2010 NRHA Annual Convention and All-Industry Conference

Save the Date! Join NRHA for another great convention in historic Savannah, Ga., July 19-21, 2010. Contact Diane Allen at dallen@nrha.org for more details, or visit www.nrha.org.

Nine Traits of a Great Small Business

SPECIAL REPORT—Customer service, a clean store and great merchandise make for a good small business. But, what does it take to make your small business go from good to great? Read more »

Walmart Reintroduces Products to Stay Competitive

BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Walmart Stores Inc. is reintroducing some products to its shelves in an attempt to get shoppers back from its competitors, according to a Bloomberg.com report. Read more »

Renovation Resource Re-launches Home Improvement Web site

SPECIAL REPORT—DiggersList, the online renovation resource, announced the re-launch of its website. The revamped DiggersList.com now has consumer-friendly categories aimed at providing renovation minded consumers with a one-stop shop for all things home improvement, from finding furniture or building materials like paint or tile, to hiring contractors for projects such as landscaping or swimming pool installations. Read more »

Top Home Improvement Online Retailer Renames Itself Build.com, Inc.

CHICO, Calif.—Improvement Direct, Inc. announced that a corporate name change has taken place and it would now be known as Build.com, Inc. Build.com previously DBA Improvement Direct has been in business for over ten years and is an online category leader in plumbing, lighting, door hardware and ventilation. Read more »

Mark your calendars for the North American Retail Hardware Association’s 2010 Annual Convention and All-Industry Conference, held on July 19-21, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia. More »

SPECIAL REPORT—The Internet was the most successful place for Ace Hardware in 2009, according to an Internet Retailer report. Web sales held steady for the company, while store sales declined.

For the fiscal year ended Jan. 2, Ace Hardware reported:

• Web sales were $11.9 million, up by 0.8 percent from $11.8 million in 2008.
• Total sales were $3.5 billion, down by about 10.3 percent from $3.9 billion in 2008.
• Net income was $95.7 million, an 11.5 percent increase from $85.8 million.

Based on total revenue for 2009 and 2008, Internet Retailer calculates the web accounted for 0.3 percent of sales in 2009, the same as in the prior year.

SPECIAL REPORT—Retail sales increase in February, according to The Associated Press. The increase was the biggest improvement since November. For February, sales rose 0.3 percent, the Commerce Department, which surpassed expectations that sales would decline 0.2 percent.

MARICOPA, Ariz.—Maricopa’s Ace Hardware has been recognized as a “Vision 21 Platinum” retailer by the parent company for 2009 - an award given to only about the top 6 percent of stores in the organization. The award is based on performance, which includes not just sales, but employee training and efficiency in clearing out out-of-stock items amongst other things. “At Maricopa Ace we pride ourselves on providing the best customer service and a mix of quality brands to fit the needs of the community,” said Ace co-owner Frank Polimene in a press release. “While the ultimate test is the satisfaction of our customers, being recognized by Ace as a platinum-achieving retailer is proof that our team’s efforts really paid off.”

SPECIAL REPORT—Lowe’s has announced a strategic partnership with Canadian paint manufacturer Para Paint, which will be sold in all of Lowe’s Canada stores by mid-April 2010. Lowe's will carry two major Para sub-brands including Para Lifestyles paint for consumer markets and Para Professional Precision, which caters to both consumers, as well as painting contractors. The launch will also include ParaOs home color system, with more than 2,150 designer shades. "Partnering with well-established Canadian paint brands like Para allows us to continue our efforts to offer Canadians the best products at the best prices," said Bob Sherwood, vice president merchandising for Lowe's in a press release. "By partnering with a trusted brand, we are ensuring that our customers have even more choice when it comes to choosing the right product to complement their design and home improvement needs."