Content about Illinois

May 13, 2013
Store owner considers restaurant play

Fuller's Home & Hardware, an Ace dealer in Hinsdale, Ill., is not your typical hardware store. Located in an historic corner building on a picturesque main street downtown, most of the ground floor is a classic neighborhood hardware store.  

The second floor -- known as "The Second Floor" -- is an upscale home decor and kitchen products specialty store. 

April 19, 2013
Stores-for-sale site enters new phase

Ace’s HardwareStoresForSale.com is designed to facilitate the buying and selling of hardware stores, and now related equipment.

April 16, 2013
Craftsman expands to 2,000-plus Ace stores

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based co-op says it intends to spread the word about the growth of Craftsman products in Ace stores.

April 12, 2013
Ace hosts Buying Days event in Oak Brook

Industry vendors have a unique opportunity to introduce their products to Ace Hardware’s merchandise buyers during its Buying Days event on June 7 in Oak Brook, Ill.

April 5, 2013
Griffith to enter Hall of Fame in May

Ray Griffith, the recently retired CEO of Ace Hardware, will enter the Home Channel Hall of Fame during the National Hardware Show in May.

April 4, 2013
Menards grand openings set for April 9

Not far from St. Louis in St. Peter's, Mo., and O'Fallon, Ill., two new Menards stores will open Tuesday.

March 22, 2013
Ace Hardware revenues up 3.6% in 2012

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based co-op reported fiscal 2012 revenues of $3.8 billion along with a strong fourth quarter.

March 8, 2013
Reliable Distributors names award winners

The Libertyville, Ill.-based buying group recognized its “presidential award” winners during its 2013 Management and Marketing Conference.

March 6, 2013
AHMA hot topics: Sales, health care and international business

The American Hardware Manufacturers Association says fewer members reported higher February sales.

March 5, 2013
Klein offers reward for oldest pair of pliers

To promote its tools, the Linconlnshire, Ill.-based company offered a reward of $5,000 for the oldest pair of Klein Side-Cutting Pliers.

February 28, 2013
Sears narrows its losses in Q4

Sears Holdings posted sales declines for both its fourth quarter and full year, but the Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based retail icon narrowed its losses significantly.

February 27, 2013
For stores on the block, Ace launches listing service

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based co-op launched hardwarestoresforsale.com as a listing service for retailers, regardless of affiliation.

February 25, 2013
Edward Hines Lumber plans May opening

The new building center and showroom will occupy the site of the former Franklin Emery (F.E.) Wheaton Lumberyard.

February 20, 2013
Ace Hardware honors its Vendors of the Year

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corporation will present “Vendors of the Year” awards at its upcoming 2013 Spring Convention & Exhibits in New Orleans.

February 4, 2013
Experts: Show appreciation for employees often

Managers should take the time to recognize all employees on a regular basis, experts say -- focusing on behaviors they want to reinforce -- rather than singling out certain individuals or groups at scheduled times.

February 1, 2013
Strong Q4 for Fortune Brands Home & Security

Deerfield, Ill.-based Fortune Brands Home & Security, a home and security products company, posted 8% sales growth in the fourth quarter.

January 30, 2013
With USA message, Maze Nails hits 165-year milestone

Peru, Ill.-based Maze Nails, a six-generation family business, is celebrating 165 years as a U.S. manufacturer.

January 8, 2013
At Sears, D'Ambrosio steps down, replaced by Lampert

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears Holdings Corp. announced Monday that Louis J. D'Ambrosio will step down as CEO for family health matters at the end of the company's fiscal year on Feb. 2. Edward S. Lampert will then assume the role of CEO of Sears Holdings, in addition to his role as chairman of the board of directors. 

January 4, 2013
NARI offers updates for Post-Sandy rebuilding efforts

Des Plaines, Ill.-based National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) released a post-Hurricane Sandy report from its 12 chapters affected by the northeastern storm.

“Those affected by the storm are now trying to piece lives back together,” says NARI National Chairman Michael Hydeck, president of Hydeck Design Build, in Telford, Pa. “The NARI community is proud to come together and support each other in what will be a long and difficult rebuilding process.”

January 3, 2013
Ace adds instant savings to rewards

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware launched Instant Savings, a program for Ace Rewards members that allows them to receive instant discounts at the register. 

December 27, 2012
Ace points to strategy behind Westlake purchase

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware’s recent purchase of the 85-store Westlake Ace Hardware chain -- the co-op’s largest customer -- represented “good offense” and “good defense,” according to the co-op’s message to Ace retailers.

December 17, 2012
Price-fixing lawsuit filed against drywall suppliers

In a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) document filed on Dec. 17, USG Corp. and its subsidiary, United States Gypsum Co., disclosed that they have been named, along with seven other wallboard manufacturers, as defendants in a purported class-action complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

December 14, 2012
Sears' new director is no stranger to 'Moneyball'

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears Holdings Corp. has added Paul G. DePodesta to its board of directors.

DePodesta is currently VP player development and amateur scouting for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball, but he is more famous as the young, forward-thinking, statistics-obsessed Oakland A's executive upon whom the Jonah Hill character was partially based in the recent movie "Moneyball."

December 11, 2012
Menards to add propane-refilling stations

In a pilot program at 37 stores, Menards will open a series of propane-fueling stations designed for propane-powered vehicles and cylinders used on gas grills and recreational vehicles. The program is a partnership with CleanFUEL USA, a leading supplier of propane autogas infrastructure and engine systems.

The home improvement retailer will conduct the pilot at Menards locations throughout Illinois, as well as its Eau Claire West store in Wisconsin. 

November 28, 2012
Lebhar-Friedman's Residential Products Group hires industry veteran Paul Gillen

The Residential Products Group of New York City-based publishing company Lebhar-Friedman hired Paul Gillen as regional sales manager. 

At the Residential Products Group, Gillen will help guide the growth of HCN, homechannelnews.com and HCN Daily newsletters. He will also play a leading role in the development of the new Residential Building Products & Technology, a digital-format magazine set to launch in mid-January.

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