Unless you’ve been living under a wi-fi-less rock for the past six months, you’ve definitely heard about ChatGPT. The AI chatbot has hundreds of functions – and there are about as many opinions on it, too. The takes have been coming fast and furious: It’s scary! It’s going to replace human workers and take our jobs! It’s making us lazy! It’s…

If you’re in retail, you know just how common point-of-purchase, or POP, displays can be. They’re an opportunity to think outside the shelf, try out different promotions, target seasonal events and much, much more. But as omnichannel marketing becomes the norm, one might wonder where the humble in-store POP display stands. Does it still have a place in a marketing…

If you’re selling with a home improvement retailer and want to increase your sales, we’ve got some good news for you. In-store associates are a secret weapon that can help guide customers to your product, make personal connections and close the deal. They are the ones who stock the shelves, answer customer questions and are often the deciding factor in…

One of the main reasons clients reach out to Porchlight is our industry knowledge, which comes in handy for brands entering the home improvement market. As home improvement continues to outperform other retail sectors, more and more products are seeking inroads. And smart brands know that entering a new market requires strategy.  While there are many reasons to consider market…

Another year gone – can you believe it? 2022 packed some interesting twists and turns (Wordle, anyone?), but it’s time to sit back, pour another eggnog, and watch the end-of-year lists and 2023 forecasts roll in. We’ve never been one to disappoint, so we’ve got the home improvement retail trends we’d like to see in the new year. What Market…

Finding the right creative services provider has always been a challenge. Hitting upon a quality partner isn’t easy. Not only do they have to offer what you need and be good at it, but they also have to offer the right price, timing, and culture to make the effort productive and successful. Nowadays, the partnering process is harder than ever….

Your brand has been chugging along and meeting all KPIs, hitting all targets and just killing the game in general. Perhaps you’ve been pondering your next move but can’t decide exactly what that move should be. Maybe you’re feeling the need to branch out and expand but aren’t sure how. Well, we have good news: You might be a good…

Long before the term “influencer” was coined, the home improvement industry had its own professional trendsetters. The pros, as we call them, are the backbone of the industry. We often emphasize the role of the homeowner as the primary consumer. But the DIY (do-it-yourself) market has a powerful sibling. The DIFM (do-it-for-me) market is led by the pros, and it’s…

Seasonality is a term we use to describe the routine peaks and valleys in annual retail sales and traffic. Seasonality originated in the grocery industry where variety was tied to seasons, and timely promotion was a competitive advantage. Then, as global markets delivered year-round abundance, growing cycles became irrelevant, and retailers had to find new ways to promote variety and…

The possibility of a recession has been haunting the market since earlier this year when gas and housing prices began to rise, along with inflation. Although these factors have decreased in recent weeks, consumers and retailers alike have every reason to be wary. So what could a possible recession mean for the home improvement market and its retailers? Is the…