Owning a hardware store means managing thousands of stock-keeping units (SKUs) — sometimes upward of 40,000 — each with its own size, material, color, and packaging. With so much variety, it’s easy to spread your attention too thin, stocking products that tie up cash instead of generating sales.
Knowing what hardware stores sell is only the first step; the real challenge is choosing high-margin products and managing them so they stay in stock without overfilling shelves.
This blog looks at five categories worth prioritizing and how a point of sale (POS) system can help you forecast demand, adjust for seasonal trends, and keep inventory moving.
1. Tools and Power Equipment
What do hardware stores sell? Tools are the heart of most hardware stores. They attract everyone from weekend DIYers to full-time contractors — and when you pair them with accessories and consumables, you create built-in repeat sales.
Stock to meet every project need:
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Offer a wide range of power tools: Include electric drills, cordless rotary tools, circular saws, belt sanders, and routers. Stock multiple brands and bundle items to build loyalty.
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Carry a full lineup of hand tools: Add hammers, pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, clamps, handsaws, mallets, and chisels. These affordable, battery-free options are perfect for quick jobs or backups.
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Include accessories and consumables: Keep spare saw blades, drill bits, sanding pads, battery packs, and other replacement parts so customers return when they need refills or repairs.
Use your POS system to track which tool brands and models sell fastest, then adjust reorders to keep the top sellers in stock year-round.
2. Fasteners and Hardware
Fasteners are the backbone of any project, from quick home repairs to major builds. Inexpensive but high-turnover items, like nails, screws, and anchors — often sold in bulk — are a steady revenue source.
Keep this category well-stocked and easy to shop:
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Organize by type and size: Use bins or shelves for bolts, hinges, and washers, labeling each with gauge, material, and length.
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Offer a variety of door and cabinet hardware: Stock soft-close hinges, decorative pulls, heavy-duty slides, and keyed or combination locks to cover different styles and functions.
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Feature specialty sizes: Carry metric bolts, security screws, and uncommon anchors to meet niche needs and stand out from competitors.
Implement a POS style matrix to group all versions of an item ( such as 2-inch wood screws in brass, stainless, and galvanized finishes) under one SKU for accurate counts and timely reorders.
3. Plumbing Supplies
Hippo Insurance reports that 66% of U.S. homeowners have dealt with a plumbing issue. Having the right parts and tools on your shelves means customers can fix problems quickly and rely on your store for emergencies.
Order these essentials to cover the most common needs:
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Sell pipes, tubes, and fittings in multiple materials: Supply copper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), galvanized steel, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) products in a range of lengths and sizes for all types of homes and plumbing systems.
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Offer a wide selection of connectors and fixtures: Provide elbows, reducers, couplings, and other fittings in various materials, as these parts wear out more frequently and are needed for both repairs and new installations.
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Stock repair and upgrade tools and parts: Carry plungers, augers, and drain-cleaning chemicals for clearing clogs, along with new fixtures, handles, faucet systems, and showerheads for replacements or remodels.
Adjust plumbing inventory seasonally — for example, promote garden hose fittings in spring and faucet insulation covers in winter to keep customers returning all year.
4. Electrical and Lighting Fixtures
Customers rely on the electrical supplies your hardware store sells to keep homes safe, functional, and energy-efficient. In small hardware stores, 68% of general-purpose lighting sales are Energy Star-certified products, showing the strong demand for efficient, long-lasting options.
Here’s what to keep in your aisles:
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Supply basic equipment: Carry cables, outlets, switches, and dimmers in multiple styles and capacities for repairs and new installations.
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Showcase lighting fixtures: Display standard bulbs, LED units, flush mounts, pendants, and outdoor lighting. Use demo stands to help customers compare brightness and color.
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Include tools and testing devices: Offer multimeters, outlet testers, wire strippers, and electrical tape for electricians and skilled DIYers.
Track bestsellers. Construction-heavy areas may sell more industrial lighting, while residential neighborhoods often move more replacement switches.
5. Paint and Finishing Supplies
Paint and finishing supplies may sell more slowly but often spark larger projects. Customers tackling renovations or touch-ups expect to find the right paint and all the tools and materials to get the job done.
Round out this category with these tips:
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Provide a range of paint types: Feature latex, oil-based, enamel, acrylic, and masonry options to cover different surfaces and project requirements.
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Pair sealants, stains, and finishes with paint: Place polyurethane finishes, concrete sealers, weatherproofing products, and other coatings alongside your paint selection so customers can pick up everything in one trip.
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Equip the aisle with painting tools: Keep brushes, rollers, trays, painter’s tape, sanding blocks, and gear like sprayers and mixers that wear out and lead to repeat purchases.
Run sales reports to find out which colors, finishes, and accessories sell most in your area so you can fine-tune orders and reduce slow-moving inventory.
How To Manage Inventory With Hardware Store POS
Managing thousands of SKUs across multiple categories is challenging without the right tools. Hardware store POS systems give you the data and features to track stock, anticipate demand, and adjust for seasonal changes.
Choose a software that lets you:
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Forecast demand with sales data: Review past sales to identify top-selling products, track how quickly they move, and plan reorders before quantities drop too low.
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Plan seasonal inventory: Adjust purchase orders based on local patterns, such as adding more exterior paint in spring or snow-melt products ahead of winter.
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Organize variants with a style matrix: Group items in multiple sizes, materials, or finishes under a single SKU to monitor quantities at a glance and simplify reorders.
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Create custom barcodes and scan for quick updates: Assign barcodes to products without manufacturer labels and use mobile scanners to update counts directly in the POS while working in the aisle.
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Integrate loyalty programs: Link repeat purchases to customer profiles in your POS, making it easy to offer targeted rewards or discounts on the products they buy most.
These features help you avoid overstock, prevent missed sales, and make sure high-demand items are always available for loyal customers.
Discover What Hardware Stores Sell the Most and Manage Your Inventory Like a Pro
Knowing what hardware stores sell helps you focus on the products that generate the most revenue. But to keep those items in stock, you need a system to manage every aspect of your stock, from ordering to sales tracking.
Comcash gives you complete control over your inventory with forecasting tools, seasonal planning, style matrix organization, barcode management, and loyalty program integration. It helps you make faster decisions, keep high-demand products available, and run your store more efficiently.
Request a demo to see how the inventory management features in Comcash POS make it easy and convenient to manage your hardware store.