In March, Business Day reported that in January, South Africa’s retail landscape experienced remarkable 7% year-on-year growth despite economic challenges, presenting significant opportunities for hardware retailers.

Moreover, hardware retailers should note the critical shift towards omnichannel experiences, which DIY & Industrial Trade News reported extensively in 2024, with consumers increasingly researching products online before making in-store purchases.

Therefore, it is arguable that retailing’s success demands strategic clarity. Investing in back-end innovations like inventory visibility systems and logistics optimisation could be key to driving optimum success for retailers.

In this issue, Aquidneck provides a comprehensive overview of the paint sector’s performance in Q1 2025 (see page 12), discover what Excelsior Paints has in store for retailers as they turn 88 (see page 60), and Build it marks 40 years of heart and dedication (see page 66).