Retailing Today articles from May 2007

Retailing Today archives from May 2007

Military Exchange poised to expand facilities, benefits.(Army & Air Force Exchange Service)
May 21, 2007... DALLAS -- One of the nation's oldest retail operations is embarking this year on its most aggressive expansion program in an effort to become even more relevant to the customers it serves. The company in question isn't Sears, Walgreens or...

Costco, Stewart team up for food.(Martha Stewart Living Ornnimedia )
May 21, 2007... NEW YORK -- Costco and Martha Stewart Living Ornnimedia have struck a deal that will get Martha in the mass-market food business and pair another high-profile brand with Costco's own Kirkland Signature label. Under the agreement, a line of...

OfficeMax ctrl-ing its own merchandising destiny.
May 21, 2007... NAPERVILLE, ILL. -- The name may take some getting used to, but the newest service offering from OfficeMax, known as "ctrlcenter," is something the company's technology-challenged customers will be able to appreciate. The online...

Tweeter may file for Chapter 11.(MARKET WATCH)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... CANTON, MASS. -- Tweeter announced it would consider filing for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. According to the company, Tweeter does not have sufficient working capital to fund its short-term needs, such as the...

Borders latest to dump Amazon.(partners with Sterling Commerce)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... ANN ARBOR, MICH. -- Borders is starting its own e-commerce site. The company follows other retailers like Toys "R" Us which have ditched Amazon.com as an e-commerce and fulfillment partner. Borders has chosen Sterling Commerce, a AT&T...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 5/9/07.(MARKET WATCH)
May 21, 2007... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 5/9/07 RadioShack 18.57% Gander Mountain 18.24 Apple Computer 12.04 Amazon.com 11.26 Kirkland's 10.04

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 5/9/07.(MARKET WATCH)
May 21, 2007... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 5/9/07 Blockbuster (24.09%) Liz Claiborne (21.89) Gateway (15.02) Talbots (14.28) OfficeMax (13.80)

Major indices.(MARKET WATCH)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 1/17/07 1/31/07 Change Change Retailing Today Composite * 3304.01 3250.63 (53.38) (1.62%) Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) 12951.42 13300.62...

Stocks bought.(Liz Claiborne Inc., Paul Tierney)(Blockbuster, Jules Haimovitz)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... BLOCKBUSTER: Jules Haimovitz, director, bought 30,000 shares on May 7 at $4.95 now owns 40,592 shares. LIZ CLAIBORNE: Paul Tierney, officer, bought 30,000 shares on May 3 at $35.19, now owns 89,628 shares.

Stocks sold.(INSIDER TRADES)(Supervalu, David Pylipow)(Saks, Stanton Bluestone)(Safeway, Jerry Tidwell)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... TRACTOR SUPPLY: Joseph Scarlett Jr., officer, sold 10,000 shares on May 7 at $51.38, now owns 4,257,224 shares. SUPERVALU: David Pylipow, officer, sold 8,185 shares on May 4 at $46.78, now owns 16,575 shares. SAKS: Stanton Bluestone,...

Lampert, Lewis undaunted by Sears' soft sales.(Sears, Roebuck and Co.)
May 21, 2007... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- Since billionaire Eddie Lampert took over Sears more than two years ago, many in the retail industry have wondered whether his true intentions were to manage the company like a hedge fund or run the company like a...

New marketing campaign harkens back to heritage.
May 21, 2007... NEW YORK -- Sears hopes flint through its new integrated marketing campaign, it will be able to begin a new chapter in its retailing history, as a destination for consumers to buy anything and everything for their home. Sears Holdings chief...

Wal-Mart meeting docket most meaningful in a decade.
May 21, 2007... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- There should be plenty of drama early next month in Northwest Arkansas as Wal-Mart convenes its annual meeting of shareholders in the familiar environs of Fayetteville's Bud Walton Arena on the campus of the University of...

Shopko to open first new store in six yrs.(ShopKo Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... GREEN BAY, WIS. -- ShopKo will break ground this month on the construction of its first new store in six years. The new 80,000 square-foot Suamico store design is intended to make the customer shopping experience both stimulating and...

