Hardlines Strategies

BLISH-MIZE INSIDE

Strengthen Your Digital Storefront The clearest AI opportunity is for online retail and e-commerce. Your store’s website, Google Business Profile, reviews, photos and local listings now feed how AI-powered search tools describe your business to potential customers. Having accurate operating hours, services, products, photos and reviews all matter when customers are looking to shop. Start with the basics. Claim your Google Business Profile. Add photos, list key products and services. Make sure your business name, address and phone number are consistent across different search engines. After your online presence is solidified, use AI to draft social media posts, FAQs, project guides and other online content you can push to your customer base. Similar to other AI usages, having a knowledgeable employee edit pieces before they go live is important.

Meet Changing Customer Needs Recent Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) data shows renovation activity has remained strong in 2026, with homeowners completing smaller, necessary projects over luxury renovations. The data also shows more homeowners are mixing DIY projects with hired contractor work, meaning retailers need tools that help them serve homeowners and pros at the same time. AI can help you build project checklists, seasonal maintenance guides, contractor quote templates and follow-up emails. It can also help segment customers by project type, such as paint, deck repair, plumbing, lawn and garden or safety upgrades.

Make Training Easier and More Consistent AI can also help train employees. The North American Hardware and Paint Association’s RetailWise program uses AI-developed micro training videos for team huddles, onboarding and shift meetings, as well as customer interactions. The format fits stores that cannot pull employees off the floor for long training sessions. Retailers can apply that same thinking internally, by using AI to turn SOPs, sales tips or product knowledge into short scripts, quiz questions or huddle prompts. Keep the lessons short and tie each one into a behavior: greeting customers, asking better project questions, selling add-ons or explaining delivery options.

Hardlines Strategies • Fall 2026 37

Blish Mize Inside_Fall26.indd 37

7/23/26 12:06 PM