Michael Parr, Cascade Wholesale Hardware, left, meets with Mark Marotto, Perfect Vision, at the 2013 GMC in Atlanta. Distributors affiliated with PRO Group, Inc. and Val-Test met with manufacturers during the Group Merchandising Conference, held June 17-19 at the Embassy …
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SPONSORED: Scotts Plants Trees for Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day, Scotts is planting a tree for every purchase of Scotts MiracleGro during the month of July. There is nothing to it. Simply go to your local independent hardware store and buy bags of MiracleGro like …
Read More »Builder Confidence Surges in June
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes surged eight points in June to a reading of 52 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Any reading higher than 50 indicates more …
Read More »Housing Starts Up 6.8 Percent in May
Nationwide housing starts rose 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 914,000 units in May due primarily to increased production of multi-family homes, according to released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the …
Read More »Orchard Supply Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; Lowe’s Agrees to Buy Assets
Lowe’s has agreed to buy Orchard Supply Hardware for approximately $205 million on the same day Orchard Supply filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The purchase agreement would enable Lowe’s to expand through a new store format and reach …
Read More »True Value Launches Discover Credit Card Program
True Value recently introduced the True Value Discover® credit card program for True Value retailers and customers in the United States. The program connects retailers to consumers with new offerings that pass financial benefits and incentives along to the consumer …
Read More »House-Hasson Introducing Online ‘Buy Local’ Tool at Summer Dealer Market
House-Hasson Hardware has constructed a “buy local” electronic tool for its more than 2,000 independent hardware store and lumberyard dealers. The program, designed to give retailers more flexibility in advertising and branding, will be unveiled at House-Hasson’s Summer Dealer Market, …
Read More »Growing Consumer Confidence, Spending Accelerate May Retail Sales
May retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.6 percent seasonally adjusted from April and increased a strong 4.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The National Retail Federation attributes the …
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