Wal-Mart experiments with solar power.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... BENTOHVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart is launching a pilot project to determine its solar power viability. The company said it has purchased solar power from providers BP Solar, Sun-Edison and PowerLight for 22 combined Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs...

Hardware show VP signs with Homeworld.(Rob Cappiello, ICD Publications)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... EAST SETAUKET, N.Y. -- Rob Cappiello has been named vp of events and conferences by ICD Publications, best known as parent of Homeworld magazine. Cappiello told Retailing Today that he will be developing multiple events for the company when...

Correction.(Correction notice)
May 21, 2007... A ballot for Retailer of the Year in the April 23 issue (page 31) mislabled the title of one of Target Corp.'s senior managers. The correct title for Gregg Steinhafel, who is one of three nominees for this year's Food Retailer of the Year, is...

Clarification.(Correction notice)
May 21, 2007... Clarification: A recent article about H&M (May 7, page 42) misstated the increase in its annual orders of organic cotton. Year over year, it increased its order from 30 tons to 600 tons.

Whole Foods endures short-term pain for long-term gain.
May 21, 2007... AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Whole Foods Market disappointed investors in the second quarter, when earnings fell behind the year-ago period and failed to match analysts expectations. Strong store growth added doors and sales but cut into profits, a...

New markets, new challenges await new Whole Foods entity.(Whole Foods' acquires Wild Oats)
May 21, 2007... NEW YORK -- Whole Foods' acquisition of Wild Oats was necessary, said chairman and ceo John Mackey, because the growth of organic and natural food "has led to increased competition from many players, most of whom are not dedicated natural...

Kohl's draws new battle lines out West.
May 21, 2007... MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. -- The race for off-mall dominance is on for mid-tier retailer rivals Kohl's and JCPenney. Kohl's, who has always had its heritage in the off-mall space, announced earlier this month at its annual shareholders meeting...

Everyone touting green at Hardware/Garden Home Show.(National Hardware Show and Lawn & Garden World)
May 21, 2007... ORLANDO -- The all-natural theme was in full bloom at the National Hardware Show and Lawn & Garden World. More than 3,500 exhibitors packed the Orange County Convention Center May 8 to 10 with hundreds of suppliers promoting all-natural and...

Between grocers and UFCW, something's gotta give.(United Food and Commercial Workers Union)
May 21, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- Negotiations between three Southern California supermarket chains and union workers broke off for a second time on May 8 and prompted an angry exchange on both sides. The talks are expected to resume, though, as grocers and the...

Once again, Toys 'R' Us turns to Target talent.(Robert Giampietro appointed)
May 21, 2007... WAYNE, N.J. -- Earlier this month, Toys "R' Us announced the appointment of Robert Giampietro as senior vp of trend and innovation for its U.S. stores. Giampetro, a 23-year veteran of Target, will be responsible for identifying trends,...

FMI Show's '08 Vegas venue putting faith in lady luck.(SHOW BUSINESS)(Food Marketing Institute)
May 21, 2007... CHICAGO -- The Food Marketing Institute's FMI Show and the other participants in the five-exhibition event held at the McCormick Convention Center from May 6 to 8, provided a glimpse of a food industry future where issues and lifestyle...

Proprietary power: (poll results collected from April 30 to May 10).(ONLINE POLL RESULTS)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Q: WHAT RETAILER HAS THE SINGLE-MOST EFFECTIVE PRIVATE LABEL PROGRAM IN ITS STORES? The following chart is a compilation of answers from a list of multiple choice options, including: * A&P * * Kohl's * Costco * Meijer...

True patriots say something.(Editorial)(Editorial)
May 21, 2007... It's a funny thing, that Patriot Act. Just when you start to think that maybe the act itself is an infringement of personal freedom, an event like the Fort Dix Six comes along and readjusts your view of preventative surveillance. If you're...

