Monthly sales up 0.3% in May
May picked up the pace a bit in the retail sector, with monthly sales improving 0.3% for the month after a fairly stagnant winter season. However, the results still fell below economists’ expectations.
The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales were $437.6 billion in May, a 4.3% improvement over 2013.
On their own, retail sales fared slightly better, up 0.4% for the month. The progress was largely carried by auto and other motor vehicle dealers (up 11.1% year-over-year), as well as nonstore retailers (up 7.4% since last year).
Building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers (NAICS category 444) were actually in second place for month-over-month improvement in May. The category was up 1.1%, below motor vehicles but above nonstore retailers. The 444 companies were up 4.6% for the year.
Department stores saw the biggest decrease in May, down 1.4%.
In Florida, a new store for hhgregg
Indianapolis-based appliance, electronics and furniture retailer hhgregg opened its new store in Kendall, Florida.
The Kendall store measures 23,000 square feet and employs about 40.
“We’re committed to providing our customers in South Florida with a truly differentiated purchase experience to help bring their homes to life,” said hhgregg CEO, Dennis May. “hhgregg is committed to making an impact in the areas where our associates and customers live. We’re looking forward to enriching the community surrounding the Kendall store.”
The retailer operates about 230 stores in 20 states.
The Kendall store will officially open to the public at 10 a.m. on June 12. The first 250 customers in line will receive a $10 hhgregg gift card. The store is located at the Shops of Kendall at 12690 SW 88th Street.
Elmer’s rolls out new wood filler
Westerville, Ohio-based Elmer’s Products, Inc. continues to expand its reach among home improvement crowds, the glue giant is rolling out a color changing wood filler.
The wood filler, which is sold in four- and eight-ounce tubs, comes in two colors: purple that dries white, and pink that dries natural. The color-changing element takes the guesswork out of knowing when your handiwork is ready to be painted, sanded or stained.
This product, aimed at those with light-to-medium DIY experience, is just one of the ways that Elmer’s is working to stand out in a cluttered market. Another is to build up its ProBond Advanced line of products, which the company is hoping will appeal to DIY enthusiasts and professional builders alike. Part of this is emphasizing the strength of the ProBond Advanced products and the fact that they don’t foam like other adhesives.
Among Elmer’s other efforts are partnering with DIY bloggers and sending demonstration kits to retailers so that store associates are better able to help customers navigate the adhesive aisle.
For Elmer’s, all these efforts are aimed at showing customers that its home improvement products are “not just white glue in a different bottle,” as Elmer’s hardware product manager Emily von Stein said. It’s also about showing people that there’s more to the company’s home improvement adhesives than wood glue.
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Jul-07-2014 06:53 am