Home Improvement

Whittier, Calif. -- Watt Commercial Properties said that it has signed Dollar Super Store to a five-year lease for 5,762 sq. ft. of space at Santa Fe Springs Marketplace, an 144,261-sq.-ft. retail center located in Whittier, Calif.

Santa Fe Springs Marketplace is 97% leased to several tenants including Food 4 Less, Rite Aid, O’Reilly and Frazee Paint.

When the curtain rises on the 2011 National Hardware Show, attendees will be treated to a steady stream of new product introductions from industry leaders like 3M, Robert Bosch Tool Corp/, Char-broil, The Coleman Co., Jarden Safety & Security and many others.

ATLANTA -- Home Depot's fourth quarter saw positive comp-store sales for the fifth straight period. Kitchens and gardens were among the highest-performing categories.

According to Home Depot's Craig Menear, EVP merchandising, the departments that outperformed the company average were kitchens, outdoor garden, indoor garden, electrical and tools.

Comparable-store sales for the company increased 3.9% for the three months ended Jan. 30. For stores in the United States, comp sales were positive 4.8%.

ABC Supply Co. has announced the promotion of Tom Whitcomb to Customer Financial Services director for its Midwest region, based in Fitchburg, Wis.

In his new role, Whitcomb will direct all credit and collection activities for the region, which includes branches in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

San Jose, Calif.  -- Orchard Supply Hardware on Monday named Mark Baker president and CEO. Baker will also join the Orchard Supply's board.

In December the company announced it was looking for a replacement for then-CEO Rob Lynch, who resigned.  

Baker was most recently president and COO of The Scotts Miracle-Gro. Before that he worked in various roles at The Home Depot and was CEO of Gander Mountain Co.

Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe's is adding Dacor to its appliance mix in select Lowe's stores and offering Dacor for special order from the rest.

Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Dacor makes luxury kitchen appliances. Two of the standout products offered through Lowe's are the Renaissance 36-in. Gas Cooktop and the Renaissance 30-in. Single Wall Oven. 

CHICAGO -- KitchenAid announced that it is introducing a new collection of premium hand blenders at the 2011 Home and Housewares show. The line is scheduled to be available in the fall and will include 2-, 3- and 5-speed models carrying suggested manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $39.99, $59.99 and $99.99, respectively.