Training Resources
NHPA’s free Hiring Toolkit, Path to Success, Train the Trainer and Trainer’s Toolbox resources help retailers build stronger training programs and develop more knowledgeable, confident employees. These practical tools provide training guidance, ready-to-use lessons and resources to support ongoing staff development.
Hiring Toolkit
Hiring Toolkit is a practical resource designed to help retailers attract and hire quality employees. It includes best practices, tools and guides for recruiting candidates, conducting interviews and onboarding new hires, along with downloadable resources to support implementation.
Path to Success
The Path to Success Roadmap helps retailers navigate NHPA’s training programs by outlining recommended learning paths for employees at every stage of their careers. From foundational retail skills to leadership development, it provides a simple framework for building knowledgeable, confident teams.
Train the Trainer
Train the Trainer is a practical guide designed to help retailers build, improve and sustain effective employee training programs. It covers everything from setting training goals and developing on-the-job training to coaching veteran employees and measuring results, with downloadable tools and resources to support implementation.
Trainer’s Toolbox
The Trainer’s Toolbox series is offered to retailers as an ongoing training resource for their employees. They are ideal for use during employee meetings.
Merchandising
These lessons will cover a few of the many ways to improve the look of a store. Lessons can include anything from 10 quick merchandising tips to some suggestions on how to build a creative display.
Operations
This category covers a variety of topics, from loss prevention to HR issues to business financials and more. While most employees won’t interact with many of these areas, teaching them the basics is important.
Product Knowledge
These lessons will teach employees about different products and how to pass this knowledge along to customers. Lessons may cover new and trending products in a particular category or explain product uses.
Selling Skills
Lessons in this category will teach employees what they can do to increase transaction sizes. These lessons may include how to upsell projects, how to improve add-on selling skills or how to make a good first impression.
Merchandising
Effective Project Displays
Show employees how to create effective project displays.
Fix Your Merchandising
Use these exercises to review merchandising best practices with your employees.
Plumbing Merchandising Tips
Use this lesson to review simple merchandising techniques in the plumbing department.
Maintain Your Merchandising
Use this lesson to review some simple ways employees can maintain effective merchandising.
Merchandising Tips From a Small Store
Use this video to help employees learn some of the merchandise techniques used in small stores.
Effective Cross-Merchandising
This lesson has a worksheet to help employees understand the importance of cross-merchandising.
Creating Effective Dump Bins
This presentation will show employees the basic elements of creating dump bin displays.
Effective Stack Displays
This presentation shows employees the elements needed for effective stack displays.
Effective Counter Displays
Use this presentation to teach employees how to create effective counter impulse displays.
How to Build a Great Endcap
A presentation and a worksheet teach employees the basic best practices of building effective endcaps.
Operations
Accurate Inventory: On the Salesfloor
Show sales associates their role in helping keep accurate inventory records.
Accurate Inventory: At Checkout
Show cashiers their role in helping keep accurate inventory records.
Learning to Lead
Use this exercise to reinforce leadership skills every employee can use to improve teamwork.
Role Playing With DiSC
Employees will learn about effectively communicating with co-workers with different DiSC styles.
Give and Receive Constructive Criticism
Teach team members how to give and receive constructive criticism from their co-workers.
Spot a Shoplifter at Checkout
Teach cashiers what to look for during checkout to prevent shoplifting incidents.
Lumberyard Safety
See how safety is key for the team at Gillman Home Center in Eaton, Ohio, in its full-service lumberyard.
Time Management
Use this exercise to help your employees start thinking about the way they use their time.
Team Communication Exercise
This simple activity helps employees improve their communication skills and become more confident.
Impact of Shopping Local
This lesson reminds employees of the benefits of shopping local, and how to inform customers.
Making Your Store Safer
This lesson will help employees understand some of the ways they can help deter shoplifters.
Setting Selling Skills Goals
This self-evaluation tool can help employees review their own selling skills.
Managing Inventory in a Small Store
This video discusses some of the techniques owners of small stores use to manage inventory.
Getting Ready for a Special Event
This video shows staff what they can do to help get ready for a special event or sale.
During and After a Special Event
This video will help staff understand how they can help during and after a special event or sale.
Staying Safe on the Job
Use this worksheet to remind employees of the common hazards found on the salesfloor.
Keeping Customers Safe
This lesson will remind employees to be aware of common hazards they might find around the store.
Introduction to the Inventory Cycle
Use this video to review the basic elements of the inventory cycle.
Inventory Management
This presentation reviews ways every store employee can help keep an accurate inventory count.
Basic Pricing
This short video will explain the basics of cost, retail price and profit margin.
Keeping a Cleaner Store
Use this presentation to review ways employees can do basic housekeeping around the store.
