Strategies_Spring_2025

SERVICE CENTER

Getting Online A s Blish-Mize strives to bring its stores into the 21st century with its updated Market App and newly announced partnership with New Media Retailer, it’s important to think about what you should have on your website to best serve your customers and make your website work for you.

The North American Hardware and Paint Association conducted its 2024 Independent Home Improvement E-Commerce Study , where 187 independent home improvement retailers representing over 600 storefronts gave insights into how they approach e-commerce, digital marketing and how they grow their online presence. See what top features and information retailers have on their websites and make sure when it’s time for your store to build its website, you have these to help better serve your customers.

97.0%

Store hours

76.0%

Business history

92.8%

Categories offered

86.2%

Services offered

9.0%

Service appointment scheduling

84.4%

Contact form or email address

29.3%

How-to information for projects

Additional content about projects, services or general interest topics Promotional and marketing materials for the store or categories Links to business social media accounts Access to loyalty programs or information (through customer portal) Access to loyalty programs or information (no customer portal)

31.1%

52.7%

55.7%

22.8%

18.0%

23.4%

Product pricing, but not e-commerce

Other responses included: Photos of products, commercial account log-in, wholesaler catalogs and job openings

31.1%

Real-time inventory levels

10.8%

Other

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

2 Spring 2025 • Hardlines Strategies