Shared Wisdom & Insights

As 2025 came to a close, many hardware retailers were running on fumes. We are all trying to finish the year strong, manage holiday rushes, navigate staffing challenges, and keep customers taken care of during an unpredictable retail season. That’s what made December’s Hardware Innovators Mastermind conversations especially meaningful. Let’s dig into the key takeaways from this month’s conversations!

November’s round of Mastermind calls had a clear theme across every group: small things lead to big things. Whether it was a tiny price adjustment that unlocked years of loyalty, a simple “Where are you getting ___ from?” prompt, or a quick recognition moment that lifted a burnt-out team, every call came back to the idea that small, consistent actions compound into meaningful growth.

This month, our innovators tackled big seasonal changes and holiday planning, and how to navigate those shifts without losing focus, energy, or team morale.

This month, our innovators dug into one of the most powerful tools local hardware stores have at their disposal: events. From contractor nights and block parties that pull in hundreds of pros, to community contests that bring neighbors together, the message was clear—events build more than sales, they build loyalty, culture, and connection.

This month, our innovators reminded each other that innovation isn’t always about technology or new systems, it’s often about relationships. Whether it was B2B teams finding new “ins” with local schools and hospitals, marketers experimenting with ways to celebrate employees (both on social and in-store), or GMs wrestling with the challenges of hiring the right people and paying them what they deserve, the theme was clear: when you focus on people, you build stronger stores. Let’s dig in!

Each month, Hardware Innovators come together to talk shop, solve problems, and share what’s actually working in their stores. In July, our innovators focused on building the perfect scorecard, but the conversations went far beyond metrics.

Each month, Hardware Innovators come together to talk shop, solve problems, and share what’s actually working in their stores. In June, we covered everything from cleaning up contractor lists to boosting email open rates, strengthening leadership teams, and hosting events that show appreciation for your customers and contractors.

Our Hardware Innovators brought the heat in this month’s Masterminds, just in time for summer staffing season! We were also excited to officially bring back our B2B Mastermind! From standout recruiting tactics and retention tips to employee engagement tools and B2B growth strategies, these meetings delivered serious value for every kind of retail leader.

Our April Mastermind tackled the thing everyone’s buzzing about—AI. But instead of buzzwords, our GMs and marketers broke down what’s actually working (and what’s still clunky) when it comes to integrating AI into real-world hardware retail workflows.

Another month, another round of game-changing discussions at our Hardware Innovators Masterminds! In March, our marketing and general manager groups tackled some of the biggest challenges hardware retailers are currently facing.

This month’s Hardware Innovators Mastermind was a wealth share of knowledge. Our Marketing folks talked through sales opportunities outside of Red Hot Buys, and the General Managers spoke about inventory ordering, discounting, and discontinuing tips. Let’s dive in!