Home Improvement

Retailers open spaces dedicated to the connected home

Sears and Target have looked into the future (a future that some would say is already here) of residential living, and it’s “connected.” The two retailers have both opened spaces that showcase the concept of the connected home — a house where, put simply, appliances and accessories come with digital sensors that connect to the Internet and can be controlled from anywhere via a smartphone.

These so-called “smart” devices span a range of categories, from washers and refrigerators to safety and

Toronto, Canada — Lowe's Canada has named Jeff Boyd as VP, real estate, construction and store design effective immediately. Boyd joined Lowe's in October 2007 and has played an instrumental role in the development of the company's Real Estate and Construction function in Canada over the past seven and a half years.  

Lumber Liquidators has hired a new executive to help it fight off an avalanche of legal troubles that has hammered the flooring retailer.

Chicago - Lawn fertilizer, grass and weed killer, and propane grills were the top three categories driving small-scale growth at True Value Co. during the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

The company reported gross billings of $573.6 million for the quarter ended July 4, up 1% from the same period a year ago. Revenue was $431.9 million, an increase of 0.6% or $2.4 million. The cooperative posted a quarterly net margin of $9.3 million.

Lowe’s was hoping not to be outshined by Home Depot’s strong financial results, but hopes turned into missed opportunities Wednesday as Lowe's reported disappointing profit growth.

For the second quarter ended July 31, Lowe’s had earnings of $1.13 billion, up from $1.04 billion in the same quarter last year. On a diluted basis, earnings were $1.20 a share, 4 cents below analysts’ estimates. Home Depot reported a much higher profit on Tuesday.

Mooresville, N.C. – Lowe’s Companies Inc. missed Wall Street expectations for profit but beat the Street with revenue in a mixed second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net earnings totaled $1.13 billion, up 8% from $1.04 billion the same quarter a year earlier.

Lowe’s achieved its lower-than-expected profit increase by limiting growth of costs and expenses while beating expectations with net sales of $17.35 billion, up 4% from $16.6 billion. Same-store sales increased 4.3%.

True Value's transformation strategy seems to be resonating with shoppers, as the hardware cooperative posted an increase in revenue and sales growth.

The company reported gross billings of $573.6 million for the quarter ended July 4, up 1% from the same period a year ago. Revenue was $431.9 million, an increase of 0.6% or $2.4 million. The cooperative posted a quarterly net margin of $9.3 million.

Atlanta – A continuing recovery in the U.S. housing market helped The Home Depot Inc. exceed Wall Street projections for net income and sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income rose 9% to $2.23 billion, from $2.05 billion the prior-year period.