Hardware Retailing Magazine

Name

Hardware Retailing Magazine

Legal name

Hardware Retailing

Website

https://hardwareretailing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Publication / Hardware Industry Media

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines (MPAJAEAL)

Keywords

• Trade publication
• Home improvement retail
• Hardware industry news
• Retail advertising media
• Industry research reports

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscription: The magazine generates revenue through paid subscriptions to retailers, distributors, and industry professionals in the hardware and home improvement sector.
2. Advertising Sales: Hardware Retailing sells advertising placements including print ads, digital banner ads, and sponsored content to manufacturers and suppliers wanting to reach key retail decision-makers. The media kit highlights reach to owners, executives, and managers at hardware stores, home centers, lumber and building materials outlets, farm and ranch supply stores, and distributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hardware Retailing Magazine is a monthly trade publication serving the independent hardware and home improvement retail industry in the U.S. and Canada. Distributed to more than 35,000 readers, it delivers industry news, profitability advice, new product information, and operations coverage, complemented by digital content, research reports, podcasts, industry events, and advertising placements for manufacturers targeting the independent channel.

Product overview

Hardware Retailing Magazine is a trade publication offering a comprehensive media portfolio for the independent home improvement industry. The core product is the Hardware Retailing Magazine (print and digital), distributed to over 35,000 readers across the U.S. and Canada. This is supported by digital content on the website, industry research publications (Cost of Doing Business Study, Independent Retailer Index), podcasts, events (DIY CON, IHI Conference, Independents Awards), and award programs (Retailers' Choice Awards, Top Guns Awards). The publication also features category-specific editorial content covering 16 product categories including Clothing, Electrical, Hand Tools, Hardware, Housewares, Lawn & Garden, Lumber & Building Materials, Outdoor Living, Paint & Sundries, Plumbing, Power Tools, and more.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hardware Retailing Magazine The hardware and home improvement industry's leading trade publication distributed to more than 35,000 readers across the U.S. and Canada, covering industry news, profitability advice, operational best practices, and new products from leading manufacturers.
• Hardware Retailing Digital Content

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHardware Retailing is published by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA). NHPA's mission is to provide services and information to help hardware/home improvement retailers be better and more profitable merchants. The association helps retailers develop techniques for successful operations, provides services and programs retailers cannot provide for themselves, represents retailers' interests at government levels, and provides unbiased and reliable industry information.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI): Industry research organization serving the home improvement channel with proprietary data and reports. Adjacent peer — both publish proprietary research for independent home improvement retailers, making HIRI a complement and a partial alternative for manufacturer research budgets.

Direct peers

• HBSDealer (Hardware + Building Supply Dealer): B2B trade publication covering hardware retailers and building supply dealers in North America. Closest direct competitor to Hardware Retailing in both audience (independent retailers) and editorial focus (operations, products, profitability).
• Farm Equipment (Lessiter Media): Long-running trade publication covering independent farm equipment dealers. Direct peer — same niche trade publishing model (independent dealer audience, manufacturer advertising, association-adjacent) targeting rural-channel retail decision-makers.
• LBM Journal: Trade magazine serving lumber and building materials dealers, a core audience segment for Hardware Retailing. Direct peer given overlapping readership in independent LBM outlets and similar advertising-supported revenue model.
• Paint & Decorating Retailer (PDRA): Trade publication and association media for independent paint and decorating retailers. Direct peer — same vertical-niche B2B trade publishing model and adjacent audience that Hardware Retailing's paint category coverage targets.

Broad incumbents

• Endeavor Business Media: B2B media company operating a large portfolio of trade publications, websites, and events across specialty industries. Peer because it acquires and operates trade titles like Hardware Retailing, often in vertical markets of similar size and dynamics.
• Informa Markets (Informa PLC trade media division): Global B2B media and events company that owns a portfolio of trade brands across multiple verticals. Peer as a scaled, diversified operator of trade publications and industry events analogous to Hardware Retailing's NHPA-owned media platform.
• Hanley Wood Media: Large B2B media portfolio (Builder, Remodeling, JLC, ProSales, etc.) serving residential construction and design professionals. Comparable as a multi-title trade media incumbent monetizing manufacturer advertising across overlapping audiences.
• Remodeling Magazine (Zonda): Long-running trade publication for the remodeling industry, covering remodelers, design-build firms, and suppliers. Peer because it serves an adjacent home improvement vertical with similar manufacturer-to-channel advertising economics.
• ProBuilder (SGC Horizon / ISI): Established B2B trade media brand covering home building professionals and building product manufacturers. Comparable as a long-running residential construction trade publication monetized via print + digital advertising and events.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hardwareben
• Facebookfacebook.com/HardwareRetailing
• Instagraminstagram.com/benfromthehardwarestore
• Xx.com/hardwareretail

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hardware Retailing Magazine