Technology

At Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, a point-of-sale upgrade

With the help of a county land bank and a city redevelopment agency, Rylee’s Ace Hardware is planning a new store on the site of an abandoned gas station in Grand Rapids, Mich., according to a report in MLive.com.

When the curtain rises on the 2011 National Hardware Show, attendees will be treated to a steady stream of new product introductions from industry leaders like 3M, Robert Bosch Tool Corp., Char-broil, The Coleman Co., Jarden Safety & Security and many others.

Over the decades, lawn care has grown into a national passion that has proved to be a resilient home improvement sector, even in tough economies. Sales of lawn mowers, however, are slumping, according to data from Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD Group. In 2010, the dollar-volume estimate for riding mowers was $1.57 billion, down 11.6% from the prior year. Walk-behind mowers slipped 17.3% to $1.16 billion. Here’s a breakdown of recent consumer activity.

GAF Materials Corp. has expanded its Lifetime Designer Shingles Value Collection

The Wayne, N.J.-based manufacturer said the collection offers contractors an opportunity to differentiate their business with an affordable and upscale alternative to standard architectural shingles.

The line features Camelot II, Country Mansion II and Grand Slate II shingles.

Sears Home Services is employing mobile technology to help expedite its appliance repairs.

Lixil Americas hires a veteran familiar with “peak operations”

The Earth Advantage Institute announced its annual selection of top ten green building trends, which range from “affordable green” to lifecycle analysis of materials.

“Despite market conditions, we have seen the market share for high performance homes increase from 18.5% to 23 % in the Portland Metro area alone,” said Sean Penrith, executive director, Earth Advantage Institute. “This is a sure sign that the rate of appeal for these homes is increasing.”