Retail Management Certification Program
The Industry's Premier Management School
The RMCP Experience
Built for owners and managers in the home improvement industry, the program focuses on learning skills to grow store sales and profits in today’s changing retail landscape.
Follow in the footsteps of more than 300 retailers who have graduated from the program. Take a closer look at what retailers experience during this program and some of the key benefits you’ll come away with.
Key Benefits for Your Business
New and Improved Skills
Learn new skills to manage and drive your business to higher levels of performance and gain skills needed to innovate and lead positive change.
Business Improvement Project
Embark on a business improvement project tailored to your business that immediately puts into practice what you learn in class.
Reliable Network of Peers
Learn from course instructors and classmates, sharing best practices during class sessions and long after the course ends.
What You'll Learn
Applied Business Strategy
Learn to think about the business the way a seasoned owner does—strategically.
Advanced Retail Operations
Discover best practices of operating a retail home improvement store like retail pricing, merchandising and store design.
Advertising & Marketing
Understand what drives store traffic with today's customers and how to align your business with your brand.
Financial Management
Learn components of the revenue equation and how small changes can impact financials to drive top-line sales and bottom-line profits.
Budgeting & Benchmarking
Learn how top-performing retailers budget and benchmark performance to reach higher levels of success.
Leadership & Team Building
Learn how to build and develop high-performing teams that can deliver excellent customer service and increase profits.
Behind the Course
RMCP is taught by a distinguished team of collegiate-level professors and retail professionals—many with doctoral degrees and decades of experience. Their instruction is grounded in academic rigor and real-world application, offering independent retailers a powerful blend of strategic insight and practical tools tailored to today’s challenges.
The Learning Experience
Complete assignments between classes.
Between sessions, participate in webinars and coaching calls to continue implementing new skills to your business.
Participate in live, interactive sessions.
You'll work in small groups with other students during class to share experiences and challenges on a variety of topics.
Work with a mentor from your store.
A mentor from your organization will help align your projects with the company's goals.
Join a cohort of retailers.
Smaller class sizes promote networking and learning best practices from successful participating businesses.
Now Enrolling for 2025
Course Orientation Calls – June 2025
Visit 1 – July 21-25, 2025
Visit 2 – October 13-17, 2025
Program Agenda
Developing a Strategic Mindset & Personal Productivity
Tuesday, July 22
Leveraging Human Talent, Dr. Rob Mathews
Problem Solving Styles, Dr. Rob Mathews
Communication Exercise, Dr. Rob Mathews
Employee Engagement, Dr. Rob Mathews
Design a World-Class Training Program & Culture of Selling, Cody Goeppner
Wednesday, July 23
Store Design, Gary Petz
Store Slotting, Gary Petz
Space Management, Gary Petz
Raising the Baseline Through Incremental Improvements, Gary Petz
Store Operations Tour
Thursday, July 24
Harvard Case Study: Home Depot in Transition, Brian Landis
Change Management Theory, Brian Landis
Inventory Management Workshop, Brian Landis
Best Practice Sales Marketing Roundtable, Cody Goeppner
Session 1: Marketing Virtual Session with Retail Experts
Session 2: Customer Experience Workshop Part 1: Inspiration, Rob Mathews
Session 3: TBD
Tuesday, October 14
Leading from Within, Dr. Craig Caldwell
Crucial Conversations, Dr. Craig Caldwell
Price Perception Strategy, Jim Robisch
The Basics of Loss Prevention, Jim Close
Harvard Case Study, Mike Goldsby
Wednesday, October 15
KPI Hackathon
Financial Application Case Study Workshop, Retail Experts
Benchmarking Using the CODB Study, NHPA
Growth Mindset, Independent Retail Expert
Standard Operating Procedures, Independent Retail Expert
Strategic Planning & Business Management, Independent Retail Expert
Market Analysis & Competitive Strategy, Independent Retail Experts
Thursday, October 16
Customer Experience Workshop, Dr. Rob Mathews
Business Improvement Project Presentations
Celebration Dinner
Quick Wins Roundtable & Graduation Ceremony
What Students Are Saying
Even though I've been in the business for a while, it was definitely worth it. This class taught me how to be forward-thinking instead of reactionary.
- Franklin Cloninger
South Carolina
I don't have enough good things to say about the RMCP program, it was an amazing experience. The networking opportunity with my peers and the educators was fantastic and learning new ways to do things from others in the program was one of my most favorite takeaways.
- Brookelyn McLellan
Washington
The course was amazing. I learned so much that I could immediately apply to the business. I felt it was well worth the investment of my time and cost to attend.
- Megan Stiers
Missouri
What Retailers Are Saying
I loved the RMCP experience overall! I enjoyed meeting people and learning about company operations - that opened my eyes and made me appreciate what other people in our company do on a regular basis the most.
- Barbara Smith
Training and Improvement Manager at Wilco Stores
I have learned the importance of strategic planning and proactive leadership. The course has provided me with tools and frameworks to better anticipate challenges and develop detailed plans to address them, and this proactive approach is essential as our organization grows and evolves.
- Jared Brown
Director of Business Intelligence, The Aubuchon Company
My overall experience with the RMCP program was enlightening. Being exposed to different problem solving perspectives of my classmates and the instructors was super valuable. I was surprised that we could all come to the same solution to problems but through 15 different avenues, many of those I would not have thought of myself.
- Tommy Granger
Store Manager, Randy's Do-It-Best
Retailers Supporting RMCP
Ask Us About Tuition Assistance
If you are a retail owner of an independent hardware store, home center or lumberyard and have a need to develop the leadership and management skills of your associate who is preparing for ownership or a key employee showing management potential, contact us today to learn more about how the NHPA Retail Management Certification Program can provide a unique, industry-focused learning experience.
From Student to Program Lead, Learn About Cody Goeppner
Program Lead – RMCP & Advanced Education, YROTY Honoree & RMCP Alumni
Now, as Program Lead for RMCP, Cody brings that same energy and insight to every cohort. With a unique ability to connect with retailers at every level, he uses his own professional journey to guide participants through transformational growth.
The most powerful thing we can do in this industry is invest in people—and RMCP gives us the roadmap to do that with intention.
Questions? Contact
2025 RMCP Program Sponsors
