Industry News

Lowe’s has hired a second high-profile J.C. Penney executive, just two months after successfully recruiting the department store chain’s CEO. On July 20, Lowe’s named Joseph M. McFarland III as executive vice president of stores, effective Aug. 15. He will oversee Lowe’s …

Mark Schulein had just become a local business owner when a storm dumped torrential rain on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Schulein and business partner Matt Fales bought Island Ace Hardware in March in Princeville, which …

At the 2018 House-Hasson summer dealer market in Sevierville, Tennessee, retailer attendees got information on the regional distributor’s programs and products to help their businesses succeed. Held June 14-16 at the Sevierville Events Center near the Great Smoky Mountains National …

PRO Group Inc. recently hosted its Group Merchandising Conference in Atlanta, facilitating more than 1,600 meetings between vendors and member distributors. Conference attendees built new business relationships by discussing new products, taking advantage of conference specials and connecting at networking events, …

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that consumer spending on retail sales, which includes spending at stores, websites and restaurants, rose 0.5 percent in June from May’s figure, The Wall Street Journal reports. Consumer spending, contributes more than two-thirds to …

Do it Best Corp. announced the promotion of co-op veteran Steve Rose to national logistics manager, effective July 16. Rose has served as safety director since joining Do it Best Corp. in 2011. In that role, he was responsible for …

Are you or someone you know a community leader who is also a strong retail industry advocate? If so, you’ll want to send in an application by July 20 to be chosen as one of the 50 U.S. small business …

The Home Depot is adding home decor to its product offerings, Forbes reports. In an email sent to customers, the company confirms it’s planning to add furniture, bedding material, wall decor, tabletop accessories and other home accents to its inventory. …