Home Improvement

Green Bay, Wis. -- Shopko announced plans to open two new Shopko Hometown stores. The stores, which will average 36,000 sq. ft., are located in Mayville, Wis., and Valentine, Neb.

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- More than one out of four (27%) homeowners reported using their smartphones in the past for a variety of tasks to help with remodeling their homes. According to a new survey of U.S. homeowners by homeowner mobile app provider Planese, the percentage jumped to 40% when they were asked if they planned to use smartphones for future remodeling projects.

Kathy Hendricks, who had overseen ABC Supply’s information technology function for 28 years, most recently as VP and chief information officer, has been appointed to the newly created position of executive director of customer connectivity.

In her new role, she will lead ABC Supply’s strategic initiative to design, develop and implement the new information technology services that will connect ABC Supply to its customers and make it easier for its customers to run their businesses.

Atlanta – The Home Depot plans to open new eight new stores and increase sales by approximately 5% during fiscal 2014. The retailer released guidance for both fiscal 2013 and 2014 on Dec. 10.

For fiscal 2013, Home Depot has reaffirmed guidance of 5.6% sales growth and 7% same-store sales growth.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has turned to Velcro Industries to help it enhance packaging for its Scotts EZ Seed grass seed with Velcro-brand PRESS-LOK closure technology.

The leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products and Velcro Industries worked with manufacturer Peel Plastics Products, a recognized leader in product and process innovation, to integrate Velcro Industries' PRESS-LOK closure technology into Scotts' grass seed package.  

Stanley Black & Decker has added Debra Crew, president of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, to its board of directors. Crew joined PepsiCo in 2010 as president of the western region of PepsiCo Europe, and was promoted in 2012.

Prior to PepsiCo, she held a number of management and leadership roles at Mars, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and Kraft Foods.

A strong increase in shopper traffic at Costco during November translated to a 3% increase in same-store sales, excluding gas, at U.S. locations during the four-week November reporting period which ended December 1.

Costco didn’t comment specifically on Thanksgiving weekend sales during a recorded call to recap results, but the company did say that traffic increased a little more than 4% while average transaction sizes were down slightly. Costco and its direct competitors Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club were closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Newell Rubbermaid has named Paula S. Larson as EVP and chief human resources officer, effective Dec. 16. She succeeds James M. Sweet, who is retiring after nearly a decade of leading the company’s transformation efforts.