According to an article in The Leader of Traverse City, Mich., McLean’s Hardware of Kalkaska, Mich., will officially emerge from a major renovation this weekend. 

The remodeling of the 45-year-old hardware store and rental center included new floors, new counters, paint, exterior signage and a rearrangement of shelving, fixtures and merchandise.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based National Nail Corp. launched Stingerworld.com, a website dedicated to their brand and product – Stinger Cap Systems.

“Bringing STINGER into the online market is a great opportunity for continued growth and expansion of the brand,” said Rocky Stroud, Stinger Product Manager at National Nail Corp.  

“It will be a great resource for our customers and work as a base for establishing new consumer interest.” 

The TLC network program that caused a national controversy and a public relations nightmare for Lowe’s will not be coming back for a second season, according to an article in the Detroit Free Press.

“All-American Muslim,” a TV reality show that followed the daily lives of five Dearborn, Mich. Arab-American Muslim families, was canceled because of low ratings, according to the network.

Robert and Vicki Amberg, owners of Gerstner Hardware in Glenn, Mich., recently proved their commitment to their surrounding community by re-locating a nearby Post Office designated to close and incorporating it into their store.

The story reminded me of my Uncle Jerry, proprietor of an independent store stuffed with hardware SKUs and located in South Newfane, Vt.

An investigation into the death of a Michigan bathtub refinisher in 2010 has uncovered more than a dozen other fatalities that may be related to the same chemical compound. In the Feb. 24 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers looked at the effect of methylene chloride, a paint-stripping product for aircraft maintenance marketed for use in aircraft maintenance. 

Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based PulteGroup reported fourth-quarter net income of $14 million, compared with a net loss of $165 million in the prior-year quarter. 

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool's CEO Jeff Fettig forecast industry demand in 2012 as "flat to slightly improving." 

The company posted sales of $4.9 billion in the fourth quarter, down slightly from $5.0 billion. But fourth-quarter net earnings increased to $205 million, compared with net earnings of $171 million during the same period last year.

The North America region reported operating profit of $202 million for the quarter compared with $53 million in the previous year.

The owner of Ace Hardware of Grand Ledge, near Lansing, Mich., received a "Businessperson of the Year" award from the Grand Ledge Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jim Roberts, whose family also owns Ace stores in Mason and Holt, Mich., told Home Channel News that the store's focus on service is what sets it apart 

An index of consumer sentiment rose for the fourth month in a row, gaining 5.8 points and reaching its highest level since last June. The Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index hit 69.9 points in December, and researchers pointed to falling gasoline prices, mildly better employment prospects, an uptick in the stock market and real income growth. 

When the U.S. Postal Service decided to close its office in Glenn, Mich. after losing its lease, residents of the town were also told they would also lose their zip code. Half of the community would be considered South Haven, and the other half north would have a Fennville mailing address, according to an article in the Kalamazoo Gazette. 

Boise Cascade’s Building Materials Distribution division has announced its expansion in Wayne, Mich., outside of Detroit, where it recently moved into larger facilities. The operation now includes an additional 80,000 sq. ft. of enclosed warehouse space, 6,500 sq. ft. of new office space, and 9,000 sq. ft. of covered truck loading area. In addition, the expansion provides an additional four acres of outside storage, as well as railcar unloading facilities.