Wanda Lenoir, Author at Cutting Edge Products

Weatherization Solutions Drive Project-based Sales

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On August 18, 2026
Cutting Edge Products Magazine, DAP, Weatherizing

Weatherization is one of the most accessible, high-impact home improvement categories. These products offer consumers cost-effective ways to reduce energy loss and make homes more sustainable. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air leakage through cracks and openings can account for 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling costs. Since most DIY projects are simple. Homeowners don’t need special skills to seal gaps around windows, doors, and siding, but they do need advice from a knowledgeable salesperson to select the correct sealant.

When it Comes to Holiday Planning, Timing is Everything

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On August 18, 2026
Cutting Edge Products Magazine, Holiday Planning

Why wait until November to start planning for the holiday season? To capture higher margins and bring more customers into the store during the holiday rush, store owners have little room for error. The final sales quarter of the year will be here in a few weeks, and few stores can afford to miss early season sales or deal with upset customers when products are out of stock. In this case, the early bird gets the worm.

Gen Z Redefines the Future of Gardening

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On August 18, 2026
Cutting Edge Products Magazine, Gen Z Redefines the Future of Gardening

Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—is quickly becoming one of the most influential gardening demographics in the United States. While overall gardening participation dipped from 84.1% to 79.2% in 2025, Gen Z bucked the trend. They increased both their gardening time and spending at rates higher than any other generation. For hardware retailers, this shift represents a major opportunity: Gen Z is not only entering the gardening market, but they’re also redefining it. To sell to Gen Z gardeners, retailers should understand why gardening matters to them, where they live, and how hardware stores and garden centers can position themselves to win their loyalty.

Shoppers Seek What is Real and Return to Physical Stores

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On August 18, 2026
Cutting Edge Products Magazine, digital and physical retailing

For years, the retail outcome seemed settled: online shopping would dominate, and physical stores would shrink, and the future of shopping would happen primarily on screens. Yet the most surprising trend of the 2020s is unfolding right in front of us. Gen Z, the first digital natives, are leading a renewed surge back into brick-and-mortar stores. And they're not alone. Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers are also rediscovering the appeal of in-person shopping, but Gen Z is the cultural engine accelerating the shift.

What Happens If the Kids Say No?

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On August 18, 2026
Cutting Edge Products Magazine, Succession Planning

Succession planning usually isn’t the first thing hardware store owners want to discuss. Most are focused on daily tasks like managing inventory, helping customers, keeping vendors satisfied, and opening the store on time. However, with baby boomers retiring faster than ever, succession planning has become a key topic in the hardware industry. Over half of U.S. small-business owners are older than 55, and one in four is already 65 or older. By 2035, about six million small and midsize businesses will change owners, and around one million are expected to be sold. That’s nearly $5 trillion in business value changing hands. For many family-run hardware stores, the upcoming changes in ownership are especially important. The real question isn’t when the change will happen, but whether the business will continue into the future.

Creating a Safer Workplace is Mandatory

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On August 18, 2026
Cutting Edge Products Magazine, Operating a Safe Business, Workplace Safety

Running a hardware store means managing a lot at once—heavy inventory, sharp tools, chemical products, and customers who range from cheerful DIYers to folks having a very bad day. With so much happening under one roof, worker safety can’t be an afterthought. It must be part of the store’s daily rhythm. Operating a safe business is more than avoiding fines or marking boxes. It’s essential to protect your team, build trust, and keep everything operating smoothly. When your staff feel safe at work, they perform better, stay longer, and are friendlier with customers. When shoppers see a well run, organized store, they feel good and want to come back.

Invest Wisely in Your Next Chapter

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On August 18, 2026
Grow and Win Customers, Innovate, Invest Wisely, Step Up your Game

Neighborhood hardware stores are more than aisles of tools, paint, and fasteners. Your store is a community anchor—a place where homeowners, contractors, and DIY dreamers come for solutions, advice, and a sense of belonging. Some stores have been in the same family for generations, whereas others have recently opened their doors.

Hiring Teens Part-Time Can Help Solve Staffing Shortages

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On July 29, 2026
employee shortage, Hiring Teens, solve staffing shortage

Everyone has days when they feel like they’re running empty and can use a little help to smooth out the rough patches. The daily challenges of operating a hardware store can pile up quickly, and a few more employees during peak hours and selling seasons can make a big difference. Yet, in an uncertain economy, owners may be reluctant to significantly increase payroll costs by hiring a full-time worker.

Keeping Pace with Pet Owners Leads to More Sales

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On July 29, 2026
Attract Pet Owners, Pet Sales, Selling Pet Products

One reason hardware stores sell pet products is to attract new customers and encourage existing customers to shop more frequently. Store owners who are committed to building a profitable niche should offer assortments that highlight premium foods, natural products, and sustainability.

Driving Sales and Winning New Customers in a Boomcession

Posted by Wanda Lenoir
On June 11, 2026
Cutting Edge Products Magazine, Wanda Lenoir

The country is experiencing an economic phase defined by contradiction. Studies indicate the nation is in a Boomcession (“boom” and “recession”), a term used to describe the disconnect between what the data shows about the economy versus what people believe is true. When consumers feel that the economy is unstable, they adjust their lifestyles and spending habits to prepare for worst-case scenarios. Although consumer confidence feels shaky, and headlines warn of inflation, spending in many categories remains strong.

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