Battle for console supremacy is anybody's game.(Sony PlayStation 3 sales slump)
May 21, 2007... Most of the buzz in the video game business this year has been about the Sony PlayStation 3 not living up to expectations, with sales of only 1.2 million units through March. But those numbers don't speak to the health of rest of the video...

E3 moves away from the crowd.(Entertainment Software Association )(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The massive crowds and sensory overload that used to be part of the Electronic Entertainment Expo video game show are now a thing of the past. The Entertainment Software Association will hold this year's show July 11...

Summer movie-based games just what the industry ordered.(ONLINE GAMING)
May 21, 2007... Game industry sales thrive on big-time franchises like "Madden" football and "Halo," but every few years they get an extra boost when new sequels to movie franchises come out. And this year, the industry is getting four huge hits within a...

Support of troops in Iraq hasn't waned since day one.(OPERATION AAFES)(Army & Air Force Exchange service)
May 21, 2007... Military personnel in Iraq watch from afar as the debate grows over continued funding for the war and politicians questions one another's support for the troops, but there's no doubt in the minds of troops on the ground about the support...

Exclusive discounts, expanded selection highlight AAFES's presence online.(OPERATION AAFES)(Army and Air Force Exchange Service)
May 21, 2007... The Army and Air Force Exchange Service faces some unique challenges when it comes to serving the diverse needs of a highly mobile base of nearly 6 million customers worldwide, which explains why online retailing has emerged as such an...

Cost Plus.(projects loss )(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Cost Plus is projecting a net loss in the range of $13 million to $17 million, or 58 cents to 77 cents per diluted share on revenues between $1.04 billion and $1.06 billion for fiscal 2007, a 52-week year. The company projected a same-store...

Tuesday Morning Corp.(projects loss)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Tuesday Morning Corp. said fiscal year 2007 net sales should fall in the range of $975 to $985 million, while comparable-store sales should be flat to negative 2%. The company expects diluted earnings per share to be in the range of 85 cents...

Salton announced that Leonhard Dreimann has resigned his position as ceo of the company and that William Lutz will become interim ceo while retaining his current title of cfo of the company.(EXECUTIVE NEWS)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Salton announced that Leonhard Dreimann has resigned his position as ceo of the company and that William Lutz will become interim ceo while retaining his current title of cfo of the company. Dreimann will continue to serve as a director,...

Cost Plus.(Timothy W. Lester appointed)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Timothy W. Lester has been appointed principal accounting officer of Cost Plus. Lester, currently the company's vp and controller, succeeds Thomas Willardson, who remains with Cost Plus as evp and cfo.

Germ fighting.(WHAT'S HOT)(Zadro Products introduce ultraviolet devices )(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Getting a home spotless isn't enough anymore. For many consumers, homes have to be microscopically clean. Yet, such cleanliness has typically come at a price, and that price has been chemical disinfectants. Those are fine with some consumers,...

Candle market needs a hint of brand recognition.(home & housewares)
May 21, 2007... Candle sales growth isn't exactly burning at both ends, but the category might be a victim of its own success. From potpourri to scent diffusers to flameless candles, any number of aromatherapy products have honed in on the candle's success...

Flameless candles.(ACCESSORIES)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Candles have their advantages, but not everyone can burn them at home. Today, though, available aromatherapy products provide candle-like ambience without fiery worries. Candle Impressions for example, offers the Flameless Candle,...

H.E.B. not playing games in quest to court Latino shopper.(home & housewares)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... H.E.B. has rolled out a line of Latino-themed tabletop products based on a Mexican card game but designed to celebrate the traditions and accomplishments that make all Hispanics proud. The My Loteria by Cristina Sosa Noriega product...

HSN makes 'Bold' move into tabletop.(home & housewares)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... HSN is adding its own celebrity spin on tabletop with a line from celebrity party planner and caterer Serena Bass which debuts May 25 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the TV shopping network. Serena Bass Pretty Bold is an HSN exclusive that sports...

Payless ShoeSource.(opens new stores)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Payless ShoeSource is continuing its efforts to enter high-end markets by opening three new stores in Manhattan under its Fashion Lab format. According to the company, the stores will be located in Manhattan's trendy Soho, east Midtown and...

