Total nonfarm payroll employment rose in May by 175,000, and the unemployment rate increased slightly to 7.6 percent, up from 7.5 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the year, the labor force participation rate has …
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Former NRHA President Frank Greenhaw Dies
Former North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) president, Frank Wesley Greenhaw, died June 4 at the age of 89. Greenhaw was elected and served as president of NRHA in 1990.As chief executive of McWhorter-Greenhaw, the longest-running retail store in the …
Read More »Fire Destroys Historic Washington, D.C., Hardware Store
Family-owned and operated Frager’s Hardware, a 93-year-old hardware store in Washington, D.C., burned down Wednesday night after firefighters poured 20,000 gallons of water a minute on the blaze, according to a story in the Washington Post. The fire was first …
Read More »J.D. Power & Associates Ranks Ace Highest in Customer Satisfaction
For a seventh consecutive year, Ace Hardware ranks highest in satisfying home improvement retail store customers, according to the J.D. Power & Associates 2013 Home Improvement Retailer Satisfaction Study. Ace Hardware achieved a score of 803 on a 1,000-point scale …
Read More »Hardlines Inc. Takes Over Outstanding Retailer Awards Program
Canada’s premier awards program for home improvement retailers has a new home. The Outstanding Retailer Awards (ORAs) are now owned and managed by Hardlines Inc. Hardlines, which publishes the quarterly hardware/home improvement trade magazine Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly (HHIQ) and …
Read More »Indianapolis Retailer to Discuss Competitive Pricing on Upcoming MSNBC TV Show
Independent home improvement retailer Keith Payne will be featured in an upcoming episode of MSNBC’s weekly “Your Business” TV show. Payne, owner of Indianapolis-based North Meridian Hardware, will appear in a segment scheduled to air later this year. “North Meridian …
Read More »Strong Sales, Optimism Evident at Do it Best Spring Market
Do it Best’s Spring Market, held May 17-20 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, was highlighted by optimistic attitudes from attendees who are seeing firsthand improvement within the home improvement industry. The market got off to a strong start …
Read More »Friedman’s Home Improvement Names New CEO
Friedman’s Home Improvement, one of the largest locally owned home improvement stores in California, announced it is appointing Barry Friedman as its new CEO and president. The announcement is the result of a long-term succession planning process led by Chairman …
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