Across the Nation: Read about previous NHPA on the Road trips and the stores visited at YourNHPA.org/on-the-road.
Traveling to new destinations is a great way to learn and have some fun.
Exploring retail operations in communities away from your own can be an eye-opening experience, sparking innovative ideas you can bring back to your own operation.
This past January, three members of the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) embarked on another NHPA on the Road trip, this time to the Pacific Northwest. The team included Renee Changnon, retail engagement specialist, associate editor Carly Froderman and digital media specialist Kevin Trehan. During their time in Oregon and Washington, they visited eight different retail operations.
“I love getting to visit retailers in their stores,” Froderman says. “We learn so much more when we are able to visit stores in person and see how a retailer operates—I’m always amazed at how unique each business is. We saw great examples of merchandising, interesting niches, employee training and more.”
Renee Changnon and Carly Froderman got to tour the Wilco store and spend time with the team, including district manager Bryan King and store manager Adriane Naillon.This cute pup was brought to Wilco to get groomed. They have employees specially trained to be able to groom dogs and cats.Renee Changnon and Carly Froderman had a wonderful first day in the Pacific Northwest touring two different Parkrose Hardware stores.Carly Froderman stopped by W.C. Winks Hardware in Portland, where she met the team and got a store tour from Aaron Bourne (far right).Renee Changnon and Kevin Trehan made the trek to Pendleton, Oregon, to visit a recently renovated Tum-A-Lum Lumber store. Kevin gathered the entire crew together for some photos.Lou Boss, owner of Dick’s Color Center in Milwaukie, Oregon, shows Renee Changnon a favorite product they always have on stock.Cannon Beach Hardware owner Ryan Hayes Dewey gave a tour of the store and shared its rich history.Levi Hanna and the entire crew at Parr Lumber gave NHPA a warm welcome and a full tour of the operation.Lou Boss (left) and his team at Dick’s Color Center were so welcoming and happy to show the NHPA crew the store.
