Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
2019 was a year full of home improvement headlines, including new leadership, new services and new possibilities for the channel. Review 2019 home improvement headlines to get a fuller picture of the year using the links below.
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December 2018
True Value and Carter Lumber Announce Partnership
Carter Lumber’s 140-plus locations in 12 states now have access to True Value’s suite of products,
support services and industry knowledge.
January
On Jan. 4, Hardware Distribution Warehouses announced the closure of its warehouses in Texas
and Mississippi. The company previously served more than 2,000 retailers across the southern U.S.
February
Orgill and its e-commerce partner Unilog collaborated on a promotional e-commerce program,
which enabled Orgill customers to establish e-commerce presence quickly at a monthly rate.
March
After purchasing inventory from HDW and hiring several of its salespeople, House-Hasson began a
10,000-square-foot expansion of its warehouse in Knoxville, Tennessee.
April
Ace Hardware introduced a “buy online, deliver from store” program and said it was an important
component of its overall e-commerce strategy.
May
In his new role, industry veteran Scott Sproul will lead a team of international sales professionals
serving hardware retailers in more than 50 countries. Sproul has worked for Do it Best since 1999.
June
The 780,000-square-foot distribution center in Rome, New York, will be the company’s eighth
distribution center. The facility will service customers in seven states in the Northeast.
July
The partnership will make Benjamin Moore paints more widely available to DIY customers in Ace stores beginning in spring 2020. Benjamin Moore will also manufacture Ace’s private-label paint brands.
August
The big-box company, which is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, announced the
elimination of thousands of positions, including many maintenance and assembly workers.
September
The company, which will be known as Ace Handyman Services, will provide basic improvement and
repair services to residential and commercial customers.
October
Douglas Audette will replace retiring president and CEO Steve Draeger. Audette has 30 years of
experience in retail merchandising, category management and wholesale distribution.
November
The 1 million-square-foot facility in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, will coordinate with New Hampshire and Ohio facilities. The three centers will serve roughly 40 percent of True Value’s
overall customer base.
