Home Centers

While pointing to sales and earnings growth in the third quarter, Home Depot CEO Frank Blake also thanked employees who continue to work in communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast. 

Lowe's has announced a strategic partnership with Porch.com, a home improvement network that connects homeowners with over 1.5 million professionals.

The partnership aims to expand Lowe's service capabilities by connecting customers with home improvement pros for nearly any project outside of what Lowe's currently offers as part of its installation services. 

The retailer touted its progress on waste reduction, energy, workplace safety and diversity, product sustainability and charitable giving.

Dublin, Calif.-based Epicor Software Corp announced that Williams Lumber and Home Centers and Burnco Landscape Centres have implemented Epicor Eagle Tablet POS. 

The system is designed to boost business efficiency and increase customer satisfaction, the company said. 

Sears Holdings Corp. announced its plan to host its first-ever Invite a Veteran to Work Day on Nov. 6. The event will take place at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Ill., as well as 1,800 other Sears and Kmart locations across the nation.

The event is designed to honor vets, provide them with an educational tour of the company's operations and offer support for transitioning into the civilian workforce. Additionally, attendees will be encouraged to apply for various career opportunities with Sears.

Menards is planning to open a 162,320-sq.-ft. store in St. Peters, Mo., this spring, according to an article in the Granite City Press Record.

St. Peter will be the first Menards store in St. Charles County, although the Eau Claire, Wis.-based home-improvement chain is also building units in nearby Manchester and O'Fallon, Ill., according to the article.

Home Depot will be shifting health coverage for roughly 20,000 part-time workers, who will qualify to seek plans on the new public marketplace exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, according to mutliple media reports.

The part-timers were previously covered under a limited liability medical plan that provided coverage of up to $20,000. Companies will be unable to offer these plans after Dec. 31. Enrollment for government-subsidized healthcare begins Oct. 1.

Home Depot is piloting a program in the Las Vegas area that allows homeowners and contractors to obtain official permits through in-store kiosks, according to an article in the Las Vegas Review Journal.