Last year, the original 50 Home Channel News Hardware Store All-Star honorees established a high bar and a hard act to follow. But the 2012 crop rises to the challenge. This year’s Hardware Store All-Stars, one from each of the 50 U.S. states, have at least one thing in common: Ask them what makes them special and you can bet they’ll include “excellent customer service” in the answer. From there, every path to stardom is unique.

Here’s an actual email from Home Channel News freelance editor Ken Ryan, after he completed research and writing duties for our “Second Annual Hardware All-Stars: Fifty Stores in Fifty States” project:

“Thanks for the assignment. It was fun to do.”

Fun? That guy has a great attitude, because we didn’t make it easy on him — or any of the other editors working on the project.

Social media marketers are learning a few new tricks now that Facebook is rolling out a new interface design called “Timeline."

They have to. Consider the following Facebook posting from Milton, Wis.-based Dave’s Ace Hardware about the new Timeline format offered by the social media network:

A group of plaintiffs seeking class action status have filed a lawsuit against decking manufacturer Fiberon over its Portico wood composite line. The lawsuit, filed March 14 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Hagens Berman, a Seattle-based firm, claims that the decking has a defect that results in the growth of mold, mildew and other fungal growth. Furthermore, the complaint claims that Fiberon refused to repair the decks under its 20-year warranty.

In 1999, Bob Taylor achieved a feat accomplished by no other home improvement executive in the annals of business journalism.

He was compared with “Bonanza” character Adam Cartwright and U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush — in the same article.

We’ll explain later.

First things first: Do it Best Corp. CEO Bob Taylor is to be congratulated for his selection as the 2012 inductee of the Home Channel Hall of Fame.

A group of plaintiffs seeking class action status have filed a lawsuit against decking manufacturer Fiberon over its Portico wood composite line. The lawsuit, filed March 14 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Hagens Berman, a Seattle-based firm, claims that the decking has a defect that results in the growth of mold, mildew and other fungal growth. Furthermore, the complaint claims that Fiberon refused to repair the decks under its 20-year warranty.

David Weekley Homes and Shea Homes were among the 50 companies named as the J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champions, based on customer feedback attesting to their service excellence. Brands that receive J.D. Power Customer Service Champion designation are among the top 5% of more than 800 evaluated brands in 20 industries, based on their performance in five key areas: people, presentation, price, process and product.

Residential construction in January was healthier than expected.

Housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 699,000, up 1.5% from 689,000 in December, according to data released Thursday morning by the Department of Commerce. But more encouraging: The January rate is up 9.9% from the same month a year ago.

Most analysts were looking for a figure anywhere from 645,000 to 671,000 for the month of January.

San Jose, Calif.-based Orchard Supply Co. CEO Mark Baker described the retailer's efforts to keep the brand fresh while also honoring the company's 80-plus-year history.

An emphasis on the in-store experience and local knowledge is key for the California chain, Baker explained during his presentation to the Presidents Council advisory board meeting during the International Builders' Show here in Orlando, Fla.

"We're not a small big box, but a really big small box," he said.

Using a per-capita basis, the District of Columbia, Colorado and Illinois lead the nation in LEED-certified buildings, according to a report released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings was based on the U.S. 2010 census information.

One of the top stories this week was the introduction of Robert Marchbank as CEO of Denver-based ProBuild Holdings. Marchbank is s former executive with Wolseley, where he led European businesses, among other positions.

A Mount Vernon, Ohio, location of 84 Lumber -- one of six in the state -- closed its doors Monday morning, the Mount Vernon News reported.

Mount Vernon is about 50 miles northeast of Columbus in central Ohio. The store is located on 665 Harcourt Rd. in Mount Vernon.