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At a webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo, two independent retailers discussed using Rundoo’s AI assistant to reduce routine work and support business operations. They said the technology can speed up checkout and give employees more time for customer service, though the report provides no measured productivity or sales results.
Two independent home-improvement retailers said they are using Rundoo’s AI assistant and business technology to handle routine tasks, streamline store operations and support customer service, describing the approach during a webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo. Their accounts offer examples of how smaller retailers are applying AI as they compete with large chains, but the report does not provide quantified productivity, cost or sales results.
Bradley Strayer, president of Ashmore Paint, said Rundoo’s system lets the store serve customers more quickly during checkout than its previous point-of-sale system. He described faster service as a practical advantage when competing with big-box retailers that have access to newer technology. The report does not specify checkout times or how many transactions are affected.
Jason and Tilenna Hill, owners of B-Town Plumbing and Electrical Supply, said AI and Rundoo help take mundane, time-consuming tasks off their workload. Jason Hill said that gives the owners more time to support employees, who can then provide better support to customers. The source does not list which tasks are automated or how much time the business saves.
The webinar featured the retailers alongside Rundoo CEO Nick Hershey. Hershey encouraged retailers to try AI across business workflows, arguing that technology could take on non-service tasks and leave retailers more time to help customers. His comments describe the company’s view of AI’s potential, not independently measured outcomes for the retailers.
AI as a Tool for Smaller Retailers
For independent stores, the examples point to a practical question: whether technology can reduce the time spent on routine work while improving the experience customers receive. Faster checkout and more staff attention may help a local retailer compete on service and convenience, even when it cannot match a large chain’s scale or technology budget.
The accounts also show that AI adoption can involve more than a standalone chatbot. In this webinar, the discussion connected AI with broader retail workflows and Rundoo’s point-of-sale and operational tools. The retailers’ comments suggest potential benefits for daily operations, but they do not establish that AI alone produced better financial results or a measurable competitive gain.
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Retailers’ Rundoo Use Cases
The report was published by Hardware Retailing on November 2, 2026, under its industry news and events coverage. It summarized a recent webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo, where two retailers discussed their experiences with the company’s tools.
Strayer’s example focused on checkout speed compared with Ashmore Paint’s former POS system. The Hills’ example focused on routine work and the time owners can devote to employees. The source gives no dates for when either retailer adopted Rundoo, and it does not describe a controlled comparison with other software or stores.
The discussion took place against the competitive pressure identified by the retailers: independent businesses face large home-improvement chains with substantial technology resources. Strayer also said buying groups help independents purchase merchandise at competitive prices, while Rundoo can help them sell more competitively. Those are his assessments of the tools’ roles.
“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
No Measured Results Reported
The report does not provide before-and-after data on checkout speed, labor hours, costs, sales, customer satisfaction or error rates. It also does not identify the specific tasks the AI assistant performs, explain how the system handles customer or business data, or compare Rundoo’s tools with alternatives.
The retailers’ experiences are attributed accounts shared at a webinar involving the vendor. The material does not establish whether similar results would apply to other independent stores, or whether any reported changes came from AI specifically rather than other parts of the software or changes in store processes.
Further Details From the Webinar
Hardware Retailing directed readers to the full webinar conversation for more information about how the retailers use AI in their operations. That discussion may provide additional examples, but the report does not announce a rollout, new product, research study or scheduled follow-up.
For now, the next useful evidence would be store-level measurements showing which tasks are automated and whether the tools change checkout times, employee workload or customer outcomes. No such figures or future evaluation plans were included in the report.
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 tools during a webinar.
What did Ashmore Paint say the technology changed?
Strayer said Rundoo allows the store to serve customers more quickly at checkout than its previous point-of-sale system. The report gives no timing figures or transaction data.
How do the Hills say AI helps their business?
The Hills said AI and Rundoo take mundane, time-consuming tasks off their plates, giving them more time to support employees. The report does not specify the tasks or quantify time saved.
Did the report show that AI increased sales or productivity?
No. It includes retailer and vendor statements about efficiency and competitiveness, but does not provide measured sales, productivity, cost or customer-service results.
Where can readers find more information?
Hardware Retailing pointed readers to the full webinar conversation hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and Rundoo.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
