Hardware Stores

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. revealed in a Wednesday document that it will close 43 Sears hometown dealer stores and 10 Sears Hardware stores over the first half of 2012.

The information came from the retailer’s annual report, filed late Wednesday, and is consistent with previously announced plans to close up to 120 underperforming Sears and Kmart stores and all nine of its remaining Great Indoors stores.

PITTSBURGH — Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to open three new stores in three states on March 7.

A new store in St. George, Utah, will open simultaneously with new locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Boardman, Ohio. Giveaways and special events will accompany each opening.

The St. George, Utah, store, the retailer’s third in the state, is located at Red Rock Commons shopping center. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., store joins 17 other Dick’s stores in the state and will be located at the Regions Bank Plaza.

Brentwood, Tenn. -- Tractor Supply Co. has increased its estimated domestic store growth potential to 2,100 locations from a previously estimated 1,800 stores.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. reported Monday that profit for the quarter ended Feb. 3 rose 13% to $322 million, compared with $285 million a year earlier. Results topped Wall Street expectations and demonstrated an upward consumer swing in home-improvement projects.

Quarterly sales increased 11% to $11.6 billion from $10.5 billion, beating analysts’ expectations of $11.35 billion in revenue. Same-store sales rose 3.4%.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. announced the promotion of Kevin S. Measel to senior VP store operations for the company’s West division. Measel replaces Jim Frasso, who retired from Lowe’s following a 17-year career with the company.

Measel has more than 28 years of retail experience in both store operations and merchandising, having served most recently as merchandising VP nursery.
 

CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Select Lowe's stores and Lowes.com will now offer an exclusive collection of energy-efficient tankless water heaters from Jacuzzi Group Worldwide.

Powered by natural gas or propane, Jacuzzi brand tankless units heat water as it is needed. In addition, tankless water heaters use up to 30% less energy than a traditional tank-style water heater, saving a typical family hundreds of dollars per year, according to the company. 

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s has promoted Kevin Measel to SVP store operations for the company’s West division. Measel replaces Jim Frasso, who retired from Lowe’s following a 17-year career with the company.

Measel has more than 28 years of retail experience in both store operations and merchandising, having served most recently as merchandising VP nursery. Additionally, he has served as regional VP district manager and store manager. He joined Lowe’s in 1994 and has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Company has announced that, effective Feb. 15, Gregory Sandfort assumed the title of COO in addition to his role as president. As planned, Stanley Ruta, who previously served as EVP and COO, retired from Tractor Supply Company effective Feb.  As part of this transition, Ruta served in the role of VP special projects since July 2011.