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Two independent home-improvement retailers described using Rundoo’s AI assistant and retail technology to handle routine work, streamline operations and support faster checkout. Their accounts came during a webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo; the report does not provide measured productivity or financial results.
Ashmore Paint and B-Town Plumbing and Electrical Supply described how they use Rundoo’s AI assistant and retail technology to automate routine work and streamline operations during a webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo. The retailers said the tools can free staff to spend more time supporting employees and customers, while Ashmore Paint president Bradley Strayer pointed to faster checkout as a way to compete with big-box stores.
Bradley Strayer, president of Ashmore Paint, said Rundoo’s system lets the store serve customers more quickly at checkout than its previous point-of-sale system. He described the improvement as a small operational advantage that matters when independent retailers compete with larger chains that have access to newer technology. Strayer also distinguished between the roles of buying groups and store systems: buying groups help independents purchase merchandise at competitive prices, while Rundoo helps them sell more competitively.
Jason and Tilenna Hill, owners of B-Town Plumbing and Electrical Supply, said AI and Rundoo take mundane, time-consuming tasks off their workload. Jason Hill said that gives the owners more time to support employees, who can then better serve customers. The report did not specify which tasks are automated at either business or provide figures for time saved, sales changes or other business outcomes.
Nick Hershey, Rundoo’s CEO, urged retailers to try AI across different business workflows. He argued that technology could take on non-service tasks, allowing retailers to focus on customer assistance. These comments reflect the webinar participants’ views and experiences; the report presents no independent assessment of the system’s results or comparison with other products.
How AI Could Aid Independent Stores
Independent retailers often compete with larger chains that can invest in technology and operate at scale. The examples shared at the webinar point to two practical areas where software may help smaller businesses: reducing routine administrative work and making customer-facing transactions faster. If routine tasks take less staff time, owners and employees may have more capacity for service, product advice and other work that distinguishes a local store.
The accounts also show why the retailers see technology as part of a broader competitive strategy, rather than a replacement for customer service. Strayer linked software to quicker checkout, while the Hills connected it to having more time to support staff. Those are reported experiences, not evidence that AI alone improves profitability or that every independent retailer would see the same benefits. The source offers no quantified results, so the scale of the impact remains uncertain.
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Retailers’ Examples From the Webinar
The development was reported by Hardware Retailing on November 2, 2026, under its Industry Events and Industry News coverage. The story describes a recent webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo, with Strayer, the Hills and Hershey discussing the use of the company’s AI assistant in retail operations.
The article places the discussion within a wider challenge for independent home-improvement businesses: using technology to improve productivity while maintaining customer service and competing with big-box retailers. It reports that Ashmore Paint used a previous point-of-sale system before Rundoo, but gives no date for the change or detailed account of how the systems differ. The available report focuses on participant testimony rather than a controlled evaluation of the technology.
“We encourage retailers to ‘Try AI first’ because AI is a revolutionary foundational technology that can help in many, many workflows in the business.”
— Nick Hershey, Rundoo CEO
Results Without Published Metrics
The report does not quantify time saved, labor costs, sales, customer wait times or productivity changes. It also does not identify the specific workflows automated for each retailer, explain the system’s limitations, or compare Rundoo with other AI or point-of-sale products. The retailers’ favorable assessments are attributed accounts from a webinar involving the software provider, not independently verified performance findings.
It is also unclear how broadly the examples apply to other independent stores, what implementation or subscription costs the businesses face, and whether the same results would persist over time. The source does not report any concerns raised by the retailers about accuracy, privacy, staff training or oversight.
Further Details From the Retailers
The original report directs readers to a recording of the full webinar for more detail on how the retailers use AI in their operations. No further results, product changes or follow-up evaluation are announced in the material provided. A clearer assessment of business impact would require additional information from the retailers, including the tasks handled by the system, costs and measured changes in operating time or customer service.
Key Questions
Which retailers discussed using AI?
Ashmore Paint president Bradley Strayer and B-Town Plumbing and Electrical Supply owners Jason and Tilenna Hill discussed their use of Rundoo’s AI assistant and retail technology.
What did Ashmore Paint say improved?
Strayer said Rundoo allows the store to serve customers more quickly at checkout than its previous point-of-sale system. The report gives no measured checkout-time comparison.
How did the Hills say AI helps their business?
Jason and Tilenna Hill said AI and Rundoo reduce mundane, time-consuming tasks, giving them more time to support employees. Jason Hill said that can help employees better support customers.
Did the report quantify productivity or financial gains?
No. It includes retailer and vendor comments but does not provide figures for time saved, costs, sales, productivity or customer outcomes.
Who hosted the webinar?
The webinar was hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo, whose CEO, Nick Hershey, also took part.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
