchandising and advertising with your brand and explores key design elements to consider when designing or remodeling a store.
Mentoring
Mentoring is a key component to developing great leaders at any company. This online course from NHPA offers a uniform way to train future mentors on how to serve that role to the best of their abilities in a consistent and structured manner. Future mentors will learn all aspects of the mentor/mentee relationship in a professional, easy-to-understand and easy-to-apply manner.
Higher productivity. Well-trained employees spend less time asking questions and more time selling. They are able to take care of each customer’s individual needs quickly, creating a more efficient salesfloor.
Retail Management Certification Program
About the Program
The Retail Management Certification Program (RMCP) is NHPA’s flagship, industry-specific leadership and business development experience designed exclusively for independent home improvement retailers including store owners, store managers, department leaders and emerging next-generation talent.
Who It's For
RMCP is ideal for retailers who want to elevate:
• Leadership capabilities
• Strategic and operational decision-making
• Financial understanding and performance results
• Team performance/engagement
• Business growth and profitability
Whether a participant is preparing to become a future owner, advancing as a key manager or strengthening a leadership bench, RMCP delivers actionable skills that translate directly to stronger business outcomes.
Core Learning & Outcomes: Strategic Business & Operational Excellence
Participants develop the ability to:
• Think strategically about business performance like a seasoned owner
• Optimize advanced retail operations including pricing, merchandising and store design
• Understand what drives store traffic and how to connect it to marketing and branding
• Manage financial performance through budgeting, benchmarking and financial insights
• Build and lead high-performing teams that deliver profitable results
How the Program Works
RMCP blends academic rigor with real-world application by combining:
• Live, facilitated learning sessions led by collegiate educators and industry veterans
• Interactive workshops and small-group collaboration
• Webinars and coaching between in-person sessions
• A mentor from the participant’s own organization to help translate learning directly into business action
• A tailored Business Improvement Project where participants implement and measure improvements back in their stores or operations
Retail Management Certification Program
Business Improvement That Pays Back
One of the most defining features of RMCP is the Business Improvement Project—every student works on a capstone project tied to their real business challenges, generating measurable results and driving return on investment.
Peer Network & Lifelong Professional Community
The program connects participants with a trusted network of peers from across the independent retail channel—a community that:
• Shares best practices
• Offers support beyond the classroom
• Builds long-lasting professional relationships that extend into future growth opportunities
Proven Track Record
More than 300 retailers have completed RMCP, taking away practical skills, leadership confidence and strategies they apply immediately to strengthen their businesses.
Why RMCP Matters
Independent retail, especially in home improvement, is more competitive and complex than ever. RMCP offers leaders not just knowledge, but tools, frameworks and peer-driven insights to navigate that complexity with confidence.
• Drive higher sales and profitability
• Lead people more effectively
• Anticipate and adapt to change
• Foster a culture of operational excellence
• Build sustainable, future-ready retail organizations
• Program Structure
The 6-month experience typically includes:
• Two in-person visits (in Indianapolis)
• Virtual sessions and coaching calls between visits
• Ongoing mentor support
• Applied work through the business improvement project
Paint & Decorating Retail Management Certification Program
The Paint & Decorating Retail Management Certification Program is a specialized leadership and operations development experience designed specifically for paint and decorating retail leaders. Built for paint store managers, department leaders, decorators moving into leadership and next-generation talent, this program helps participants translate technical expertise into confident leadership and profitable execution in one of retail’s most complex categories.
1. Leading Paint Teams
Strengthening leadership, communication and accountability in fast-paced, service-driven environments.
2. Operational Excellence at the Counter
Improving workflow, accuracy and efficiency at the tint counter and throughout paint operations.
3. Financial & Margin Management
Understanding margin drivers, pricing discipline and profitability across products, services and customer segments.
4. Customer Experience & Trust
Building confidence with DIY customers and strong relationships with professional painters through consistent, high-quality service.
5. Growth & Differentiation
Identifying opportunities to strengthen loyalty, expand services and differentiate paint operations in a competitive marketplace.
This program equips paint leaders with the clarity, confidence and tools needed to lead teams effectively, improve performance and drive sustainable growth.
Custom Training
Tailored Solutions
As the industry continues to evolve, retailers are looking for a wide range of solutions to training and ongoing education for their staff. NHPA offers scalable customized training programs based on your unique needs, goals and budget. As the industry leader in retail training, we can help you craft a program that supports your biggest opportunities.
Discussion Points:
• What are you trying to accomplish with training?
• Where would you prefer to do your training? (online, in-store or at NHPA’s headquarters)
• How long would you like the course to be?
• What material do you want to cover?
• How many students do you want to teach?
• Who would you like to instruct the course?
• Are there specific customizations you want to see?