Liz Claiborne Inc.(acquires 50% stake in Narciso Rodriguez brand name)
May 21, 2007... Liz Claiborne Inc. is acquiring a 50% ownership interest in the Narciso Rodriguez name and trademarks and will form a new company to develop the high-end Narciso Rodriguez brand worldwide with Rodriguez as creative director. The Narciso...

Goody's.(EXECUTIVE NEWS)(Gary Yiatchos, Thomas Hughes and Lori Horn appointed)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Goody's named three new executives earlier this month. Gary Yiatchos joined the company as senior vp and chief marketing officer; Thomas Hughes as senior vp of human resources; and Lori Horn as group vp of merchandising. All three well serve...

Fits like a ...(personalization in men's clothing)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Personalization is becoming a big part of men's wear, and it is showing up in a major way in retail. JCPenney has an online boutique on their Web site (pictured) that allows customers to customize their jeans, shirts and trousers for work, so...

Latest fashion options 'suit' multiple needs.(MENS WEAR UPDATE)
May 21, 2007... When it comes to men's wear, opposites attract. The style for men this season and beyond continues to be pairing elements of casual and dressy attire, such as a pair of jeans with a button-down work shirt and a nice blazer. "I continue...

Sleek slip-ons.(ACCESSORIES)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Just like women, men look for versatility when purchasing items in their wardrobe. They want items that will take them from a full day at the office to an evening out on the town. Given their comfort and ability to match with either an office...

Performance features the fabric of men's work wear.(apparel & accessories)
May 21, 2007... Men are becoming increasingly more interested in buying garments with ease-of-care and performance finishes when it comes to buying their clothes for work, according to research from Cotton Inc. According to Cotton Inc.'s Lifestyle Monitor,...

Shopping outlook.(MERCHANT PLANNER: A MONTHLY TREND TRACKER OF WEATHER AND MERCHANDISING FOR THE YEAR'S HIGHEST-VOLUME PROMOTIONAL "HOLIDAYS")(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... The July Fourth holiday week (July 1 to 7) is shaping up to be one of the best holiday weeks of the summer with 70% of the nation trending similar to or warmer than last year. Also, the week prior to the holiday this year promises to be much...

Forecast by retail market.(MERCHANT PLANNER: A MONTHLY TREND TRACKER OF WEATHER AND MERCHANDISING FOR THE YEAR'S HIGHEST-VOLUME PROMOTIONAL "HOLIDAYS")(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... FORECAST BY RETAIL MARKET AVERAGE LAST YEAR THIS YEAR City (30 YEARS) (ACTUAL) (FORECAST) Boston TEMP 73[degrees] 75[degrees] 72[degrees] ...

In eco-friendly fashion, green is the new black.(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... NATIONWIDE RT REPORT--The presence of organic apparel continues to grow in importance for retailers and manufacturers, and its trendiness has become much more mainstream. Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M rolled out a high-fashion women's...

Tesco U.S. touts convenience, sustainability.
May 7, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- Tesco is making its angle of attack on the United States market ever clearer, launching a Web site as its first major marketing initiative to U.S. consumers. Yet in many ways, it is keeping its cards close to the vest, which...

Home Depot launches new Yardbirds format.
May 7, 2007... CONCORD, CALIF. -- The Home Depot is testing a smaller store model that could give it a vehicle to enter new markets and compete head-to-head with chains like True Value and Ace Hardware. The new format, dubbed Home Depot Yardbirds, debuted...

Smith & Hawken gets into gardening, again.
May 7, 2007... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Renewed growth at Smith & Hawken is expected to come from the rediscovery of its gardening roots under the ownership of Scotts Miracle-Gro and the leadership of a former Wal-Mart executive. Since Scotts Miracle-Gro bought...

