Home Improvement

ATLANTA -- The Home Depot announced it will hire more than 60,000 seasonal associates in time for its second annual Spring Black Friday event.

Like the traditional Black Friday that occurs the day after Thanksgiving to unofficially start the holiday shopping season, The Home Depot's Spring Black Friday marks the start of home improvement's busiest shopping season -- the spring. 

Richmond, Va. -- McLean, Va.-based The Rappaport Cos. announced that Sonic has leased a three-fourth-acre pad site at Chesterfield Marketplace in Richmond, Va.

The new restaurant will be located in the former Pizza Hut building, near the shopping center entrance.

Chesterfield Marketplace is a 400,000-sq.-ft. shopping center featuring a tenant mix that includes The Home Depot, PetSmart, Staples and Ruby Tuesday.

Walmart and Target are said to be among major corporations working with the Department of Energy on the development of a new breed of energy-efficient air conditioners. The DOE recently announced that as part of a voluntary program, it worked with members of the DOE Commercial Building Energy Alliances, including Walmart and Target, to develop new performance criteria for 10-ton capacity commercial air conditioners, also known as rooftop units that are 50% to 60% more efficient than existing equipment.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Lowe’s personnel changes are becoming hard to keep up with.

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic has introduced a new bread maker that makes it easier to make raisin, nut and other more complicated breads. According to a company press release the SD-RD250 Bread Maker features a new raisin/dried fruit/nut dispenser, which allows for the ingredients to be added at the beginning of the baking process and conveniently dispersed evenly at the optimum time, during the bread-baking process.  The new dispenser, which holds approximately 5.3 ounces, is removable for easy washing.

Irwin Tools, a leading maker of hand tools and power tool accessories based in Huntersville, N.C., has named Ross Porter as its new president. Porter has held a variety of positions during his 18 years at Newell Rubbermaid, Irwin’s parent company. He most recently served as president of EMEA Transformation, where Porter led the company’s European transformation efforts, including implementation of a new European business model, integration and implementation of SAP enterprise system, and relocation of its European headquarters.

TOWSON, Md. -- Black & Decker has introduced its new rechargeable mower, the 36V Variable-Speed Self-Propelled Cordless Rechargeable Mower, which allows users to adjust the mowing speed to their personal pace so they can achieve great cutting results with minimal effort, according to the company.

KRONBERG, Germany  -- Braun celebrated its 90-year company anniversary on Feb. 1. Founded by Max Braun in 1921, Braun today is a globally successful brand and the world market leader in the foil shaver, epilator and handblender segments, according to the company.