Hardware Stores

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A sticky situation just got stickier.

Elmer’s Products has introduced Elmer’s ProBond Advanced adhesive, which is being promoted as a multipurpose glue that’s as strong as a polyurethane competitor, but without the foamy mess.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. said Friday that Sylvain Prud'homme will join the company as president of Lowe's Canada, effective March 25.

Prud’homme replaces Alan D. Huggins, who is returning to the United States as Lowe's VP international operations.

Prud'homme comes to Lowe's from Loblaw Co., where he served in EVP roles in operations and merchandising.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot plans to hire more than 80,000 temporary workers to help customers this spring, some 10,000 more than it hired last year.
   
The move comes as the housing rebound spurs spending on remodeling and landscaping.
 

Home Depot expects to be busy this spring and is hiring 80,000 seasonal employees, 10,000 more than last year, to keep pace with the demand.

The hiring announcement by Home Depot follows a similar announcement by Lowe’s two weeks earlier that it planned to hire 45,000 seasonal employees. The increased hiring levels suggest the nation’s two largest home improvement retailers are optimistic about consumers demand amid a recovery in the housing market.

Brentwood, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Co. reported that net income for the quarter was $79.5 million, compared with net income of $70.5 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year.

Net sales for the fourth quarter increased to $1.29 billion, or 3.7% over the prior year's 14-week period.

Same-store sales increased 4.7%, compared with a strong 7.6% increase in the prior-year period.

The company opened 25 new stores in fourth quarter 2012, compared with 31 new store openings in the prior year's fourth quarter.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Company reported that net sales for the fourth quarter increased to $1.29 billion, or 3.7% over the prior year's 14-week period.

Same-store sales increased 4.7% compared with a strong 7.6% increase in the prior-year period.The same-store sales increase was driven primarily by continued strong results in key consumable, usable and edible (C.U.E.) products, principally animal- and pet-related merchandise.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. Inc. said Thursday it has named Michael Jones chief merchandising officer, effective immediately. Jones was previously president of the North American and Latin American divisions of Husqvarna, an outdoor equipment manufacturer.

The retailer also announced that Stephen J. Szilagyi has been promoted to supply chain executive, from his current position as SVP distribution.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s announced that it plans to hire 45,000 seasonal workers at its U.S. stores, 13% more than a year earlier, and add 9,000 permanent part-time employees as the housing rebound spurs remodeling.

The permanent part-time positions include store associates focused on direct interaction and expertise for customers. Employees in the permanent positions will be scheduled to work during peak weekday shopping times.