• What does success look like to you?
Training Topics:
• Leadership
• Operations
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Merchandising
• Financial Training - basic
Customization:
• Curriculum
• Branding
• Virtual, in-person or hybrid
5 REASONS TO MAKE TRAINING A PRIORITY
• Financial Training: advanced
• Strategic Planning
• Soft skills: problem-solving, innovation, etc
• Creating Development Programs
• Culture - Core Values
• Program length and frequency
• Instructors (industry experts or college level)
• And more A safer store. Well-trained employees know how to do their jobs safely and how to keep the store safe for customers. This reduces an employee’s downtime due to an on-the-job injury. An accident-free workplace helps lower your insurance, too.
Roundtables
Collaborative Conversations
NHPA offers participants the opportunity to connect with other independent retailers across wholesale affiliations. Each year, the association hosts several roundtable events on a variety of topics. At these events, retailer attendees share and discuss best practices and common struggles, empowering them with a list of ways to immediately improve their businesses.
ANNUAL ROUNDTABLES
NHPA hosts more than 10 topic-focused roundtables each year, all with agendas set by attendees.
DAY SESSIONS
Each roundtable is around two full days packed with topics and questions posed by retailers.
Discussion Topics:
• Financial Affairs
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Marketing and Merchandising
• Small Business and Government
RETAILERS
Roundtables are usually kept in smaller groups to give retailers the opportunity to share feedback openly.
• Women’s Leadership
• Next Generation
• Top Guns
• Succession Planning
• And more!
At NHPA’s Human Resources Roundtable, I got different perspectives from a variety of retailers, which provided me with insights for my day-to-day business.”
Kim Tarrant, Family Farm and Home
About the Program
New from the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA), NHPA Strategic Consulting connects independent retailers one-on-one with industry experts to tackle their most pressing business challenges. Our consultants have spent their careers working for top independent retailers and bring deep expertise in every key area of store operations. Fully vetted and unbiased, they offer guidance rooted in real-world experience and a proven record of innovation and success, giving you practical solutions to take your business to the next level.
WHY CHOOSE CONSULTING?
Mission Focused & Non-Biased
Our team of consultants is NHPA mission focused and has no allegiance toward any buying group or business, other than yours.
Specialized Retail Focus
NHPA Retail Consultants each specialize in specific areas of the business, keying in on the retail core competencies and key strategic areas that matter most to you and your growth.
Proven Subject Matter Experts
NHPA Strategic Consultants have helped design curriculum for NHPA’s Retail Management Certification Program and NHPA’s Foundations of Retail education programs. They are also regular contributors to Hardware Retailing and Paint & Decorating Retailer magazines. Their expertise is industry renowned.
Strategic Consulting Focus Areas:
• Retail Operations
• Inventory Management
• Merchandising Management
• Strategic Planning
Roundtable Moderators
NHPA Strategic Consultants participate in and help lead NHPA roundtable discussions, guiding focused and peer-driven conversations among independent retailers. They help identify shared challenges, encourage idea sharing and highlight practical solutions that retailers can apply immediately in their businesses.
Extensive Retail Experience
NHPA Strategic Consultants have spent much of their careers in retail and have held leadership roles at respected independent hardware stores, home centers, LBM operations and paint and decorating retailers across the U.S. Their firsthand experience ensures guidance that is practical, relevant and rooted in real-world operations.
• Family Business Coaching
• Financial Analysis/KPI Monitoring
• Lease Negotiations
• Business Valuation
• Pricing and Margin Management
• Vendor Relations
• Succession Planning
Strategic Consulting
Tony Corsberg, Merchant5
Tony ’s nearly 45-year career began as a stocker at Friedman Bros. Hardware, where he eventually served as vice president of merchandising. Tony retired from Friedman’s in 2018 and later started his consulting firm Merchant5 Advisors, guiding independent retailers in merchandising initiatives. In 2022, he was integral in the development of NHPA’s Foundations of Merchandising Management program.
Darrell Baker, Prescott Business Advisors
Holding a variety of roles in independent retail, Darrell most recently served as vice president of marketing and merchandising at Aubuchon Hardware. He now pursues his dream of helping as many retailers as he can as the owner of Prescott Business Advisors and an NHPA consultant, focusing on retail operations assessment and planning, inventory management and change management.
Curtis Gillman, Legacy Retail Advisors
Curtis has built a 20-plus-year career as a dynamic leader in the retail home improvement industry. Guided by the principles of servant leadership, accountability and KPI measurement, he successfully grew a six-store regional chain into an 18-location industry leader. Curtis is passionate about helping family-owned businesses preserve their legacy by developing strategic plans for growth, succession and long-term stability.
