Atlanta-based BlueLinx Holdings posted a net loss of $11.0 million for the first quarter ended March 31, compared with a net loss of $12.3 million in the first quarter of 2011.

The building products distributor reported first-quarter revenue of $453.7 million, up 16.2% from $390.6 million in the same period a year ago. The increase in revenue is attributable to increased unit volumes and increased underlying product prices for both product categories. 

The S&P/Case-Shiller Index, a leading indicator of U.S. housing prices, showed annual declines of 3.6% and 3.5% for the 10- and 20-city composites, respectively, for February 2012. This is a new low for February, which has not seen such levels since 2002. But the decline was less steep than in previous months, when it recorded a 3.9% drop in January and a 4.1% drop in December in year-over-year figures. 

Telling employees where and why cameras are being used in the workplace is the best way to avoid legal problems, according to Lisa Guerin, co-author of "The Essential Guide to Federal Employment Laws" (Society for Human Resource Management/Nolo, 2011).

There is implied consent if an employee continues to work in an area where a camera is visible, said Ginger McCall, director of the open government program at the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, D.C.

Take Home Depot’s fourth-quarter comps — positive 5.7% — add it to Lowe’s fourth-quarter comps — positive 3.4% — and you have the highest combined comp sum in six years. You’d have to go back to the fourth quarter of 2005 for a higher figure (positive 13.3%).

Sales were also a positive story with a 5.9% fourth-quarter increase emanating from Atlanta, and an 11% increase at Lowe’s.

Here is how the sales stacked up across the past two years for the two industry giants:

Boosted by mild temperatures and spring-like selling conditions throughout much of the country, Atlanta-based Home Depot saw sales rise nearly 6% in the fourth quarter.

The home improvement giant reported fourth-quarter sales of $16.0 billion, up 5.9% from the same quarter last year. Comparable-store sales were positive 5.7%, and up 6.1% in the United States.

"We had a strong finish to 2011, and with favorable weather, our business delivered results that exceeded our expectations," said CEO Frank Blake. 

Atlanta-based Beazer Homes has reported first-quarter net income of $739,000, compared with a net loss of $48.8 million in the prior-year quarter.

In the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011, revenue totaled $188.5 million, up 73% from $109.0 million in the same period a year ago.

White Cap Construction Supply, a division of Atlanta-based HD Supply, has announced the appointment of  Ross Anker as VP merchandising.

In this role, Anker will help to define and execute major product initiatives for the company. He will focus on supplier relations and agreements, product assortment, new product introduction and volume and margin expansion.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that an 82-year-old hardware store in Mableton, Ga., will close at the end of the year.

The store was opened in 1929 by W. H. Barnes, the grandfather of former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes. The store is expected to close Dec. 31.

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.

BlueLinx Holdings, the Atlanta-based distributor of building products, has announced plans to launch a complete line of privately branded engineered lumber products. The company currently is finalizing agreements with suppliers, and anticipates that the new line will be available beginning Feb. 13, 2012. The Engineered Lumber Purchase Agreement with Georgia-Pacific Wood Products, under which BlueLinx currently distributes engineered lumber, will expire in accordance with its terms on Feb. 12, 2012.

Home Depot will open a new customer support call center in Kennesaw, Ga., not far from its Atlanta headquarters, in 2012. 

The story first appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and was confirmed by a Home Depot spokesman yesterday. 

The customer support center will start out with 400 employees and grow to about 700 employees by 2015. It will be located in the Chastain Meadows commercial park.