June 1, 2010

Hot Products

TOMATO CAGE is made from a durable weather-resistant plastic. The Dura-Cage tomato cage and plant support, from JWalt, is easy to open and collapses flat for storage. Forget flimsy wire cages that topple over and are a pain to store. The Dura-Cage’s patented design provides easy access to plants while supporting heavy vegetation. No assembly is required, and the Dura-Cage won’t bend, rust or break like many wire cages often do. The Dura-Cage is made in the USA and comes with a 3-year warranty. You can count on Dura-Cage for support and easy storage, season after season.

AIR-FLOW UMBRELLA won’t break in the breeze. Southern Patio’s Air-Flow Umbrella incorporates flexible fiberglass ribs into the canopy fabric, allowing the umbrella to stay open in breezy conditions without the fear of metal ribs breaking. Aluminum ribs are built into the umbrella frame to provide rigidity, shape and structure for times when the wind is still. When a breeze comes by, the canopy is free to float in the breeze and then lay down on its aluminum frame after the breeze passes by. Air-Flow is available in both market umbrella and offset umbrella styles.

PAINT CAN CLIP solves an age-old problem in painting with a brush and a can of paint. The Richard Paint Can Clip, from Hyde Tools, attaches to the handle of any quart- or gallon-size paint can, allowing the user to safely and easily carry the can with one hand while painting with the other. This sturdy plastic clip is designed to rest against the side of the can for extra support, so users will never lose their grip or get finger fatigue from the weight of the can. The clip also features a metal tip for opening paint cans.

Selling Tip

Headlines

Spring Product Preview Gives Glimpse into Industry's Hottest New Products

Hardware Retailing's Spring Product Preview section gives retailers a glimpse into some of the hottest new products in the industry. Many of these innovative products were on display at the industry's biggest event, the 2010 National Hardware Show® this May in Las Vegas. Read more »

Consumer Confidence Increases for Third Straight Month

U.S. consumer confidence rose for the third straight month in May, reaching the highest mark in more than two years, according to NBC. Read more »

Retail Sales Continue to Increase For the Seventh Straight Month

U.S. retail sales rose and industrial production powered ahead in April, further evidence the economic recovery was strengthening. Read more »

Consumers Ready to Buy Big-ticket Items

Recent reports show a growing inclination by consumers to spend on purchases they've deferred during the economy's downturn. The latest surveys by consulting/research firm SAGE: Survival and Growth Enterprises gives a picture of some specific intentions. Read more »

Retail Stocks, Home Sales and Inventories Rise

Retail stocks were up on Monday after the April existing home sales rose 7.6 percent, more than expected, as buyers rushed to take advantage of the federal first-time home-buyer tax credit. Read more »

2010 NRHA Convention Video

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 »

Did You Know?

News in Brief

Home Depot, Lowe’s Keep Eye on European Economy As the debt crisis in Europe escalates, Home Depot and Lowe’s are keeping a watchful eye on the European economy, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Read more »

Lighting System Index Continues to Increase First-quarter 2010 performance of the NEMA Lighting Systems Index (LSI) was 1.1 percent ahead of results for the fourth quarter of 2009, reported the National Lighting Bureau (NLB). This increase marks the third consecutive quarter of growth. Read more »

SBA Runs Out of Loan Money For the fourth time the SBA is reactivating the Recovery Loan Queue in an effort to get more funds to continue its lending programs. Read more »

Middle-Class Turning to Higher-End Retailers As momentum of a broader economic expansion picks up and the labor market starts to stabilize, middle-class consumers are starting to turn toward higher-end retailers and away from low-price alternatives. Read more »

Hardware Retailing e-Newsletter Courtesy of NRHA. The North American Retail Hardware Association has been serving the needs of independent hardware retailers in the United States and Canada for more than 108 years. Our purpose is to help independent home improvement retailers become better and more profitable merchants. We accomplish this by providing members with a wide array of educational and training programs, financial management resources and human resource tools that are all available online with unlimited access... all for the price of your annual membership. For more information on how to become a member of NRHA, please contact Patty Bowman at 800-772-4424 or pfbowman@nrha.org.

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