Menashe, Israel-based Caesarstone Sdot-Yam, manufacturer of engineered quartz surfaces, announced that it has entered into an agreement with IKEA US as the exclusive non-laminate countertop vendor. 

Caesarstone will source, finish and distribute countertop products, including mainly Caesarstone quartz surfaces as well as other materials. 

Haier has named Rian Cain senior VP of sales and marketing for Home Appliances and Home Comfort. Mr. Cain comes to Haier with over 30 years of experience in the appliances industry, including 22 years with Maytag Corp.

He will report to Ma Chunyu, COO of Haier America, and will lead all product marketing, sales and branding initiatives for Home Comfort and Home Appliance products. 

Albuquerque-based Mud Monsters Pond and Landscape Supply has been sold to Randy Kindrick, who has been managing the business for the past four years.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kindrick acquired the company from Savio Engineering and its owners Keith and Valerie Steele. According to the acquisition announcement, the Steeles have decided to solely concentrate efforts on Savio Engineering and recently expanded their business opening a second east coast location in New Jersey.

Chicago-based True Value Co. reported first-quarter gross billings of $443.3 million, down 0.9% from the same quarter last year.

A nearly non-existent spring in many parts of the country hurt sales. The company also explained gross billings were affected by a decline in lumber and building material vendor direct-ship sales.

"While winter-related product sales exceeded the prior year, the general lack of spring weather this March versus last year was too much to overcome," said Lyle Heidemann, president ad CEO. 

Peabody, Mass.-based Beacon Roofing Supply posted a second-quarter net loss of $0.2 million, compared with net income of $3.1 million in the same quarter last year.

Sales increased 5.3% to $416.3 million in the quarter.

CEO Paul Isabella described the second quarter as "challenging."

He added: "We experienced harsh weather conditions in many of our markets, and we were up against a very strong second quarter last year when our existing market sales were up 28%." 

Quality Insulation, part of the Masco Contractor Services family of companies, recently announced its expansion into the Bangor, Maine market. 

The company provides a variety of installation services to builders and homeowners including insulation, gutters, fireplaces, garage doors, shelving and storage systems and more.

Americans are correct to question laws that are packaged in ways that seem too good to be true. For instance: "No Child Left Behind Act" or the "Affordable Care Act." My personal suggestion is: "Strengthening America through higher pay for Editorial Writers Act."

Who could be against those?