Sales were up but net earnings were down for Stanley Black & Decker, the maker of construction and DIY tools, security and industrial products.

New Britain, Conn.-based Stanley Black & Decker first quarter sales increased to $2.65 billion, up 12% from $2.36 billion in the same quarter last year.

The company said the sales growth was attributable to volume (+2%), price (+1%), currency (-1%) and acquisitions (+10%). Last year, Stanley announced it would acquire Niscayah Group AB, a Swedish commercial security company.

Jerry Zezima Jr., 80, was owner of the former Zezima Paint and Hardware store in Norwalk, Conn., and a Korean War veteran. 

According to an article in the Daily Norwalk, Zezima was born in Stamford, Conn., in 1931 and served in the military during the Korean War.

LBM dealers trying to deliver building materials into New York are wondering if they haven’t become a new source of state revenue, given the stepped-up enforcement of linkage laws by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Although the issue is being addressed in the New York State legislature by a bill brought forth by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA), lumberyard delivery drivers are playing cat and mouse with state troopers while their bosses are fighting $1,000 citations in court.

The Northeastern Retail Lumber Association's Industry Recognition Dinner presented a wealth of leadership, including Lifetime Achievement honoree Joseph Lauto of Great Jones Lumber Corp.

The Wednesday night event, a highlight of the 2012 LBM Expo held at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn., was headlined by the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Joseph F. Lauto, of Great Jones Lumber Corp. in New York City.

The Northeastern Retail Lumber Association's (NRLA's) marquee event officially begins today at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn.

Seminars focusing on Wood I-joists, Laminated Veneer Lumber and interior doors bolster an NRLA agenda that also includes an all-day product demonstration zone. The Expo's show floor will draw to a close Friday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m.

Terex, a Westport, Conn.-based construction equipment rental firm, has extended its partnership with Home Depot by adding PT-30 and PT-50 compact track loaders, TSR50 skid-steer loaders and TC16 compact excavators to its centers in 280 select Home Depot locations, according to an article in Rental Equipment Manager.

Wilton, Conn., hardware store Keeler's Hardware has closed its doors, according to an article in the Wilton Villager.

A bad economy and the death of its owner, David Lind, led to the closing of Keeler's, which operated for more than 100 years.

Employee and friend Glenn Hanlon said that Lind’s store did well, but when the economy turned customers looking to save started shopping at Home Depot.

On the eve of the company’s second-quarter earnings announcement, Lowe’s closed seven underperforming stores. 


Shuttered are locations in Meriden, Conn.; Riverdale, Ga.; Elgin and Schaumburg, Ill.; Kenai, Alaska.; Cambridge, Minn.; and Ticonderoga N.Y.


Obviously, the move upset the affected communities. For instance, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski complained of the lack of notice. But CEO Robert Niblock is paid to make tough decisions, which is how he described the seven closings.


New Britain, Conn.-based Stanley Black & Decker's wholly owned Swedish subsidiary has acquired in total 72,005,890 class B shares of global security firm Niscayah Group.

The shares represent approximately 19.8% of the outstanding shares and approximately 13.9% of the total number of votes in Niscayah.

The acquisition of these shares was made through purchases outside of the company’s pending tender offer to acquire all the outstanding shares and warrants of Niscayah. 

Reliance Worldwide has added two regional sales managers to support the continued growth of its SharkBite and Cash Acme plumbing product brands. 

Industry veteran Mark Kleinhenz was named as northeast regional sales manager. Kleinhenz joins Reliance from Connecticut-based distributor Plimpton & Hills Corp., and previously he served with Banco America. 

Brian Clark will serve as western regional sales manager, following an extensive background that includes Kohler Co. and Husqvarna.

The May issue of Home Channel News compiled the first-ever Hardware Store All Star list. Here are three more of the 50: standout stores from Arkansas, California and Colorado.