Home Centers

Cologne, Germany -- Does home center retailing need a new business model? One DIY pioneer thinks so. 

Manfred Maus, who in 1970 founded OBI, which grew to become Germany’s largest DIY home center, spoke to Home Channel News at the 2012 Internationale Eisenwarenmesse – or International Hardware Fair – in Cologne, Germany. 

“My children and my grandchildren will buy completely differently than we buy,” he said. “I think the home center concept is old. We need a new business model.”

Lowe’s has announced the appointment of Kevin Measel to senior VP store operations West division, where he will replace Jim Frasso, who is retiring after a 17-year career with the company.

Measel has more than 28 years of retail experience in both store operations and merchandising, having served most recently as merchandising VP nursery. Additionally, he has served as regional VP, district manager and store manager. He joined Lowe’s in 1994.

On Wednesday morning, it was Lowe's turn to deliver strong quarterly earnigns.

And the Mooresville, North Carolina-based retail giant did just that. The company reported net earnings of $1.04 billion for the quarter ended Aug. 1, marking a 10.4% increase over the second quarter last year. Sales for the quarter were up 5.7% to $16.6 billion, as comparable-store sales were up 4.4%.

"We were able to recover most of the outdoor product sales missed in the first quarter due to unfavorable weather conditions," said Robert Niblock, president and CEO.

The Bernalillo County Commission approved $150,000 in funds for Lowe's to open its new call center in Albuquerque, according to an article in the New Mexico Business Weekly.

AZEK, Home Depot and OrePac all teamed up Thursday, June 19th to help spruce up a garden for disabled vets in San Bernardino, California.

The Veterans Exploration Garden in Speicher Memorial Park received a new AZEK Paver walkway (which is made with 95% recycled materials) for smoother wheelchair access.

Home Depot will set the stage for the launch of a new 488-color palette from PPG Industries' Glidden brand.

As of June 1, the palette will be available to Home Depot customers nationwide as an intentional reflection of their preferences and behaviors.

Stormy weather around the country had something to do with Home Depot’s third-quarter sales gain of 2.9%. So did strength in core categories.

The world’s largest home improvement retailer posted a 4.2% comp-store sales gain for the quarter ended Oct. 30. Total sales increased 2.9% to $17.326 billion. And even bigger growth came in the net earnings column, where Home Depot reported a 13.0% increase and net earnings of $934 million.