Dr. Rob Mathews, Mind2Momentum
Specializing in how to build highly effective teams and strategic problem solving, Rob's consulting style combines theory of human capital development mixed with practical knowledge that comes from previously owning a home center and growing up in his family’s chain of hardware and grocery stores. At Ball State, Mathews teaches a wide range of entrepreneurship courses, including business planning, decision-making, management ethics and finance.
Jeremy Melnick, LJB Advisors
Jeremy brings deep expertise in accounting, lease negotiations and business valuation, helping retailers make informed financial and operational decisions that drive growth. Jeremy is the former COO of JC Licht, overseeing 60 locations, and the previous owner of Gordon’s Ace, a 7-location retail chain. He has been recognized as an NHPA Young Retailer of the Year (2006) and as an NHPA Top Gun (2016).
Mike Aylen, Bloom Retail
For over 15 years, Mike has been working with hardware store owners in Australia and the U.S. to help them improve their retail pricing. With a no-nonsense approach, he guides retailers in using his SMART Pricing Program to develop more accurate and disciplined pricing strategies. These will grow sales and margin dollars on all items in the business and give retailers more confidence in their overall pricing direction.
Bob Levitan, Black Mountain Consulting LLC
Bob provides consulting services to independent paint and decorating retailers concerning all business matters from start-up to exit. His consultancy focuses on operational excellence for paint and decorating retailers including policy and procedure development, POS system optimization, margin improvement, inventory management controls, back-office efficiencies, personnel consulting and other strategic business matters.
Business Development
Everything DiSC®
Everything DiSC® is a personal development learning experience that measures an individual’s communication preferences and tendencies (aka patterns of behaviors) based on the DiSC® model. DiSC® measures dimensions of your personality in a simple yet powerful model that is easy for everyone to understand and remember. Participants complete an assessment and then receive personalized insights that deepen their understanding of themselves and others, making workplace interactions more enjoyable and effective. The result is a more engaged and collaborative workforce that can spark meaningful culture improvement in your organization.
Workplace
Engage individuals to build more effective relationships in the workplace.
Participant Takeaways
• In-depth self-discovery
• Appreciation for differences in work styles
• Strategies for successful interactions
Includes
• Personalized Workplace assessment
• Everything DiSC®-guided Workplace course
• Optional live monthly webinar
Management
Teach managers to engage, motivate and develop their people.
Participant Takeaways
• In-depth self-discovery
• Appreciation for differences in work styles
• Strategies for successful interactions Includes
• Personalized Management assessment
• Everything DiSC®-guided Management webinar
• Optional live monthly webinar
There are three different ways you can use the DiSC® assessment tool and resources NHPA has to offer. Each of the three course level options are available with any of the types of DiSC® assessments HOW TO USE DISC®
Sales
Provide salespeople with the skills to adapt to customers’ expectations.
Participant Takeaways
• Discovery of personal sales style
• Recognition of customers’ differences
• Strategies to adapt to customer needs Includes
• Personalized Sales Profile assessment
• Everything DiSC®-guided Sales Profile webinar
• Optional live monthly webinar
Course Level: 100 (self-paced, online)
Course Level: 200 (consultant-led, virtual)
Course Level: 300 (consultant-led, in-person)
TeamBuilder
TeamBuilder is an organizational development assessment that includes a comprehensive two-day in-person analysis of the people side of your business. It fully analyzes your organizational structure and the way your staff members interact with you and each other. Discover how to get your team working more cohesively and set processes in motion to help you maximize the potential of your staff and improve your company culture.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Know Your Team
You and your staff will complete DiSC®, the leading personal assessment tool, to understand and improve work productivity, teamwork and communication.
Go Beyond the Analysis
The assessment will provide you with an analysis of how you can improve your business, complete with recommendations on training resources, leadership training and more.
Evaluate Your Structure
We’ll work with you to improve fundamentals in your business, like your organizational chart and job descriptions, to help you align your team to your business goals and values.
Vision Process
The Vision Process is a time-tested and proven methodology developed by Retail People Solutions Inc. that provides home improvement and paint and decorating retailers with a full-service, integrated experience for building a high-functioning, world-class retail operation. Our consultants and educational team will lead your staff through a year-long journey focused on strengthening your team, defining company values and building processes that fit your company’s goals.
WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH?
Develop Core Values
We can help you customize core values specific to your operation, providing alignment for your staff and processes. These values are critical to your business, helping in areas such as hiring, training and business succession.
Implement Task Management
We will teach you how to build and use a customized task management system that provides total transparency and accountability to ensure all staff members are aware of their responsibilities and help your team execute and drive results.
Assess Personality Styles
Using DiSC® Assessments, we will work together to assess your team’s management, leadership and communication style and then build a custom program to teach them how to communicate better, work together more effectively and solve problems.
