News

PRO Group member distributors had the opportunity to meet with more than 95 manufacturers at the recent Group Merchandising Conference in Chicago. The conference, which took place June 19-22, began with a meeting for PRO Group members to introduce themselves and a …

Tariffs the U.S. government implemented in late April on Canadian softwood lumber haven’t had a jarring impact on lumber prices in the U.S. so far, according to some American lumberyard owners. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross explained in an …

The first quarter of 2017 continued 2016’s upward swing, key U.S. economic indicators show. The largest spike was in consumer confidence. The March 2017 score was 125.6, the highest level since December 2000, The Conference Board reports. That growth helped …

On June 16, Amazon announced it would be acquiring the high-end grocery chain Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion, reports The Wall Street Journal. The acquisition gives the online retailer a network of more than 460 stores “that could serve as beachheads for …

In a recent episode of “Fast Money” on CNBC, former Home Depot CEO Bob Nardelli spoke about how Home Depot has found success in both traditional and online retailing. “They are using the bricks and the clicks together,” Nardelli says in the …

Sears Canada has filed for bankruptcy protection, according to a company report released Thursday. Over the past 18 months, Sears has taken on restructuring initiatives, including developing technology systems, redefining its brand positioning and updating its product assortment, according to the company. As …

Ace Hardware has announced a second big-box home improvement executive hire this week, recruiting Lisa Doyle from Lowe’s to serve as its new head of retail training. Doyle previously was vice president of learning and development at Lowe’s, according to a June 22 statement from …

The number of stores Sears Holdings is closing has risen to 265, Business Insider reports June 22. That new total is nearly 20 percent of the 1,405 stores Sears reported it was operating as of Jan. 28, which was the close of the …