Product Knowledge
2022 Colors of the Year
Introduce your staff to the paint trends shaping the industry.
Automotive Fluids FAQs
Review answers to these frequently asked questions to better sell some staple items in the automotive category.
Recycling 101
Learn more about what does and does not go in the recycling bin.
Types of Grills
Learn the basic differences between the types of outdoor grills.
Home Weatherization FAQs
This presentation will help your employees understand some of the questions customers ask about weatherizing their homes.
Selling Caulks and Sealants
Review the differences between the various types of caulks and sealants.
Fall Lawn Care FAQs
Use this presentation to review a few of the basic questions customers might have about fall lawn care.
Selling Pruning Tools
This presentation will show employees the differences between the four basic types of pruning tools.
Selling a Deck Staining Project
Review some basic product knowledge your employees can use to help customers who are preparing for a deck staining project.
Selling an Exterior Painting Project
Review the basic project knowledge your employees can use to help customers who are preparing for an exterior painting project.
Selling a 4-Step Lawn Care Program
This video will review some basic product knowledge used when selling a four-step lawn care program.
Selling Lawn Pest Control
Use this video to review some basic product knowledge to help customers get rid of lawn pests.
Fireplace Safety FAQs
Review some of the questions your customers may have about their fireplaces.
Pet Products FAQs
Use this lesson to review a few of the basic questions customers might have about their pets.
Homebrewing Essentials
This video explains some of the basic products customers need to start brewing their own beer.
Homebrewing FAQs
Use this video to review some of the frequently asked questions customers may have about homebrewing.
Lawn and Garden Merchandising Tips
This presentation reviews some of the best practices of merchandising the lawn and garden department.
Exploring Smart Home Products
Help employees understand and implement the latest smart home products.
Basic Fire Safety at Home
This video covers the basics of fire safety at home and products that can make the home safer.
Installing and Maintaining Smoke Alarms
Use this video to review the information employees need to know when selling smoke and CO alarms.
Home Networking Cables
This presentation explains the basic types of networking cables.
Lightbulb Buying Guide
Use this infographic to explain the various elements of the label on a lightbulb.
Maintaining a Grill
Employees will learn the steps of basic grill maintenance they can share with their customers.
FAQs and Selling Tips for Grills
This video will review some of the ways to help customers choose and purchase a grill.
Mosquito Control Products
This infographic shows the basic products available to help control mosquitos.
Winterizing a Lawn Mower
Use this video to show employees the basic products needed to winterize a lawn mower.
Push Mower Selling Tips
This video will help your employees get started in understanding how to sell a push mower.
FAQs About Gardening
Use this video to review some of the questions shoppers may have about growing their own garden.
Taking Care of Live Plants
This video offers expert advice on how to keep live plants healthy during the busy spring selling season.
Choosing the Correct Primer
This presentation overviews the different types of primers you likely carry.
Choosing the Best Paint Applicator
This video reviews the features of quality brushes and roller covers.
Selling Skills
Generating Sales Leads
Show sales associates how they can help identify potential customers for your outside sales team.
Serving Diverse Customers
Helping employees learn their role in creating a store environment makes a diverse array of customers feel welcome.
6 Painting Tips
Give employees some painting tips they can share when selling a paint project.
Faucet Add-on Sales
Learn the basic add-on sales associated with the sale of a kitchen or bath faucet.
Patio Furniture Add-on Sales
Show employees some of the add-on sales you can make with a patio furniture sale.
Customer Service From the Top
Winners of NHPA’s 2019 Top Guns award share customer service tips from their stores.
Customer Service Etiquette
Here are six ways every employee can provide a good customer experience.
Tips for Add-on Selling
Give your employees some pointers for encouraging add-on sales.
Engaging the Customer
This short video covers how to engage customers and start moving them towards a purchase.
Closing the Sale
In this video, employees learn how to overcome objections customers might have.
Project Sales
This worksheet will help employees understand the concept behind project sales.
Retail 101: Add-on Sales
A worksheet helps employees understand the benefits of add-on sales.
First Impressions
A short video reminds employees how to make a good first impression on customers.
Difficult Customers
A short video gives employees some tips for dealing with difficult customers.
Tools and Guides
Retailers can discover free tools, tips and inspiration to improve the marketing and promotions side of their businesses.
Technology
At the speed technology changes, it may seem impossible to keep up on what’s best for your operation or even know where to start. These resources can help you navigate implementing and managing technology for your operation no matter where your operation lives on the technology spectrum.
Human Resources
Free resources in this category will help retailers manage difficult scenarios related to human resources management. Whether a retailer is looking for resources to better manage their staff or needs tools to assist with the hiring process, NHPA has it covered.
