Kitchen and bath updates were some of the most popular home remodeling projects in 2016—a trend that can only be good for your business if your operation excels in plumbing. Online home improvement community Houzz surveyed more than 100,000 homeowners …
Read More »Kate Klein
JC Penney Hires Another Exec From Home Improvement Sector
J.C. Penney has once again hired a top executive from the home improvement industry with its appointment of Marci Grebstein to the role of executive vice president and chief marketing officer, according to the company. Grebstein, who will begin her new role …
Read More »Lowe’s to Buy Texas Distributor for $512M
Lowe’s Companies Inc. announced May 18 that it is buying a Texas distributor in an effort to grow its pro business. The distribution company is Maintenance Supply Headquarters, a supplier of maintenance, repair and operations products for businesses in the multifamily housing industry, according …
Read More »Ace Hardware’s Income Up, Store Traffic Down in First Quarter
Ace Hardware Corp. experienced increases in revenue and net income during the first quarter of 2017, as well as a slight dip in same-store sales. On May 17, the cooperative reported first-quarter 2017 revenue of $1.24 billion, which was an increase of 0.1 …
Read More »Ace’s New Wholesale Chief Talks Mergers, Expansion, ‘Growing Pains’
Mark Spanswick, the new president and general manager of Ace Wholesale Holdings, spoke with Hardware Retailing about his nearly three-decade career with Grainger Industrial Supply and his current work of combining Ace Hardware’s wholesale business acquisitions into one growing company. Grainger is a publicly traded, business-to-business supplier. Spanswick …
Read More »CEO: ‘Reality Is a Lot Better Than the Perception’ for Sears
Sears’ top executive, Edward Lampert, told the Chicago Tribune that public perception is putting his company at a disadvantage when recovering from the financial challenges that have plagued it. “Clearly we have our challenges,” Lampert says in the Chicago Tribune article. “Every time people use the …
Read More »Products and Prize Highlighted at National Hardware Show®
National Hardware Show® attendees were flocking to find new products, hear from educational speakers and network with other members of the industry. “I enjoy seeing all the new products,” says independent home improvement retailer Tim Buchheit. He has been attending the show …
Read More »Idaho Retailer Wins $100K for Business Improvements
One independent home improvement retailer is leaving the National Hardware Show® this week with money lined up to reimagine his business. That winning retailer is Robert Lau and his business is Caribou Jack’s Trading Co. of Soda Springs, Idaho. Caribou Jack’s will get $100,000 in prize money to …
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