Taking Care Of Business With Dan Tratensek

If you're looking at selling your business, or growing your business, you might want to listen in to this episode as we talk to NHPA's Dave Gowan who tells us all about the recently launched NHPA Retail Marketplace.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

Today we visit with friend of the show, Bill Brunelle, co-founder of Independent We Stand, who talks about how locally owned businesses are doing across the country and discuss the sixth annual America's Main Streets contest that is getting ready to kick off in September.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

Today we talk to Mike MacKay, owner of Vassar Building Center in Vassar, Michigan. Together with his wife, Brenda, the MacKay's made the decision to build their dream store right before the pandemic hit. Learn how they worked with their distributor to push through the challenges to unveil an innovative store that doubled the size of their business.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

In this episode, we circle back with Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self Reliance to catch up on some of the latest developments in her group's efforts to lobby for pro-small business initiatives.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

On this episode we talk about all the things that keep you up at night -- the emerging threats that could forever alter your business. Our guest is Scott Reynolds, CEO of American Hardware and Lumber Insurance and he is going to share some tips that just might help you sleep a little better.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

On this edition of Taking Care of Business we lighten it up a little bit and talk to Rob Stolzer, who recently launched a website (www.misteroswald.com) dedicated to honoring the legacy of the long-running Hardware Retailing comic strip.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

On this week's episode, we connect back with Grant Farnsworth to get updates on the industry outlook for the last half of the year, discuss how consumers' buying habits are changing and learn a little about how vaccinations are impacting shopping patterns.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

With the surge in home improvement projects and spending, paint and coatings are center stage on most home owner's to-do lists. On this edition of Taking Care of Business we talk to someone who knows a thing or two about paint, John Vanderpool, True Value's Divisional President of Paint and General Manufacturing. We touch on supply chain, color trends and what it takes to run a profitable paint and sundry operation.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

Normally around this time of year, we would all be getting ready to head to the National Hardware Show. While we won't be heading to Vegas this May, in this episode we talk with Beth Casson from the National Hardware Show to learn about all the changes at the industry's biggest event and what to expect in October when the show will take place.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

On this episode of Taking Care of Business we are talking supply chain and ketchup with Dent Johnson, Do it Best's vice president of merchandising. Johnson gives us the low-down on what's caused the kinks in the supply chain, where we are headed and how commodity prices could impact project demand in the coming months.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

In this episode, Dan talks to Scott Wright, Executive Director of NHPA’s Retail Leadership Institute, and Katie McHone-Jones, NHPA's Event and Retail Support manager, about this year's Young Retailer of the Year honorees. They talk about the impact of the awards, what they represent and what everyone can learn from watching them   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

On this episode of Taking Care of Business we talk Business by the Numbers as we sit down with NHPA's CFO Dave Gowan and discuss the importance of managing your business using Key Performance Indicators. We also talk about how retailers can participate in this year's Cost of Doing Business Study.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

It's been just over a year since COVID-19 began tearing through our lives. In this episode of Taking Care of Business we talk with Grant Farnsworth of The Farnsworth Group to get a better idea of how consumers' home improvement habits have changed over the past 12 months and what we might expect to change in the months ahead.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

This week on the Taking Care of Business podcast, we talk once again to our legal expert Mick Terrell to get some insights about what employers need to know about the COVID vaccine and their workforce. Can vaccines be required? Do you have to pay for your employees to get vaccine? Mick will weigh in on all this and more.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere

This week on Taking Care of Business, Dan has a chat with two guests. The first is Dan Harris, owner of Palos Ace Hardware and Lemont Ace Hardware. He is also the current chairman of NHPA. The second guest is Jake Smith, owner of Jared's Ace Hardware who is also the vice chairman of NHPA.    Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere "Puzzle Pieces" by Lee Rosevere

In this episode of Taking Care of Business, Dan chats with Jonathan Mize, the CEO and president of Blish-Mize Co., to discuss the distributor's 150th anniversary and how it has adapted to doing business in this new era. We will also talk about the company's upcoming Dealer Market, which is scheduled as an in-person event this March.   Music Credits: "Let That Sink In" by Lee Rosevere "Puzzle Pieces" by Lee Rosevere

In 2020, the concept of supporting small businesses took the spotlight. So as we start 2021, we sat down with Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self Reliance to talk about how we can translate that heightened support for small business into action. We also learn what independent retailers can do to help level the playing field with the big corporate retailers.

Rounding out the year for the Taking Care of Business podcast, we welcome NHPA President and CEO Bob Cutter and LeAnn Day, NHPA's executive director of paint and decorating programs, to talk about the association's expanded membership and what is in store for hardware, paint and decorating retailers in 2021.

In our penultimate episode of 2020, Dan Tratensek sits down with The Farnsworth Group's Jim Robisch to reflect on the unique year that was 2020 and look forward to what 2021 might have in store for the industry.

On today's episode we chat with industry veteran, author, marketer and consultant Sonya Ruff Jarvis. Sonya, shares her unique insights into the importance of addressing diversity and inclusion within your operation and shares some best practices for marketing your small business.