Marketing
Marketing is a crucial element to running an independent business, and NHPA has put together a handful of resources to help retailers with a variety of marketing initiatives. Find resources related to improving social media efforts, planning the perfect events and enhancing customers’ in-store experiences.
Operations
Any independent business owner knows there is always room for improvement. Resources in this category will help owners evaluate and enhance various aspects of the operational side of their business such as inventory accuracy, strategic planning and store expansions.
Product Categories
In addition to in-depth product knowledge training available through an NHPA Training Membership, NHPA offers more than 14 downloadable selling guides on specific product categories such as plumbing, automotive, lawn and garden and outdoor living.
Technology
Autonomous Robots Foster Employee Efficiency
In an effort to improve and enhance the operation, several independent home improvement retailers have added autonomous robots.
Assess Your Operation’s Technology Needs
Take our technology assessment to begin your journey toward innovation and the benefits it brings to your operation.
Cool Shrink With Theft Heat Maps
Loss prevention strategies don’t need to be expensive or complicated. See one retailer’s simple solution to prevent theft at his operation.
5 Fundamental Solutions to Streamline Operations
Discover nine solutions from fellow retailers who found even the most ordinary processes can produce extraordinary results for improving efficiency.
Analytics Highlight Paths to Growth
For Hartville Hardware & Lumber, tracking analytics has been a key part of its operational strategies and has contributed to success in all areas of the business.
Innovation Doesn’t Require Vast Internal Teams
Learn the ways retailers can implement end-to-end technology solutions without needing an IT department or a dedicated IT team.
5 Inventory Management Strategies
Jared Brown, director of business intelligence for The Aubuchon Company, shares five insights into making the process of managing inventory easier and more efficient.
Not Afraid to Fail: Testing Tech Despite the Risks
When you need an effective technology solution, sometimes the answer is to build it yourself. See how three retailers developed their own internal technology tools to improve operations.
Lessons Learned from Bed Bath & Beyond and Borders
The fates of these two major retail players is a cautionary tale for independent home improvement retailers to embrace innovation and evolve.
The ROI of Technology
As you evaluate current and future tech options for your operation, discover best practices from experts and fellow retailers on how to measure ROI and the benefits technology brings to an operation.
The Right Tech Mix for Your Operation
From virtual dressing rooms to self-serve and cashierless stores to augmented shopping, technology has taken over retail.
Understanding Common Tech Terms
Get a brief explanation of different types of technology and the ways you can use it in your business.
How to Bring Technology to Your Operation
NHPA spoke with several home improvement retailers who shared their road maps and the routes you can take to successfully bring technology into your operation.
Talking Tech: Q&A With Industry Expert John Maiuri
NHPA spoke with John Maiuri, the president of the LBM and hardlines group at ECi Software Solutions, which provides industry-specific business management software.
Survey Your Employees to Determine Tech Needs
One way leadership can determine if technology is a good fit or the types of tech they might need is by creating a survey for employees to ask for their insights.
3 Best Practices for Bringing on Technology
Eric Hassett, owner of Hassett Hardware, which has five stores in the Bay Area of California that each use different levels of technology, shares tips to guide retailers on the path to tech.
Take a Chance on Chatbots
Learn how chatbots can provide an extra layer of customer service to your operation and help you connect with customers.
Embracing Technology to Enhance Customer Loyalty
Take a closer look at the ways retailers can harness technology to build and manage a better customer loyalty program.
Human Resources
Words Managers Use
Use this resource to discover five ways to motivate employees through positive affirmations.
Fictional Case Studies
Use these case studies to lead team discussions about common employee problems DiSC profiles can help resolve.
Personality Assessment Tools
Here is a quick comparison of four popular personality assessment tools.
DiSC Stickers
DiSC Profile Stickers are a simple tool to help employees put their Everything DiSC® insights into practice. By making communication styles visible, the stickers encourage greater understanding, strengthen teamwork and foster more effective communication across your store.
Employee Survey
Use this survey to better understand how well your employees are engaged with their jobs.
Orientation Checklist
This checklist helps ensure you have covered some of the basic topics when onboarding a new employee.
Evaluation Forms
Use these forms to get immediate feedback on a training course or program.
Verbal Counseling Worksheet
Use this worksheet to maintain records of conversations with employees.
Employee Evaluation Form
Use this form as a guide to discuss employee performance, goals and developmental needs during reviews.
Workplace Harassment Resource
This helpful guide can be used with employees to answer questions about workplace harassment.
Basic Skills Test
This simple test evaluates a job applicant’s math and problem-solving abilities.
Employee Termination Checklist
This checklist offers questions to consider when deciding whether to terminate an employee.
Job Description Templates
Use these customizable job description templates as a starting point for defining roles, responsibilities and qualifications specific to your business.
