Industry News

The National Retail Federation reported that December retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month, and 4.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Total holiday retail sales, which include November and December sales, increased 3.8 percent …

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes fell one point to 56 in January from a revised December reading of 57 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). “Rising home prices, historically …

Rocky’s Ace Hardware, a family-owned business with 32 neighborhood-based stores, collected and delivered four tons of pet food along with beds, leashes, treats, toys and cleaning supplies to local animal shelters during its third annual Rocky’s Ace Hardware Pet Food …

Attendees to the United Hardware January Buying Market, held Jan. 10-12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, got a chance to do more than purchase new inventory—they also learned about the distributor’s new website, which was released at the market. While …

“City hardware store survives despite bigger retail options.” So ran the headline last November in the local newspaper for Pottsville, Pa. (population 14,229). The story focused on the seemingly unlikely survival of Pottsville’s Centre Street Hardware, which had managed to …

The National Retail Federation issued the following statements from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay and Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz on the December jobs report: “The nation’s retailers continued to add to their payrolls in December even in the midst …

Moving forward into 2014, Handy Hardware plans to launch a retailer initiative and business improvement program called “Profit Plus, the NEW face of Handy” leading up to its Spring Market, to be held Feb. 13-15 at the George R. Brown …

Ace Hardware Corporation has appointed Tom Knox, 59, as President and CEO of Westlake Ace Hardware, Ace’s largest cooperative comprising 85 stores. Knox will be leaving his role as vice president, retail business development, training and supply at Ace’s corporate …