Memorial Day 2013

In observation of Memorial Day, the offices of HCN and homechannelnews.com will be closed on Monday, May 27.

Sears swings to loss in Q1

Sears Holdings posted a net loss of $279 million in the first quarter, compared to earnings of $189 million in the same quarter last year. 

Revenue from merchandise sales and services declined 8.8% to $8.45 billion. 

read more

Made in the USA

Perspectives on promotion and pricing of U.S.-made building products

read more

Ace reports uptick in revenues

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware reported first-quarter revenues of $923.2 million, up 1.7% from the same quarter in 2012.

Net income of $4.4 million was down from $10.2 million earned in 2012.

read more

Insolroll recalls rechargeable roller shades

Insolroll Window Shading Systems, of Louisville, Colo., announced a recall of its Insolroll Solar Powered and Rechargeable Motor Roller Shades due to a fire hazard. 

The voluntary recall affectes about 1,500 units sold at independent window covering installer retailers nationwide from June 2012 through March 2013 for $400 to $700 per window shade. 

read more

Toro rides through residential downturn

Bloomington, Minn.-based The Toro Co. reported record highs in sales and earnings for the second quarter, despite a double-digit sales decline in the residential division.

The company posted net earnings of $78.4 million, on a net sales increase of 1.9%, to $704.5 million for its fiscal second quarter ended May 3. 

In the comparable fiscal 2012 period, the company delivered net earnings of $68.8 million on net sales of $691.5 million. 

read more

Home channel stocks mostly down

The HCN Stock Watch was seeing red at the close of Wednesday; Orchard Supply again saw the biggest increase with a positive 7.64%.

People in the News: New president for Parr Lumber

The Parr Lumber Co. board of directors has appointed James Boyer president of the company and its subsidiaries. 

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead this remarkable organization during a rapidly evolving and exciting time in our industry,” said Boyer. “The Parr Co., the customers and partners have been such an important part of my life; I am looking forward to the new role and additional opportunities to serve this company and the customers.”

read more

Woodgrain Millwork and PureColor deliver options

Woodgrain Millwork and PureColor have announced the development of ready-to-install Prefinished Interior Door and Trim Packages. The packages give builders and remodelers the choice of a custom-stained appearance and the benefits of PureColor’s high-performance green finishing system.

Buying prefinished reduces costs and shortens project times by eliminating the need for applying coatings in the field, according to both companies. 

read more

Home Depot keeps rolling in first quarter

Atlanta-based The Home Depot reported first-quarter sales of $19.1 billion, up 7.4% from last year's quarter, which had one less week. 

On a like-for-like basis, comparable-store sales for the first quarter were positive 4.3%. U.S. stores comps were positive 4.8%, also on a like-for-like basis.

read more