Home Improvement

New York -- Retailers in the United States are taking a huge risk by underestimating the buying power of the over-50 generation, according to a new report by the Fung Business Intelligence Centre.
 
The study, “A Booming Opportunity: Profiling from a Graying America,” finds that the aging Baby Boomers will continue to be a growing consumer market for the next 20 years.

Lowe’s has come up with a way to put spring in the step of residents who live in the U.S. cities hardest hit by winter: a makeover.

Lowe's has announced that the company will be deploying Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers to visit the "10 Bleakest Cities of 2015" to complete makeover projects that have been neglected or delayed because of extreme winter conditions. Volunteers will complete projects such as painting, landscaping, creating outdoor rooms and adding curb appeal throughout the spring season.

Michaels is looking to further bolster its omnichannel strategy in 2015 after reporting an 18% profit jump in the fourth quarter.

The CEO for the Michaels Cos., Chuck Rubin, said: "We achieved solid performance across categories and geographies as our customers recognized and responded to the improvements that we have put in place. As we look to fiscal 2015, we will continue to build upon our vision 2020 strategy to deliver a strong in-store and online shopping experience, increase our market share and expand our customer base."

Mooresville, N.C. – Lowe’s Companies Inc. may have found the key to customer self-service. The DIY giant is rolling out new retail kiosks from KeyMe at select locations.  

The kiosks enable customers to safely store a “digital copy” of their keys in the cloud and create a spare copy at their local Lowe’s in under 30 seconds. The new kiosks will be able to copy car keys, both with transponder chips and those without. This is the first time car keys have ever been able to be copied at a self-service kiosk.

Indianapolis – Just in time for the annual college basketball championship tournament, Hhgregg is running an omnichannel “March Markdown” promotion. From March 16 – April 6, customers can enter up to four times per day via Facebook, online, or by sharing the Hhgregg “Acrobatic Dunk Madness” video.

Just in time for spring’s college basketball showdown, Hhgregg is offering a winning deal to customers who shop in-store or online.

The retailer is offering zero down and no-interest financing until January 2018 on qualifying purchases from now until March 28.

Chicago-based True Value Co. showed its true colors -- and legacy when it comes to producing and selling paint -- on Monday during the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The company erected a 40-foot-tall True Value paint stick and stuck it in the water on the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue. The paint stick stunt was conceived by MARC USA Chicago to leverage True Value’s first time as a sponsor of the annual event. The paint stick will be embossed with the line, “The Value Of The Perfect Color.”

New York-based retailer Bob’s Stores has had stores all over the Northeast for more than a half-century, but now the company has finally set its sights on Maine shoppers.

The retailer will hold a grand opening for its first location in the state of Maine, in South Portland, at 301 Maine Mall Road, on March 22.

Bob’s last opened a store in October 2011 in East Northport, N.Y.