Home Depot

Roswell, Ga. -- PGA Tour Superstore is opening a second Chicagoland location on June 14, in Downers Grove, Ill. The company opened a store in Schaumburg, Ill., last month.

Downers Grove is PGA Tour Superstore's 14th retail location. The stores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, whose controlling owner and chairman is Arthur M. Blank, retired Home Depot co-founder and current owner of the Atlanta Falcons.

Overall, this month saw gain in flyer distribution as well as the size of flyer. The largest push of this month came from Walmart with more than 100% increase in flyer drops this month as compared to same month last year. Walmart dropped almost three flyers per market as compared to none in the second week of May this year. Also, a 26-page flyer was dropped in the first week as compared to 12-page flyer previous year.

Speaking at The Home Depot’s 2012 Investor and Analyst Conference in Atlanta, Home Depot EVP merchandising Craig Menear revved up the power tool rhetoric.

Menear said the company intends to defend its position as power tool market share leader.

He also described power tools as a category with a relatively high vulnerability to online competitors. One of the best defenses is a large fleet.

ATLANTA — Ahead of its investor and analyst conference, Home Depot has provided an update on its strategic priorities and long-term financial targets.

Home Depot's strategic goals include creating a stronger connection with customers and simplifying its business, improving merchandise assortment and value, improving shareholder value,and developing a competitive platform across all commerce channels.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot on Wednesday expanded its share buyback plan for the year by $500 million and reaffirmed its full-year outlook.

The retailer said it now expects to buy back $4 billion of its shares and that the increase in its share repurchase plan would not have a material impact to earnings per share for 2012.

New York -- PayPal has confirmed partnership with 15 national retailers, including J.C. Penney, American Eagle Outfitters, Toys “R” Us and Foot Locker, for its mobile wallet service.

The other new retailers accepting PayPay’s payment service are Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Rooms To Go, Jos. A. Bank , Aeropostale , Foot Locker , Nine West, Jamba Juice , Guitar Center, TigerDirect and Advance Auto Parts .

Merrimack, N.H. -- Brookstone said it has hired Stephen Bebis as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.

Bebis is the founder of Golf Town and served as its president and CEO for 14 years. He has also worked at Home Depot, serving as VP general merchandise manager for its mid-southern division.

Specialty retailer Brookstone has hired Stephen Bebis as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.

Prior to joining Brookstone, Bebis spent 14 years as founder, president and CEO of Golf Town, the largest specialty golf retailer in Canada. Starting the business from scratch, Bebis grew Golf Town to 57 locations across Canada and led the expansion of the company into the Boston market last year with seven stores.