The unexpected departure of Robert Dutton, CEO of RONA for the last 20 years, has breathed new life into the possibility that Lowe’s will finally get its hands on Canada’s largest home improvement chain. Dutton stepped down on Nov.  9, two months after he and his board of directors fended off a takeover by Lowe’s. Dutton said he had new initiatives in store for the Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA, which put in a poor performance in its last quarter.

Long before Hurricane Sandy arrived, hardware stores throughout the Eastern Seaboard found themselves swamped with customers trying to stock up on everything from batteries to rubber gloves. But now that the worst is over -- and property damage estimates are in the $50 billion range -- the effect on the home improvement industry is coming into focus. 

Lowe’s made an offer, but RONA refused.

The two North American home improvement giants will continue to operate as competitors in Canada, where Lowe’s has been growing organically for the past several years amid rumors that just such an acquisition play was in the cards.

Lowe’s has signed an agreement with Microsoft Corp. to implement Microsoft Office 365 across more than 1,745 stores, 200,000 employees and its corporate offices in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Office 365 will help the home improvement retailer improve customer service by providing collaboration tools to increase communication among its stores and employees. The technology will be available for Lowe's employees soon and will help customers tap into the collective expertise of Lowe’s work force.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men suspected of stealing six Husqvarna chain saws at a Lowe’s store in Springfield, Mass., according to a report on WGGB-TV, an ABC affiliate.

On May 21, the individuals allegedly placed the items, valued at $766 each, in a store cart and wheeled it out the front door. 

Valspar Paint has announced a replacement guarantee for Lowe’s customers who buy a gallon of paint and are simply dissatisfied with the color. From now until Oct. 8, 2012, Valspar is offering a free replacement color to anyone who does not “absolutely love” their first color choice. The Love Your Color Guarantee applies only to purchases of Valspar Signature Colors Interior Paint at Lowe's, and will be issued through a rebate for up to two gallons of a replacement Valspar paint color.

Acacia Research Corp. has announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Lowe’s covering patents directed to impact instrument technology. This agreement resolves the parties' dispute that was pending in the District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Impact instruments include a range of testing and measuring devices such as infrared cameras for electrical inspection, building integrity and energy loss.

Lowe’s has announced that it will partner with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) to launch a program to educate and train Lowe’s employees who specialize in interior kitchen and bath projects.

Because of this membership and training program, Lowe’s employees who work in the kitchen cabinets, countertops and fashion plumbing departments and as interior project specialists will have the opportunity to earn NKBA certifications.

Lowe's has announced that it will partner with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) in order to launch a program to educate and train Lowe's employees who specialize in interior kitchen and bath projects.

Because of this membership and training program, Lowe's employees who work in the kitchen cabinets, countertops and fashion plumbing departments and as interior project specialists will have the opportunity to earn NKBA certifications.

Lowe's new Iris Smart Home solution is slated to be available in Lowe's stores and through Lowes.com in mid-2012.

Iris is described as an affordable system that will give homeowners the ability to control and interact with their homes from anywhere. Energy and technology company Genability will be used by Lowe's in its new cloud-based smart home solution called Iris.