Bringing together the independent channel for two days of education, industry insights and networking, the 2026 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) will send attendees back to their operations with practical takeaways and applicable best practices. The IHI Conference will take place July 29-30 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes and is hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) and The Hardware Conference.

After the morning’s breakout sessions and dedicated time in the exhibit hall engaging with vendors, the general session will open each afternoon, featuring keynote speakers and panels. NHPA’s COO, Dan Tratensek, will welcome everyone on Day 1 and present the State of the Industry: Embracing What’s Next, diving deeper into how the industry is performing this year, what the future holds for independent home improvement retail and how retailers can embrace opportunities.

Following the State of the Industry, meet some of the top-performing retailers in the channel during the Independent Awards Panel: Raising the Bar in Retail, featuring NHPA’s Top Guns and Young Retailer of the Year honorees and The Hardware Connection’s Beacon Award winners. These outstanding retailers will share how they move the needle operationally, engage with customers and connect with their communities in positive ways.

Day 1 will conclude with Matt Nicols, vice president of branch operations and retail sales at Koopman Lumber, and Jared Brown, director of business intelligence for Aubuchon Hardware, providing insights and best practices from their experiences for aligning strategy, structure and opportunity for growth.

On Day 2, Dave King, executive director of the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), will present Unpacking Macroeconomics’ Impact on the Independent Channel, diving into the current state of macroeconomics and the impact of economic factors on the home improvement industry.

During the Helmets to Home Improvement Panel, we will honor military veterans who are now part of the independent channel and hear their stories of how their military experience has translated into their roles in the independent channel.

The day’s general session will wrap up with Shaping the Future of Independent Retail, where Bogucki Enterprises owner Anthony Bogucki and Sullivan’s Hardware owner Pat Sullivan will share how to effectively utilize e-commerce and experiential retail to prepare for the future.