Home Improvement

-ADVERTORIAL-

-ADVERTORIAL-

YORK, Pa. — Bon-Ton Stores pointed to inclement weather in its markets and higher gas prices in the Northeast and Midwest for overall sales weaknesses which translated into a same-store sales decrease of 6.4% for the second quarter ended Aug. 3.

The unfavorable shift in consumer spending patterns affected the company’s total sales for the quarter, which decreased 6.3% to $557 million, compared with $595 million for the prior-year period.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart will offer customers free layaway with no opening fee for the holidays. The program will run Sept. 13 through Dec. 13, but the chain’s Facebook fans will have a two-day head start this year with access to layaway on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12.

Eligible layaway items include electronics, toys, jewelry, small appliances and select sporting goods. And new in 2013 are infant toys and automotive electronics such as speakers and stereos.

Toano, Va. -- Lumber Liquidators announced the next phase in its multi-year supply chain optimization initiative with the planned construction of a new distribution center in Henrico County, Va., and the leasing of a new West Coast distribution center in Pomona, Calif.
 

Signs of a rebounding housing market were evident in Lowe's sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 2, which were $15.7 billion, up 10.3% from $14.2 billion in the same quarter last year.

Comp-store sales for the world's second-largest home improvement retailer were up 9.6%, as net earnings jumped 16.2% to $1.48 billion.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s second-quarter net income rose 26%, boosted by strong demand for its product.

For the period ended Aug. 2, Lowe’s earned $941 million, up from $747 million a year ago.

“Home improvement demand was strong during the quarter,” said Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock. “We drove a healthy balance of ticket and transaction growth, and delivered solid performance across all product categories.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — GE is leveraging social media as part of its Reimagining Home brand campaign, and holding a contest on its Tumblr page.

The brand is inviting consumers to submit their best cooking failure story to its Cooking Fail Redemption Tumblr page for a chance at redemption at GE’s headquarters, where the winner will re-create the same dish under the guidance of Chef Jeffrey Saad. Saad hosts United Tastes of America on the Cooking Channel.