Home Depot

The Home Depot has promoted Craig Menear to president, U.S. retail. Menear was previously EVP, merchandising, responsible for all merchandising departments and merchandising services and strategy; the company's supply chain network; global sourcing; vendor management; marketing; and online sales.

In his new role, Menear will add responsibility for all U.S. store operations, with Marvin Ellison, EVP, U.S. stores, reporting to Menear.

Atlanta - The Home Depot has named Craig Menear president, U.S. retail, effective immediately. Menear was previously executive VP, merchandising, responsible for all merchandising departments and merchandising services and strategy; the company's supply chain network; global sourcing; vendor management; marketing; and online sales.

Atlanta – Home Depot Inc.'s net income in the fourth-quarter edged down 0.8%, hurt by snow and severe cold and one less week in the period than a year ago. But cost costs helped its earnings to top estimates and the chain raised its quarterly dividend by 21%.

The very cold weather should boost sales this spring, the chain’s most important sales period of the year, as people repair homes damaged this winter, Home Depot said.

Although the Home Depot’s overall sales missed analysts' expectations, the retailer said the calendar shift, which resulted in one fewer week in the fourth quarter compared to the prior-year quarter, affected its results.  

The world's largest home improvement retailer reported fourth-quarter total sales of $17.7 billion, down 3% from the same quarter last year, which benefited from an extra week in the calendar. On a 13-week basis, the company's sales actually increased 3.9%.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's plans to hire approximately 25,000 seasonal employees at its stores in the U.S. during spring, its busiest season. Seasonal jobs available are focused on customer support and include cashiers, lawn and garden employees, loaders, and stockers.

A week after rival Home Depot announced plans to 80,000 seasonal spring employees, Lowe’s announced its plans to hire approximately 25,000 seasonal employees at its U.S. stores for the busy spring season.

Seasonal jobs available are focused on customer support and include cashiers, lawn and garden employees, loaders and stockers.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Customer satisfaction improved for a third consecutive year for retail. According to a report released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), the retail sector overall gained 1.7% to an ACSI benchmark of 77.9, boosted by higher customer satisfaction with specialty retail stores, supermarkets, drug stores, and gasoline service stations.

Ace Hardware’s unique value proposition allowed it to withstand strong competition from Home Depot and Lowe’s in 2013 and grow annual sales by a 8.2% to a record $4.2 billion.

“We outperformed our operating plan, exceeding $4 billion in consolidated revenues and $100 million in net income for the first time in our history,” said president and CEO John Venhuizen.

Net income was $104.5 million for fiscal 2013, an increase of $22.7 million, or 27.8%, compared with $81.8 million in fiscal 2012.