Stanley Black & Decker hasn’t confirmed news that it was bidding on Sears’ Craftsman tool business, but the company has announced a different major acquisition. This week, Stanley reported it is buying Newell Brands’ tool business. This includes industrial cutting, hand …
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Gift Card Draining: Another Form of Digital Theft
Imagine this–a customer approaches the checkout counter with a high-dollar item. He or she pulls out a partially-used gift card, and to the customer’s surprise, the balance comes up as zero. What happened? Your customer experienced a form of digital …
Read More »Consumer Confidence Lags in the Second Quarter
Consumer Confidence and Manufacturing Drop in Q2 Home sales and home prices were up in the second quarter of 2016, but other economic indicators didn’t look so good in the U.S. Consumer confidence, as reported in The Conference Board’s Consumer …
Read More »China International Hardware Show Adds Enhancements
This month, more than 50,000 people will gather in Shanghai, China, to attend the China International Hardware Show (CIHS) 2016. Now in its 16th year, enhancements to the show will provide a more convenient experience for both exhibitors and visitors. CIHS 2016 will take place Oct. …
Read More »PRO Group Merges With Reliable Distributors, Inc.
Denver-based PRO Group, Inc., announced Monday that it is merging with Reliable Distributors, Inc. Reliable Distributors, which is based out of Chicago and has more than 200 distribution centers across the country, is a marketing, merchandising and wholesale distributor group …
Read More »Plenty to See at the Do it Best Fall Market
Over the weekend, retailers from all over gathered in Indianapolis for the Do it Best Fall Market, where they looked for new products, attended Education Day seminars, found good deals and more. Those retailers also experienced some changes to the …
Read More »Reasons #GivingTuesday Matters to Your Business
As you plan your holiday marketing campaigns and think through ways to increase foot traffic to your stores, don’t underestimate the value of generosity. The Definition of #GivingTuesday For the past four years, businesses, organizations and individual people have used the Tuesday …
Read More »Tractor Supply Co. Buys Pet Store Chain for $116M
Rural lifestyle retailer Tractor Supply Co. has purchased a 136-location pet store chain for $116 million in cash. Petsense, the pet supply and services company, will operate as a Tractor Supply subsidiary, according to Tractor Supply. “The pet industry represents a …
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