TRU keeps '06 numbers north of negative.(Toys "R" Us revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... WAYNE, N.J. -- By most measures, things are improving at Toys "R" Us--even if only slightly. After being acquired in July 2005 by a consortium of private equity firms and REITS, the nation's largest vertical toy retailer revealed its...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 4/25/07.(FINANCIALS)
May 7, 2007... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 4/25/07 Amazon.com 34.95% Supervalu 15.41 Hastings Entertainment 15.01 O'Reilly Automotive 11.45 Jo-Ann Stores 9.40

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 4/25/07.(FINANCIALS)
May 7, 2007... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 4/25/07 Dress Barn (9.44%) Men's Wearhouse (5.87) Gottschalks (5.10) Duckwall-ALCO (4.77) Trans World Entertainment (4.58)

Major indices.(FINANCIALS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 1/17/07 1/31/07 Change Change S&P 500 (GSPC) 1448.23 1495.42 47.19 3.26% Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) 12573.12 13089.89 516.77 ...

Insider trades.(FINANCIALS)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... STOCKS BOUGHT REX STORES: Mervyn Alphonso, director, bought 1,000 shares on April 18 at $16.48, now owns 1,000 shares. STOCKS SOLD EBAY: Eskander Kazim, officer, sold 79,988 shares on April 23 at $33.86, now owns 175,924 shares....

Remembering Helen Walton: mother, matron, mentor.(Obituary)
May 7, 2007... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- The retail industry lost a true pioneer last month with the passing of Helen Walton, the wife of legendary Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. She died April 19 of natural causes at her home in Bentonville. Although she was...

Given its past, Federated has experience to suceed in future.(Federated Department Stores Inc. and Macy's Inc. merger)
May 7, 2007... CINCINNATI -- Terry Lundgren, ceo of Federated Department Stores, believes his company, which will be called Macy's Inc. after June 1, has a compelling story to tell. "Our company has been through so many changes over the past couple of...

New Macys.com user-friendliest to date.
May 7, 2007... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- It's full speed ahead at Macys.com. The online arm of the nation's largest department store operator last month opened a state-of-the-art fulfillment center, expects to hire 80 new employees this year and plans to surpass...

Sam's Club realigns store management.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Sam's Club)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Sam's Club is making changes to its management structure that would eliminate approximately 250 positions, Wal-Mart Stores announced on April 26. The company said it is replacing five lower level management positions per...

Study: CE spending on the rise.(MARKET WATCH)(consumer electronics)(Survey)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... ARLINGTON, VA. -- According to a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association, the average adult spends $1,200 on consumer electronics, and the average U.S. household owns 25 of these products. The study found that digital video...

GSI sees first qtr revenue spike of 28%.(GSI Commerce revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. -- GSI Commerce, a provider of e-commerce solutions for many of Retailing Today's Top 150 retailers, reported net revenue for the quarter ended March 31 increased 28% to $146.3 million from $114.2 million in the same...

Correction.(Correction notice)
May 7, 2007... Due to a printing error, a recent ballot for Specialty Retailer of the Year contained the wrong image of Anna's Linens president Alan Glastone. The correct image is pictured here.

Aiming for the hearts of Midwesterners.(MEIJER BRANCHES OUT)
May 7, 2007... GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- Meijer has been in a consistent and continuing act of self-transformation that has helped prepare it to meet significant new challenges. The company is both drawing on its past traditions and developing new concepts as...

Latest A&P concept for the semi-urban.(STORE PROTOTYPE)(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc.)
May 7, 2007... WEST NEW YORK, N.J. -- A&P has developed a new format specifically designed to occupy an emerging niche in upscale condo, co-op and apartment developments that straddle urban and suburban spaces. The newest, in West New York, N.J., on the...

JCPenney puts strength in 'power brands'.
May 7, 2007... PLANO, TEXAS -- JCPenney does business with more than half of the households in America. And as the company continues to grow, with 50 stores planned to open each year for the next five years, it wants to capture an even larger Middle...

Post-acquisition, Supervalu results boosted by merger.(revenue report)(Financial report)
May 7, 2007... EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. -- Supervalu kept its momentum going forward as it continued its company-wide integration, posting fourth-quarter and full-year 2007 results heavily influenced by its Albertsons acquisitions. Supervalu reported net...