Marketing
3 Digital Strategies for Operations of All Sizes
Glean insights into digital strategies, resources and best practices operations of all sizes can utilize to improve their online presence.
Best Practices to Define Your Online Strategy
Learn more about the “hub and spoke” model for digital marketing that utilizes as many digital platforms as possible to expand digital reach and drive traffic to a company’s website.
Improving Digital Presence With a Dynamic Website
Whether you are launching a website for the first time or looking to make your current one more effective, see how a website revamp can improve your digital presence.
Shoppertainment Resources
Download the discount dice and project bingo pages to turn in-store promotions into games.
Social Media Holiday Graphics
Download these holiday graphics to post on social media throughout the year.
Event Planning Checklist
This resource provides different tasks to accomplish to host a successful event.
Social Media Toolkit
This toolkit includes best practices, a content calendar, an analytical tracking template and more.
How to Write a Press Release
This press release template offers a list of points you should include in any press release you write.
Stay Organized With a Social Media Calendar
Gain insights into what exactly a social media calendar is and why you should be using one as part of your marketing tasks to stay consistent and build relationships.
Operations
Building a Strong Foundation
Discover how to build and maintain employee development programs to improve your employee’s specific job skills, general business knowledge and customer service and groom them to move into higher positions.
Loss Prevention Checklists
These checklists have steps you can take to reduce the risk of theft in your operation.
Loss Prevention Store Audit
Use this self-audit to identify areas where you may be susceptible to retail loss.
BOPIS Best Practices
Use these five tips to improve your buy online, pick in store service.
Glossary of Key Financial Terms
Use this handy glossary to explain core financial concepts to your team to strengthen your operation.
Key Retail Metrics Handbook
Identify four key retail metrics and learn how your team can unite to strengthen them.
Project Plan Template
Use this template as a guide for planning out the next project at your operation.
Store Critique Worksheet
Use this guide to evaluate your business or to partake in a peer critique.
Impulse Selling Guide
Learn how to merchandise certain products to make them more enticing to consumers.
Inventory Accuracy Resources
Learn about various inventory-related processes to help improve accuracy.
Retailing 101 Quiz
Take this quiz to discover what you know about marketing, finance, operations and human resources.
Retirement Personal Checklist
Retailers can use this resource to prepare for what can be an emotionally difficult life change.
Store Expansion Guide
This PDF suggests questions retailers should think through when they plan for their business’s future.
Creating a Strategic Plan
Learn about the different components of a strategic plan and how to get started.
Attracting Potential Employees
Getting a job applicant’s attention is the first step in the hiring process. Check out this checklist of seven must-have details a hiring page should include.
Step-by-Step Guide for Creating QR Code Videos
QR code videos allow you to better serve customers, sharing helpful information on products and services your operation offers. The videos also provide another touchpoint between your employees and customers. Follow this step-by-step guide to create your own QR code videos.
Product Categories
Sandpaper Shelf Talker
Place this shelf talker in your store to educate your customers about sandpaper and improve your sales.
Native Plants Resources
Use this infographic and shelf talker in your store to educate your customers about the benefits of native plants and improve your sales.
Pool Accessories: Maintenance Checklist
Share this pool maintenance checklist with your customers to educate them on the activities they should be performing on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.
Aging-in-Place Selling Guide
Learn some of the common aging-in-place modifications and how to educate your customers.
Builders' Hardware Selling Guide
Learn more about the trends in the builders’ hardware category and how to sell specific products.
Lawn and Garden Selling Guide
Help your customers find success in building and maintaining their own food gardens.
Outdoor Living Selling Guide
Learn the ways consumers are putting emphasis on their outdoor living areas and how to sell products in this category.
Lawn and Garden Niches
This guide provides basic information and tips to stay on top of the pond niche.
Plumbing Professionals Online Resource
Professional plumbers and retailers offer advice on how to help customers in the plumbing department. This resource offers ideas for how you can build and retain pro plumbing clients.
Hand and Power Tool Selling Guide
Retailers identified best practices they implement to cater to both the professional and DIY customer base.
Tailgate Selling Guide
Understand the best ways to promote your tailgating products within the community.
Automotive Training Guide
This in-depth resource teaches associates about the various products and kits DIYers can use to maintain their vehicles.
Housewares Training Guide
This guide provides detailed descriptions about the various appliances commonly found around the house.
Outdoor Living and Sporting Goods
Covering everything from grills and water sports to bicycles, this guide details almost every product available in the category.
Ag Buildings and Products
Learn about the products used for constructing agricultural buildings.
Tips for Issuing Fishing Permits
Review these tips for issuing fishing permits as an added service to your sporting goods department.