HBS Dealer
U.S. industry trade (hardware and building supply sector)
Background
HBS Dealer traces its origins to Lebhar-Friedman, a New York-based B2B publishing house founded in 1925 that served the retail industry across multiple trade titles. Hardware and Building Supply Dealer was one of Lebhar-Friedman's flagship retail brands. The publication claims to have launched the first hardware and building supply industry website in 1990. In June 2018, EnsembleIQ—a Chicago-based B2B media platform backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners—acquired substantially all of Lebhar-Friedman's media, digital, and event assets, bringing HBS Dealer into the EnsembleIQ portfolio alongside titles such as Drug Store News and Chain Store Age. Under EnsembleIQ, the outlet rebranded its web presence as hbsdealer.com and expanded its digital offerings including e-newsletters and events. Its editorial coverage centers on retailer performance rankings (such as its annual Top 150 list), legislative and regulatory updates relevant to lumber and building material dealers, supplier news, and product trends. Coverage of Trump-era tariffs has reflected reader concerns and industry data rather than taking a partisan stance, with polling and reader letters representing a range of industry views.
Sources
- HBSDealer • EnsembleIQ
- EnsembleIQ Acquires Media Brands from Lebhar-Friedman • EnsembleIQ
- PE-backed EnsembleIQ acquires Lebhar-Friedman's media brands | PE Hub
- B2B Media Company Lebhar-Friedman Sold To EnsembleIQ | Forbes
- HBS Dealer: Contact Information, Journalists, and Overview | Muck Rack
- Poll results: On tariffs | HBS Dealer
- Advertise | HBS Dealer
Profile compiled 2026-08-26; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.