Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears Holdings posted net income of $189 million in the quarter, compared with a loss of $165 million in the prior-year period.

After several rounds of closings of Kmart and Sears full-line stores in the past months, revenues decreased $270 million to $9.3 billion for the quarter ended April 28. Domestic comp-store sales declined 1.3% -- 1.0% at Sears Domestic and 1.6% at Kmart. Sears also saw declines in its home appliances and consumer electronics categories.

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.

Ray Griffith, the CEO of Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware, explained during an interview on Fox Business that consumers will continue to spend on their homes.

“We had a real good first quarter, and so far it’s carrying into April,” said Griffith during a segment described by the network as “Banking on do-it-yourself.”  

Ace Hardware Corporation recognized seven vendors for outstanding service to the hardware cooperative, its retailers and customers. 

The companies are:

Ray Schlosser, founder and president of Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co., of Schaumburg, Ill., did not build his “Made in the U.S.A.” campaign because it was the fastest route to profitability.

Even before Ace Hardware Corp. reported high single-digit sales increases for the quarter and the year — and even during a lingering housing downturn — CEO Ray Griffith told dealers that he liked the position in which Ace finds itself.

“Ongoing uncertainly keeps consumers cautious about spending, but many of you are doing well,” he told the members gathered in Denver for the co-op’s market last year.

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer's Association (ARMA) announced the top three asphalt roofing projects for 2011 -- two homes and one commercial project.

The gold medal the ARMA's Quality Asphalt Roofing Case-Study (QARC) Awards program went to a residence in Deerfield, Ill., in a project by Precise Roofing. Silver went to a residence in Seagoeville, Texas, a project by Legends Roofing. And the Bronze medal was awarded to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Miami Branch, a project by Advanced Roofing.

Orlando, Fla. -- The stage of the 2012 City of Hope “Spirit of Life” event featured one brand new honoree, several more industry icons and 30 years of memories for the hardware/homebuilding group.

Convening for the good of the California-based cancer treatment and research center, executives and supporters filled a banquet room at the Rosen Plaza Hotel here on the eve of the International Builders' Show to honor the man of the hour: Ace Hardware's Ray Griffith. The president and CEO of the Oak Brook, Ill.-based hardware co-op accepted the 2012 Spirit of Life award.

Like anyone in business, builders are looking for an edge, looking for efficiencies and looking for ways to keep customers happy. The 2012 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., set the stage on all three counts. Here is a sampling of some of the ideas displayed.

In a far-reaching plan that covered everything from foreclosures to new mortgage agreements, President Obama unveiled a “Homeowner Bill of Rights” today that he hopes will speed up the recovery of the housing market and prevent unscrupulous lenders from taking advantage of new home buyers.

Following up on a promise he made in his Jan. 10 State of the Union Address, President Obama revealed some of the details of the latest effort to investigate -- and punish those responsible for -- the mortgage meltdown that helped trigger the housing crisis. A team of 55 attorneys and investigators will try to coordinate existing probes, now largely the work of individual state attorney generals who are looking into foreclosures and highly risky mortgage-backed securities. 

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.