News

The faucet category is one of the more artistic areas of home improvement. Many of the manufacturers treat their products as high art -- displaying them in expensive press kits or in luxurious tradeshow booths.

The LBM Institute, the educational and research arm of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA), will hold a public hearing on July 16 to discuss its proposal for an eco-labeling program for softwood lumber.

There’s no doubt that “green” is red hot.

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in April, rose 6.3 percent to 88.2 from a reading of 83 in March. It’s the highest index since October but remains 13.1 percent lower than April 2007, when it stood at 101.5.

HD Supply has launched two new proprietary brands covering kitchen and bath fixtures, ceiling fans, heavy duty tools and hardware. The “Seasons” brand will be carried on products including kitchen and bath fixtures and ceiling fans, with consumers as the intended end user.

Spring is the most important time of year for home improvement retailers, and independent hardware stores need to compete for consumer dollars by getting their store names in front of the local audience. Having a well-stocked store is one element in a successful spring campaign.

The industry’s third largest pro dealer closed nine stores and a truss plant on March 24 in an effort to consolidate locations or leave unprofitable markets.

Alpine Lumber has purchased five units from AC Houston, the western chain of lumberyards headquartered in North Las Vegas. This will be the Colorado pro dealer’s first foray into New Mexico.

Last April, about a week after former Sears executive Steve Poplawski was hired as True Value’s senior vp logistics and supply chain management, he received a phone call from a disgruntled co-op member.“He said, ‘I have to tell you about this one distribution center.

As Americans have expanded their living spaces to the outdoors, the hardware co-ops have gone offshore to find better quality patio furniture at reasonable prices to help their members compete with other retailers and get a bigger piece of that pie.