Home Improvement

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Thursday that it has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program’s highest honor: the Energy Star Corporate Commitment Award.

The award was given in recognition of Sears leadership in energy efficiency and commitment to continuous improvements. Sears is the fifth corporation to earn the distinction in the EPA's history, and is the first company to receive the award since 2005.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia have extended their agreement to offer Martha Stewart Living-branded products at Home Depot stores through 2016. The line launched in 2010.

The chain currently offers paint, outdoor furniture, kitchen and bath cabinetry and carpeting under the Martha Stewart brand currently. It plans to expand its product lineup with a new craft furniture line and more holiday merchandise.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.— Sears quietly added all nine of its Great Indoors stores to the list of store closings on Feb. 23.

Store managers were informed last week, a Sears spokeswoman confirmed, but no exact date has been given for the closings.

The upscale remodeling and home décor stores began opening in 1998, long before the Sears and Kmart merger. At one point, Sears operated 20 of the units, but they were never a big moneymaker for the company.

New York City -- Price Chopper has  opened a 52,000-sq.-ft. store in Binghamton, N.Y., that was designed and engineered to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.

Shelly Ibach, a former merchant at Target back when the company had a department store division, will replace Bill McLaughlin as president and CEO at Minneapolis-based mattress manufacturer and retailer Select Comfort.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe's rebranding efforts and focus on delivering a better customer experience seem to be paying off as the company ended the year with strong fourth-quarter sales and earnings.

The company reported net earnings of $322 million for the fourth quarter, a 13% increase over the same period a year ago. Diluted earnings per share increased 23.8% to 26 cents from 21 cents in the fourth quarter of 2010. 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday a loss of $2.4 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with a profit of $374 million in the year-ago period. And in a move long anticipated by some analysts, the chain also announced plans to tap into its massive real estate holdings to help make up for its faltering retail performance.

Revenue slipped 4% to $12.5 billion from $13 billion. Same-store sales fell 4.1% during the quarter at Sears and 2.7% at Kmart.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. announced the promotion of Kevin S. Measel to senior VP store operations for the company’s West division. Measel replaces Jim Frasso, who retired from Lowe’s following a 17-year career with the company.

Measel has more than 28 years of retail experience in both store operations and merchandising, having served most recently as merchandising VP nursery.