Establish Best Practices
Our team will guide you in building retail best practices and operational procedures that successful independent retailers use to help increase sales and profits.
Grow Training & Development
We can help you implement staff development discussions and build training programs to improve employee retention, communication and engagement.
Discuss Honest Feedback
We will provide direct, honest feedback on your retail operation, its overall culture and team morale from both our consultant and your customers.
INDEPENDENT HOME IMPROVEMENT CONFERENCE
About the Independent Home Improvement Conference
The Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI) is the premier event designed exclusively for independent hardware and home improvement retailers. This event brings together industry leaders, retailers and channel partners for two days of education, networking and business growth opportunities. A highlight of the conference is the Industry Awards Gala, an evening dedicated to celebrating the leaders shaping the future of the independent channel (read more about our awards on page 25). The gala honors NHPA’s Top Guns and the Young Retailer of the Year Award honorees, alongside The Hardware Connection’s Beacon Award honorees, bringing the industry together to recognize excellence, innovation and lasting impact.
Industry Awards
NHPA Award Programs
As part of its mission to support the continued success of the independent retail channel, NHPA hosts three annual awards programs, honoring excellence in the home improvement industry in both the retailer and vendor communities.
Young Retailer of the Year
This recognition program identifies and promotes the next generation of aspiring independent home improvement and paint retailers and recognizes individual achievement based on wide-ranging criteria.
Top Guns
Top Guns are individuals who are pillars of innovation and have helped grow their businesses through strategic leadership with consideration for their communities, their teams and the industry.
Retailers’ Choice
The Retailers’ Choice Awards showcase the best, most innovative products featured at the National Hardware Show and spring wholesaler markets. The award honors manufacturers for their innovation and provides insight on the latest product trends.
Industry-Leading Research
NHPA conducts industry research annually to help independent retailers learn more about a wide range of topics and industry data that will help them grow. This research is also one way that NHPA can advocate issues these retailers face with the rest of the channel. Below you’ll find NHPA’s most popular research studies. Use these guides to help benchmark your business, learn more about a specific topic that interests you or promote your business.
Market Measure Report
This annual report provides retailers and channel partners an annual overview of the state of the independent home improvement industry. This resource offers opportunities to look back at a year of changes, successes and challenges in the industry and provides insights into how things might change in the year ahead.
Cost of Doing Business Study
This annual study provides detailed financial information from hardware stores, home centers, lumber/building material outlets and paint outlets in the U.S. Retailers use this resource to compare their operations to average and high-profit businesses. It can also be used as a tool to determine new ways to increase profits. Participation is free and confidential and includes a copy of the study and several tools.
Independent Retailer Index
The Independent Retailer Index—produced in partnership with The Farnsworth Group—is a quarterly benchmarking tool for the independent channel. Retailers share performance metrics in key operational areas and the data is aggregated to measure the current health of the industry.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
These resources are designed to help retailers develop, strengthen and maintain effective training programs that support employee growth, consistency and long-term success.
Onboarding Handbook
How well retailers onboard employees will have a big impact on their job performance and how long they stay. Owners and managers who want to develop their own onboarding program can use this handbook to develop an effective program of their own. It includes best practices, checklists and links to additional resources. Available as a downloadable PDF in the NHPA online store.
Leaderboard
Trainers can post this leaderboard in the breakroom or training area to keep track of employees’ progress through NHPA’s training. Employees can also chart their progress against others in a friendly bout of competition.
Business Services
NHPA partners with expert organizations in an effort to save you time and money.
• Small Business Loans
• Health Insurance
Podcasts
Listen as NHPA’s knowledgeable team interviews wholesale executives, industry experts, retailers and more. These episodes will leave you with insights on the latest trends, ideas for your business and more.
Webinars
NHPA’s library of webinars address a variety of topics, including leadership, company culture, operations and retail best practices. Webinar hosts include NHPA staff, retailers and industry analysts, all bringing you up-to-date and relevant insights to improve your operations.
Wondering What's Next?
The end of this catalog is just the beginning of your journey. If you’re hungry to learn, ready to lead or curious what your future could look like in this industry—NHPA is here to walk alongside you.
Explore the programs shaping the next wave of leaders:
• Young Retailer of the Year — Real stories. Real innovation. Real inspiration. (Page 25)
• Next Gen Roundtables — Build your network, ask tough questions, learn from your peers. (Page 19)
• NHPA Media Brands — Stay informed with the news, insights and stories powering independent retail. (Page 4)
Find your path. Build your future. Join the community that’s ready to grow with you. To learn more please contact Lindsey Thompson at lthompson@YourNHPA.org or Cody Goeppner at cgoeppner@YourNHPA.org