Watch out Macy's--JCPenney plans to take Manhattan (Mall).
May 7, 2007... PLANO, TEXAS -- JCPenney will be opening its first store in Manhattan as early as late 2008 or early 2009, the company's management revealed at its analysts conference in mid-April, JCPenney has signed a letter of intent to open a...

Latest juvenile products designed with baby (and parent) in mind.(Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association)
May 7, 2007... ORLANDO -- As the $7.3 billion juvenile products industry continues to grow, so do the core products offered by major manufacturers. At the Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association show this year, companies branched out from their...

Online poll results.(organic movement )(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... ONLINE POLL RESULTS GETTING THE 'GREEN' LIGHT (Based on responses collected 4/16 through 4/26) Q: IS THE ORGANICS MOVEMENT HERE TO STAY, OR IS IT JUST THE LATEST CRAZE? Latest craze 15% Indifferent 13%...

McCormick West--pipedream or panacea?(new convention center)(Editorial)
May 7, 2007... Every year about this time, it seems like the only thing more predictable than the start of baseball season is a spike in the events calendar that finds many of us zig-zagging across the nation from trade show to trade show. No matter what...

Is the organics movement here to stay, or is it just the latest craze?(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Based on responses collected 4/16 through 4/26 Naturals and organics are the wave of the future. Consumers are slowly turning towards healthy bodies and healthy environments. Automobile manufacturers are producing eco-friendly cars,...

What do you think of circuit city's decision to lay off 3,400 workers?(Circuit City Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Seems as though they may have made the first huge mistake, since the "Schoonover era" began. He brought many BBY employees over to remake CC into a more formidable competitor to Best Buy. This, coupled with the Intertan/CC Canada/The Source...

Upcoming industry events.(Noteworthy)(Calendar)
May 7, 2007... * SGMA Spring Market: June 11-13, Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. http://www.sgmamarkets.com * ERIeXchange (Retail Systems): June 4-7, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Boston http://www.retailsystems.com *...

Setting the health care scapegoat free.(Opinion)
May 7, 2007... The use of a scapegoat is an honored tradition that goes back thousands of years. An actual goat was made to assume the sins of an entire people before being cast out into the desert to perish--thus saving the tribe from misfortune. But...

Like moths, consumers still attracted to outdoor flame.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE / HOUSEWARES / OUTDOOR LIVING)
May 7, 2007... Fire pits have been a part of outdoor living since the late 1990s but sales have skyrocketed the past few years as suppliers have expanded the category to give consumers more options. According to research from the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue...

With these items, why go indoors?(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE / HOUSEWARE / OUTDOOR LIVING)
May 7, 2007... The family living room is growing larger and many are moving beyond the walls into the great outdoors. Living space has extended to patios and backyards and opened up a whole new venue for home furnishings, accessories and home entertainment....

Landscaping adds luster to DIY biz.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE / HOUSEWARE / OUTDOOR LIVING)(Market overview)
May 7, 2007... In terms of overall growth, 2006 wasn't a good year for the home improvement industry. Yet despite sagging home sales that dragged down business for most retailers, some areas like lawn and garden managed to fared relatively well. Total...

Hardware's new shade of green.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE / HOUSEWARES / OUTDOOR LIVING)
May 7, 2007... Eco-friendly products have been in hardware stores for more than a decade in the form of organic plant foods and fertilizers. But the green product boom of 2006 has driven the growth of eco-friendly items and they're now popping up in...

Japanese-style saws a cut above.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE / HOUSEWARES / OUTDOOR LIVING)(handsaws innovations)
May 7, 2007... One product that tends to get overlooked in an era of eco-friendly products is the handsaw. It doesn't require electrical outlets or batteries and can perform many of the jobs portable and power saws do. And nothing has driven the handsaw...

Hardware show moves to Orlando.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE / HOUSEWARES / OUTDOOR LIVING)(National Hardware Show)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... After four consecutive years in Las Vegas, the National Hardware Show is taking a one-year hiatus and moving to Florida where it will fill 50 acres of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando May 8 to 10. The sprawling show will feature...