{"id":184,"date":"2012-04-17T14:25:00","date_gmt":"2012-04-17T18:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsroom.chainstoreguide.com\/2012\/04\/home-center-operators-and-hardware-chains-industry-updates-3\/"},"modified":"2012-04-17T14:25:00","modified_gmt":"2012-04-17T18:25:00","slug":"home-center-operators-and-hardware-chains-industry-updates-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/2012\/04\/home-center-operators-and-hardware-chains-industry-updates-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Center Operators and Hardware Chains Industry Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"<div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1.5in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-indent: .5in;\"><span style=\"font-size: 19px;\"><b><i><u><br \/><\/u><\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Personnel Update<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Do it Best Corp<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">. announced a changing of the guard as two longtime executives will retire effective June 30.\u00a0 Dave Haist, Exec VP and COO, and Dave Dietz, VP Ffnance, are being replaced by Dan Starr and Doug Roth &#8212; Starr as executive VP and COO and Roth as VP Finance.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Do it Best Corp<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">. has named Gary Furst its VP Human Resources, General Counsel and Corporate Assistant Secretary.\u00a0 Furst fills the vacancy left by Dan Starr, who was promoted to Exec VP and COO, replacing the retiring Dave Haist. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Handy Hardware Wholesale<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> President Tina Kirbie has officially retired, marking the end of a 32-year career at the company.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">House-Hasson Hardware<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> has named Don Phillips VP Operations.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Lowe\u2019s Companies, Inc<\/span><\/b><\/span><span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">., announced that Jon Broz VP, Assistant General Counsel for Litigation has left the company to take a position at <b>Family Dollar<\/b>.<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Industry Insight<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Burns Hardware Do-It Center\u00a0 and Triangle Ace Hardware<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">, both independent hardware stores in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Clovis<\/st1:city>, <st1:state w:st=\"on\">NM<\/st1:state><\/st1:place> became one store at the Triangle location, according to both the Triangle and Burns owners<\/span>. <b><span style=\"font-size: 16.0pt;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Evans Lumber Co<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">. in <st1:city w:st=\"on\">South  Charleston<\/st1:city>, <st1:place w:st=\"on\">W. Va.<\/st1:place>, closed for business at the end of March after 82 years as a family-run business.\u00a0<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Fleeger&#8217;s Pro Hardware<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> of <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Toledo<\/st1:city>, <st1:state w:st=\"on\">OH<\/st1:state><\/st1:place>has closed its doors permanently.\u00a0 The first Fleeger\u2019s store was opened shortly after World War II and was ultimately operated by the third generation of family ownership.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">. opened a new Orchard Supply Hardware store in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Fresno<\/st1:city>, <st1:state w:st=\"on\">Calif.<\/st1:state><\/st1:place><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Roswell Lumber Do it Center<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> has remodeled its stores and rebranded them under a single name: <b>Builders Do it Center<\/b>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Sears Hardware Stores<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> plans to close ten locations for the first half of 2012. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">WOLF<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> announced that its Wolf Home Products department has also developed a new web site, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wolfhomeproducts.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #1600ff;\">www.wolfhomeproducts.com<\/span><\/a>, providing product imagery, detailed descriptions, and information for consumers and builders \u2013 an effort to support the sales efforts of independent dealers.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Real Estate:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Home Depot<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">, after pulling out of a long-planned store project in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">San   Francisco<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>, is looking once again at opening its first location inside the city.\u00a0 The home improvement retailer has filed an application with the city to build a 120,000-sq.-ft. store on 7.9 acres in the Bayview section.\u00a0 The company estimates it could have the store built and opened in 14 months if it receives approval. \u00a0Four years ago, Home Depot won approval from the <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">San Francisco<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>board of supervisors to open a new location on <st1:street w:st=\"on\"><st1:address w:st=\"on\">Bayshore Boulevard<\/st1:address><\/st1:street> after a decade of clashing with community groups and local businesses, including independent hardware store owners. But the company dropped the project after a corporate decision to cut back on new store openings. \u00a0<b>Lowe\u2019s<\/b>moved into the site, a former Goodman\u2019s Lumber, instead.\u00a0<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Lowe\u2019s <\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">is moving ahead with its Canadian expansion, planning a new store for Blairmore, a city near <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Saskatoon<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>.