J.C. Penney is scaling up its home products business this year, and venturing back into appliance sales at 500 stores after a decades-long hiatus. The changes are coming after a successful appliance pilot program in three markets and under the leadership of CEO Marvin …

The 2016 National Hardware Show® offered a busy three days crammed with educational seminars, new products, awards ceremonies and networking opportunities. The event, which is the largest gathering of independent home improvement retailers in the world, was May 4-6 in …

Nicole Daniels is a cashier and works the paint counter at Harris Ace Hardware. She’s used to helping customers; that’s her job. But customer service became far more important in January than it had ever felt to Daniels before. A …

Recent financial news has continued to be negative for Sears Holdings. The company is closing 78 unprofitable stores, in addition to its clothing design office in New York City this year in efforts to improve its bottom line. The company is still the favorite seller of appliances in the U.S., …

First-time homebuyers may be waiting to buy houses, but that’s because they’re thinking long term, according to new research from Bank of America. The majority of new buyers are thinking about the future and wanting to skip small starter homes, looking at their …

The green and white gardening gloves wouldn’t stand out on a rack for sale at a hardware store, but they’ve been showing up in White House photographs since 2011. That’s because first lady Michelle Obama wears that little pair from Fred’s Pro …

Since California and New York approved minimum wage increases this month, minimum wage is fresh on business owners’ minds. But increases–even up to a $15 base wage–aren’t cause for intense anxiety, says Gina Schaefer, who owns A Few Cool Hardware Stores’ 11 locations in Washington, D.C., …

Minimum wage increases are phasing in around the country, and small businesses may hurt long term as a result. “Small and independent retailers and restaurants are likely to feel the biggest impact of rising minimums because they employ many low-wage hourly …