Home Improvement

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- The Michigan Small Business Development Center is honoring a Sears Appliance & Hardware store located in Big Rapids, Mich., with its 2013 Best Small Business Award for creating jobs, increasing sales and improving business strategy. The retailer was one of a dozen stores chosen from more than 5,500 small businesses throughout the state that the Michigan Small Business Development Center provided confidential counseling and training to in 2013.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. has remodeled a Sears Hometown store in Helena, Mont. The store now has a fresh look.

Around the globe, sellers from country A who promote their products as “Made in country A” are quick to point out that country A products are known for their quality, even by buyers from country C.

Washington, D.C. -- Lowe's Home Centers has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty for violating federal rules governing lead paint exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday.  

The chain will also implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide compliance program at its over 1,700 stores nationwide to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work minimize lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the federal Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule.

New York -- Chain Store Age and IFTI will present a free webinar on moisture-related flooring problems on Thursday, April 24, at 2 p.m. ET. Industry expert Lee Eliseian will share insights on the critical role concrete-slab moisture testing plays in preventing flooring failures and offer tips on how to avoid the financial impact and headache of such failures.

Click here for more information and to register.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Several Sears Outlet stores across the country have new owners. Locations in Oceanside, Ontario, and Corona, Calif., are now owned by Tony Lutfi. Lutfi and his team now own and operate 11 Sears Outlet stores, 17 Sears Home Appliance Showrooms and three Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores.

In addition, Sears Outlet stores Tempe and Gilbert, Ariz. have a new owner, Keith Edquist. Edquist also owns another Sears Outlet store and seven Sears Home Appliance Showrooms.

Extreme weather hurt Hhgregg’s sales performance in the fourth quarter ended March 31. During the quarter the company also exited the contract-based mobile phone business.

Net sales are estimated to be $538.3 million, a decrease of approximately 9.9% as compared to net sales of $597.6 million reported for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2013. Fourth fiscal quarter comparable store sales are estimated to have decreased approximately 9.9%.

To help customers save water and grow its sales in the process Home Depot will execute a massive customer education initiative later this month.

Home Depot regularly holds in store clinics to arm customers with knowledge to tackle home improvement project and its newest initiative applies that thought process to a less familiar merchandise classification. On Saturday, April 26, every one of Home Depot’s 1,977 U.S. stores will host an hour and a half long “Water Conservation Workshop,” in which 10 home improvement projects will be covered.