Home Improvement

Sterne Agee chief economist Lindsey M. Piegza comments on July retail sales gain of 0.2%:

Headline retail sales rose 0.2% in July, slightly less than expected but last month’s sales were revised up two-tenths from 0.4% to 0.6%. This is the fourth consecutive monthly increase in retail sales. Excluding autos, retail sales rose 0.5%, the strongest monthly gain since February.

Gaithersburg, Md. — Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, Md., today announced a $1.2 million renovation plan. Improvements will include a reconfiguration of the center court, a new and improved children’s play area and new furniture for the food court.

Work will level the 5,245-sq.-ft. center court to create a space that will host community events such as the Lunar New Year Celebration, Summer Camp Expo and holiday promotions. Center court renovations will finish up by early November.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corporation has entered into agreements to become a majority shareholder in Hefei Rongshida Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., a leading home appliances manufacturer based in Hefei, China.

Through this transaction, a Whirlpool Corporation subsidiary will acquire all shares currently owned by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. and Sanyo Electric Co. (China) Ltd., and purchase new Hefei Sanyo shares via a private placement.

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Meijer is preparing to hire thousands of new team members for its stores in response to company growth and in preparation for the fall and holiday selling seasons. While staffing needs vary from store to store, all Meijer stores have positions available. Broken down by state, Meijer plans 4,400 new hires in Michigan, 1,800 in Indiana, 1,600 in Ohio, 900 in Illinois and 500 in Kentucky.

Newell Rubbermaid has announced plans to sell its hardware business to Nova Capital, a firm that specializes in the acquisition of corporate and private equity portfolios, for $214 million.

Specifically, components of the sale include Newell's Amerock, Ashland, Drapery Hardware, Bulldog and Shur-Line brands. Sales for 2013 came in at $255 million so far, with gross proceeds resting at $214 million.

Reston, Va. -- Desktop-based e-commerce sales totaled $49.8 billion in the U.S. during the second quarter of this year. According to a new report from comScore, this represents an almost 16% increase from about $43.1 billion in the second quarter of the previous year.

This also marks the 15th consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and 11th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Mobile commerce spending rose by $4.7 billion, or 24%, during the quarter. Other highlights of comScore’s data include:

IRVING, Texas — The relationship between retailers and their suppliers are of paramount importance, and Michaels Stores marks that relationship every year at its annual partner conference, where the company recognizes its top partners at its Vendor and Supply Chain Partner of the Year Awards.

Michaels recognized the contributions of 12 vendor and supply chain partners to the retailer during the past year.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a leading global marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, has appointed Lieutenant General (retired) John Randolph Vines to its board of directors.

"We are pleased to have John as an addition to our board," said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and CEO. "His wide-ranging leadership, strategy and team-building experience will be an exceptional benefit to us."