Home Improvement

Atlanta -- Consumer spending growth declined from December to January, but remained relatively healthy at 2.5%, according to First Data’s January 2014 SpendTrend report. SpendTrend tracks same-store point-of-sale data by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks from nearly four million U.S. merchant locations serviced by First Data. The report cited the severe winter weather that pummeled the Midwest and eastern half of the country as a factor in the decline.

Eco Depot has signed a letter of intent with Water Technology Development to distribute a new portable water purification device called the WaterGizzi. Eco Depot plans to market the product as part of its eco-friendly product line, which also includes the Click and Pour and the recently acquired WaterGeeks filtration brand.

Virginia Beach, Va. — Lowe’s Home Center has sold a 13.5-acre property to a private developer based in Virginia Beach for $9 million. Divaris Real Estate represented the seller, Lowe’s, in the transaction. Located one mile north of The Town Center of Virginia Beach, was once a neighborhood grocery-anchored shopping center. Lowe’s Home Center purchased the property in 2007, clearing and preparing it for future development. The new buyer plans to build another shopping center or mixed-use development on the site.

Indianapolis – Gregg W. Throggmartin, COO of Hhgregg Inc., has resigned as the executive VP and COO of the company and as a member of the board, effective March 31, 2014. Throgmartin is leaving Hhgregg to pursue outside interests and manage family businesses.

Hhgregg will commence a search for a new COO. In the interim, other operations officers of the company will fulfill the responsibilities of Throgmartin.

Burlington, Mass. — The investment sales team at KeyPoint Partners has completed the sale of eight properties throughout New England. Totaling about 440,000 sq. ft., the properties consist of shopping centers, mixed-use and single-tenant buildings in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut. The aggregate price of the properties was in excess of $30 million. The properties include:

• Shaw’s Plaza, a 121,660-sq.-ft. shopping center in Providence, R.I.

Leiden, Netherlands – Ikea Group reported progress in its “People and Planet Positive” sustainability strategy during fiscal year 2013. Highlights include:

• Sold 22.4 million LED products, including 12.3 million LED bulbs.

• Ikea Group has committed to own 137 wind turbines and installed 550,000 solar panels, taking the company closer to producing more renewable energy than the total energy it uses by 2020.

Shopko is leveraging social media to tout its expanded brand assortment. The retailer is holding an eight-week Facebook giveaway offering participants a chance to win prize packages featuring some of the national brands it carries.

Now through March 28, customers can enter to win a Rachael Ray cookware set, Dyson upright vacuum, SodaStream, Keurig coffee maker, Crock Pot, Ninja kitchen system, KitchenAid stand mixer or Shark steam mop.

Oklahoma City -- Hobby Lobby announced it will open 70 stores throughout the United States in 2014, for a total of 625 locations nationwide.

The arts and crafts retailer said that as part of its expansion it will enter the states of Vermont and Oregon this year.