Hardware Stores

Delran, N.J. -- More than 20 Sears Home Appliance Showroom and Sears Appliance & Hardware stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware have unveiled kitchen remodeling services from Kitchen Tune-Up, a national kitchen and bath remodeling franchise.

The stores feature an interactive Kitchen Tune-Up kiosk, where customers can learn about options to update their kitchens, view cabinet door samples and use an iPad to see project ideas and book appointments.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Orchard Supply Hardware has launched a mobile app to mark the company’s 82nd anniversary during its upcoming Founder’s Day weeklong event.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot reportedly expects a continuing recovery in the U.S. housing market to improve its sales later this year. In an interview with Bloomberg, Frank Blake, CEO of Home Depot, Inc., said steady improvement in the housing market should lead to private equity firms and investors renovating properties for rental.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s second-quarter net income rose 26%, boosted by strong demand for its product.

For the period ended Aug. 2, Lowe’s earned $941 million, up from $747 million a year ago.

“Home improvement demand was strong during the quarter,” said Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock. “We drove a healthy balance of ticket and transaction growth, and delivered solid performance across all product categories.”

Lowe's expects to complete its West Coast acquisition of 72 Orchard Supply Hardware stores by the end of August. When that happens, current CEO Mark Baker will be replaced at the helm of Orchard Supply by Lowe's executive Richard D. Maltsbarger.

Baker, a former Home Depot executive, took over the Orchard Supply job back in March of 2011. According to the press release announcing the move, Baker "informed Lowe's of his decision to accept a position as president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots association following the closing."

New York -- Canadian home-improvement retailer Rona reported a loss of $136.5 million for the second quarter, compared with a profit of $36.9 million a year earlier, hurt by restructuring costs and tightened market conditions.

According to a report by Reuters, Rona revenue fell 4.6% to $1.21 billion, and same-store sales dipped 1%. Analysts expected revenue of $1.35 billion.

Mooresville, N.C. -- The Aug. 9 deadline for additional bids on the proposed purchase of Orchard Supply Hardware by Lowe’s Companies Inc. has passed with no activity. This means Lowe’s can move ahead with plans to acquire the majority of assets of Orchard Supply Hardware, including 72 stores, for approximately $205 million in cash, plus the assumption of payables owed to nearly all of Orchard’s supplier partners, first announced June 17.

Traverse City, Mich. -- Mobile-shopping application Ozmott has partnered with Harbor Freight Tools to provide an app that will offer discounts in all Harbor Freight locations nationwide through a free mobile platform.