Stefanie on Stage
Practical Ways That Independent Businesses Can Use AI To Compete With Big Box Giants, Live Session
April 29, 2026 Length: 1 hr 9 min Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
In this Stefanie on Stage session from the Do it Best Market in Denver, Stefanie Couch shows how independent hardware stores, lumberyards, and dealers can use AI to compete with big box giants. She covers intelligent branding, a live AI training demo, an AI voice agent, and a 30 day playbook.
About This Video.
Most independent hardware stores, lumberyards, and building materials dealers are the best-kept secret in their market. They have the knowledge, the people, and the service. What they do not have is visibility. In this session from the Do it Best Market in Denver, I break down how AI for hardware stores and intelligent branding can fix that.
I speak straight to the real challenges dealers face every day. Big box giants are buying up the market. People quitting and taking product knowledge with them. New products sitting on the shelf because nobody knows how to sell them. Phones ringing with no one to answer.
This session shows what to do about it. I give a live demo of AI training for retail employees built around a paint line in under ten minutes. You will hear a real AI voice agent selling a fiberglass door to a customer on a live call.
I'll also walk you through my four-step storytelling framework, Problem, Tension, Solution, Win, and explain why small business storytelling beats every paid ad you can run. We close with a 30 day playbook every dealer can start Monday morning. If you care about independent dealer growth, watch the full session and take the one action that fits your store first.
Key Takeaways.
- Stefanie builds an AI training program for retail employees around a paint line live, in under ten minutes.
- A real AI voice agent sells a fiberglass door on a live call, and Stefanie covers how voice agents hand leads to real people.
- Responding to a lead within five minutes makes you 22 times more likely to close.
- Stefanie's four-step storytelling framework is Problem, Tension, Solution, Win, and she explains why small business storytelling beats paid ads.
- Use AI for everything except human relationships, and start with the one action that fits your store first.
Questions and Answers.
How can independent hardware stores use AI to compete with big box stores?
Stefanie Couch shows dealers how to use AI for employee training, lead response, operations, and phone coverage with AI voice agents. She pairs it with intelligent branding so independents stop being the best-kept secret in their market.
What is the Problem, Tension, Solution, Win framework?
It is Stefanie Couch's four-step storytelling framework. In this session she explains why small business storytelling beats every paid ad a dealer can run.
How fast should you respond to a sales lead?
Stefanie shares that a five-minute response time makes you 22 times more likely to close. The session includes how to respond to leads in five minutes.
Book a Call
Pick a time that works for you. We will talk through your event, your audience and your goals, and whether Stefanie is the right fit.