Home Centers

Atlanta-based Home Depot's wind-and-storm aided sales effort in the third quarter presented several category highlights, according to executive VP merchandising Craig Menear.

The company's strong third-quarter performance, which included a 13% net earnings increase and comp-store sales of positive 4.2%, included strength "in the core of the store" and growth in average ticket and transactions.

According to a report in the Washington Business Journal, Lowe’s plans to open in the Washington, D.C., area. 

The journal reported that the Mooresville, N.C.-based retailer will open a 130,000-sq.-ft. store in a retail development anchored by Costco Wholesale Corp. The project is reportedly being developed by Fort Lincoln New Town Corp.

Sears Holdings has tapped Arun Arora as SVP and president, Home Services, in which role he will take charge of the business unit's In-Home Repair Services, Service Contracts, Carry-In Repair, Sears Home Improvement Services, Parts Direct, Commercial Sales and Sears Franchise Businesses.

Home Depot will invest $157 million (MXN $2 billion) to enlarge its presence in Mexico in 2013, according to a news report in Economista. Part of the funds will be used to buy land for new stores, which will total 100 by the end of 2012.

Home Depot Mexico chairman Ricardo Saldivar told Economista that the Atlanta-based retailer hopes to double its current number of units in the future, which sets its goal at 200 stores.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores reported discouraging preliminary figures for its fourth quarter and full year ended Feb. 1, 2014.

Bruce Johnson, president and CEO, acknowledged that the results were disappointing, most notably in the Hometown and Hardware segment, where weaker-than-expected holiday sales had an impact. Additionally, severe winter weather did not help the company's cause, he added.

After a 20-store test run, the grocer's expansion of the Scan, Bag, Go technology will reach 400 stores in the new year.

The Home Depot opened its new direct fulfillment center (DFC) in Locust Grove, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.

The facility is the first of three new DFCs the company will open across the U.S. over the next two years. The new distribution centers will increase the number of orders the company can ship the day they are received, increasing the speed of delivery for HomeDepot.com orders. The company also said they will enable faster order picking and shipping through new warehouse management and material handling systems.

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.