\u00a0 This will be the company\u2019s second store in <st1:state w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Saskatchewan<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Menards<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> is looking to open as many as six stores in the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Kansas City<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>metro area in the next few years.\u00a0 <st1:city w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Kansas City<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> officials said the home improvement chain has submitted initial plans for a 162,340-sq.-ft. store accompanied by eight pad sites for a large retail center that Menards would develop on vacant property.\u00a0 Sources familiar with Menards&#8217; plans said the company is actively considering locations in <st1:city w:st=\"on\">Liberty<\/st1:city>, <st1:city w:st=\"on\">Lee&#8217;s Summit<\/st1:city>, <st1:city w:st=\"on\">Grandview<\/st1:city>, <st1:city w:st=\"on\">Independence<\/st1:city>,and <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Overland   Park<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>.\u00a0 The <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Kansas City<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> metro area already has 17 Home Depot stores and 12 Lowe&#8217;s locations.<br \/><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br \/><!--[endif]--><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Menards <\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">plans to open a new superstore in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Port Huron<\/st1:city>, <st1:state w:st=\"on\">Mich.<\/st1:state><\/st1:place>, putting the home-improvement retailer right on the U.S.-Canadian border. The <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Port Huron<\/st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Area<\/st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=\"on\">School District<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>is selling the Wisconsin-based retailer a former middle school property for $3.4 million; the deal is expected to close in November.\u00a0 The new store will be built as a 240,000 sq. ft. unit. \u00a0He added that the company anticipates serving Canadian as well as <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">U.S.<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>customers. \u00a0Some of the issues that still need to be resolved are the environmental impact of the store, rezoning the property and working<br \/>\nwith the Michigan Department of Transportation because of the site&#8217;s proximity to the expressway.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><i><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Green Initiatives\/Sustainability<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Home Depot<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">, in conjunction with The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has launched an online green home products database. The database is a special \u201cmicrosite\u201d within homedepot.com that features products geared toward green home building, many of which may contribute toward earning LEED points and prerequisites for the LEED for Homes program, making it easier for homeowners and builders to find the products they need, according to the joint press release.\u00a0 Currently, more than 2,500 products sold at The Home Depot are listed on the website.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Home Depot<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> and <b>Lowe&#8217;s<\/b> have partnered with solar suppliers to sell solar power in their stores. That trend could play a key role in bringing cleaner energy &#8212; and energy efficiency &#8212; to mainstream consumers, which could boost the market for those who make and sell those technologies. Via the economies of scale, a larger market could &#8212; in turn &#8212; further shrink prices, especially for large commercial and industrial buyers.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Lowe\u2019s<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"> has partnered with EcoRebates, a rebates solutions provider that focuses on incentives for eco-friendly products, to offer an online tool on Lowe\u2019s website that lets shoppers search for utility energy rebates. The tool is positioned alongside Lowe\u2019s existing <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Online<\/st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Rebate<\/st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=\"on\">Center<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Customers can use the tool to search for local utility rebates as well as lower prices, promotions, and incentives on energy-efficient appliances, light bulbs, and more. EcoRebates compiles incentives from manufacturers and merchants and combines them with over 3,800 utility and state rebate programs, which it matches to 200,000 product SKUs at the zip code level. The <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:placename w:st=\"on\">Rebate<\/st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=\"on\">Center<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>is also integrated with Lowe\u2019s point-of-sale system, allowing store associates to keep customers informed at checkout if their purchases qualify for rebates.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Personnel Update: Do it Best Corp. announced a changing of the guard as two longtime executives will retire effective June 30.\u00a0 Dave Haist, Exec VP and COO, and Dave Dietz, VP Ffnance, are being replaced by Dan Starr and Doug Roth &#8212; Starr as executive VP and COO and Roth as VP Finance. Do it&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/2012\/04\/home-center-operators-and-hardware-chains-industry-updates-3\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Home Center Operators and Hardware Chains Industry Updates<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"post-template-no-sidebar.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[6,11],"class_list":["post-184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-hardware","tag-csg-old","tag-eupdate","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}