Yahoo Finance·2026-01-04 16:07Market Overview - The home improvement and hardware retail sectors are primarily dominated by Home Depot and Lowe's, which have significantly impacted hardware cooperatives and independent retailers [1] - Home Depot holds an average market share of 29%, while Lowe's has 17%, and Amazon accounts for approximately 11% of the home improvement market as of Q3 2025 [1] Impact on Independent Retailers - Three major retailers control 57% of the market, leading to challenges for hardware cooperatives and small independent stores, some of which have been operational for over 50 years [2] - The 159-year-old Kreuger's True Value hardware store announced its permanent closure within 12 to 16 months after a liquidation sale [2] Recent Closures - Several iconic hardware stores have shut down, including the 117-year-old Ritter's True Value Hardware on September 30, 2025, and the 56-year-old Carnation Ace Hardware on October 25, 2025 [3] - C&H Hardware, a 65-year-old store in Yakima, Washington, also closed due to rising prices and competition from online sales [3] Benjamin Brothers True Value - Benjamin Brothers True Value Hardware, established in 1946, will close its Tenafly, New Jersey location on January 31, 2026 [4][8] - The store owners expressed gratitude to their customers for their support over the years and acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to close [5][6] - The reason for the closure was not specified by the store's owners [7]