Investor Warren Buffett’s holding company recently cut back on its investment in Walmart and bought airline stock instead, reflecting pessimism about brick-and-mortar retailing, Business Insider reports. Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, sold $900 million in Walmart stock by the end of 2016. Buffett “acknowledged that traditional brick-and-mortar retailers were struggling …
Read More »Industry News
Ace Hardware Expanding Distribution Facility for Imported Products
Ace Hardware Corp. plans to expand its Virginia facility that serves as the co-op’s central location for receiving imported products on the East Coast. The project will expand the facility in Suffolk, Virginia, by 138,000 square feet, growing its size to 474,000 square feet. …
Read More »Home Depot Recognized for ‘Bold E-Commerce Strategy’
The Home Depot has been recognized this year for its “bold e-commerce strategy” by Fast Company magazine, which called the home improvement giant one of the most innovative retailers worldwide. The retailer ranks among Fast Company‘s top 50 businesses for innovation. The magazine annually honors businesses through “The World’s …
Read More »Ace Hardware Sponsoring Pro Golfer Jim Furyk
Ace Hardware is continuing to promote its brand nationally through the PGA Tour. The co-op recently announced it is sponsoring pro golfer Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner on the PGA Tour and 2010 FedEx Cup champion. “On behalf of all of us …
Read More »Best Buy Outlet Stores Sell Discounted Appliances
Electronics retailer Best Buy is testing outlet stores in four states as an alternative way to sell clearance and open-box merchandise, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. The outlet stores will sell clearance and open-box merchandise at discounts up to …
Read More »Sears Planning $1B in Cost Cuts
Sears Holdings is restructuring to reduce its costs by $1 billion in 2017, the company announced Feb. 10. The retailer has seen steadily declining sales at its Kmart and Sears stores, and has been looking for ways to get profitable again. Earlier this year, …
Read More »The National Hardware Show® Wants to Know What You Would Do With $100K
The National Hardware Show® will be awarding one lucky retailer $100,000 to invest in the future of their business through its Reimagine Retail Program. The program is open to all independently owned home improvement/hardware retailers. Retailers will be able to enter …
Read More »Target Launching Mobile Payment in 2017
Sometime in 2017, Target shoppers will be able to pay for in-store purchases with a Target-specific mobile app, Reuters reported in January. Michael McNamara, Target’s chief information and digital officer, confirmed to technology news site Recode that mobile payments would be offered on at least …
Read More »