The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) hosted its second annual Women’s Leadership Roundtable in Chicago, Dec. 6 during which attendees discussed the value that trades bring to the industry, and the importance of training employees among a variety of …
Read More »Melanie Moul
Standing Out Online Is Key Theme at E-Retailer Summit
The second annual eRetailer Home Improvement Summit was held Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in Orlando, Florida, and speakers at the event discussed how home improvement retailers and suppliers can compete online. Differentiating Your Store Al Meyers, who leads business innovation strategy …
Read More »The Economy: Hurricanes and Home Improvement
Jack Kleinhenz is chief economist for the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world’s largest retail trade association. Formerly with the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland, Kleinhenz is a contributing forecaster to The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, the Federal Reserve Bank …
Read More »Manufacturers’ Perspective: State of the Economy
Chad Moutray is the chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers and develops forecasts for the manufacturing sector. He previously worked as the chief economist and director of economic research for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small …
Read More »Labor Board Says Drivers Are Not Menards Employees
Menards has avoided another labor law violation with the National Labor Review Board’s decision on Nov. 17 that the retailer accurately categorized its delivery drivers as independent contractors instead of as employees. According to the complaint, drivers contracted by Menards (whether …
Read More »Industry Groups, Retailers, Lawmakers Divided on Tax Reform
The U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 16 passed its tax reform bill, called the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” sending the bill to the Senate for consideration, which is also deliberating its own tax reform bill, The New York …
Read More »True Value Sees Comparable Store Sales Increases in Third Quarter
True Value Co. released its third-quarter financial results Nov. 16, reporting a 3.3 percent increase in comparable store sales. The co-op also reports comparable sales at Destination True Value stores are up 4.2 percent. “We are very pleased to see these …
Read More »Walmart Tests New Pricing Strategy to Boost Online Margins, In-Store Sales
Walmart is testing a pricing strategy to boost margins for online purchases and drive in-store sales, reports The Wall Street Journal. The big-box retailer is selling products online at slightly higher prices than the same product in its stores as …
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