Another full day of education and networking sent attendees of the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) with practical takeaways to improve their operations, promote growth and continue to serve the independent channel.
Daniel Bernat runs a hardware store where the next big-box competitor is hours away, making every business decision carry a little more weight. Bernat owns Blue Spruce Building Materials in Lake City, Colorado, a hardware store and lumberyard that has served the community for more than 40 years. Now attending his third Independent Home Improvement Conference, Bernat says he returns because the education goes beyond products.
“It’s the knowledge base,” he says. “Marketing, employee engagement, tech—if I can transfer that knowledge into action, then I can help the business, the employees and the overall community.”
This was Taylor Cox’s first time at the IHI Conference, and he was impressed by the amount of information he gained in a short time.
“I’ve never been to IHI before, but now I have a whole laundry list of areas I want to address and take back to my operation,” says Cox, who serves as the vice president and inventory manager for Cox Hardware & Lumber.
Breakout sessions throughout the morning dove into topics from employee engagement to retail operations.
During his presentation, What’s Happening with Store Consolidations, president of Webb Analytics Craig Webb revealed what’s likely and what’s hype regarding construction supply mergers and acquisitions and delivered literal up-to-the-minute numbers on where the industry stands.
Dr. Rob Mathews, consultant for Mind2Momentum, Jon Langford, former Disney Institute facilitator and Michael Lyons, former Disney Retail manager, related how legacy Disney best practices can help independents win at retail.
Exploring the foundational elements every independent retailer should be thinking about today to ensure the future of their business, NHPA’s director of education and training and founder of Legacy Retail Advisors, Curtis Gillman, presented Succession Planning Starts Now: Building the Foundation for the Future of Your Business. From identifying potential next-generation leaders and developing internal talent to structuring ownership transitions and protecting business continuity, this conversation focused on the practical steps that set the stage for a successful transition.
“Succession is not just an owner-to-owner decision, every store supports more than the owner—employees, customers and the community,” Goeppner says. “When we think of the succession planning as this is just my business and I have to make this decision solely, we’re really limiting the view of that impact.”
Back in the Partner Pavilion, attendees explored new products, learned about innovative technologies and connected with industry suppliers. With each booth visit
“The show has been really productive for us, and we’ve booked quite a few demos for Rundoo,” says CEO of Rundoo Nick Hershey. “Everything has gone smoothly, and I’ve had a great time.”
The Partner Pavilion was also home to the NHPA Retailers’ Choice Awards, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026. The Retailers’ Choice Awards recognize the year’s best, most creative and most innovative products, chosen by a panel of independent retailers.
Opening up the afternoon’s general session, Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) executive director Dave King presented Recalibration, Not Retreat: Unpacking Macroeconomics’ Impact on the Independent Channel. He outlined the current state of the home improvement industry and shed light on where the industry is headed and how economic factors are impacting the independent channel.
“As retailers, the key right now is to be honest about what’s happened. There is a recalibration now, not a retreat. The desire to do the home improvement is there, the willingness is there, though there’s a temporary pause, given the challenges we have with real disposable income,” King says. “All of you should be watching real disposable income where it’s going because that will tell you where our industry is going, which will tell you if the decisions you’re making internally are gaining market share or losing market share when the overall walkway is no longer moving like it used to be.”
Bringing together honorees from each of the Independents Awards Gala awards programs, the Raising the Bar in Retail panel shared the stories of success. The panel featured The Helpful Hardware Company CEO David Enmark, Tweedy Hardware & Lumber business manager Shannon Davis Morrow, Beaufort Hardware & Paint Company owner Tommy Simpson and Whittier Paint Co. general manager Sean Downey.
Wrapping up the main stage sessions, the panel Shaping the Future of Independent Retail mapped out how two retailers are leaning into e-commerce and experiential retail to differentiate, adapt and scale in a competitive landscape. Bogucki Enterprises COO Anthony Bogucki, shared best practices for making e-commerce successful, and Sullivan’s Hardware owner Pat Sullivan dove into how store experiences bring in customers and create a work environment that draws employees.
“When I took over the store from my father, I wanted the store to be more than just a convenience hardware store,” Sullivan says. “I wanted and still want people to be excited about coming to our store.”
