Strand Ace Hardware

Ace debuts in-store phone service to locate items

Home centers and hardware stores adapt to a down market and a new shopper mindset -- value.

Store brands are ramping up packaging and product quality, creating much stiffer competition for national brands at retail

Independents adapt to life with the big boxes

Combine merchandising goals and messages with displays that are the right size and easy for staff to assemble.

Smaller retailers want their P-O-P concerns met, too, but their options are limited unless special needs offer a payback.