| National Hardware Shows | Be aware there are two competing shows, one in Chicago and one in Las Vegas. 10/2003 |
| Clarks Do-It Changes | Clarks Do-It Center in Ellicott City, Maryland has changed to ACE 11/01 |
| Regal Paints Grows | Regal Paints of Silver Springs, Maryland has just acquired their 5th Benjamin Moore store in Frederick, Maryland 10/2001 |
| True Value and Duron | True Value and Duron have worked out a deal whereas Duron paint will be sold in selected TruServ stores. 8/2001 |
| Benjamin Moore Sold | A holding company involving Warren Buffet has purchased Benjamin Moore Paints, the manufacturer. 11/2000 |
| Orgil Servicenter to open in spring | Orgil Bros. of Tennessee, an aggressive distributor of Hardware and Paint sundries is scheduled to open a new distribution center in Martinsburg, WV this spring. It is said that this will be much larger than the warehouse they are presently operating in Frederick, MD site of the former Frederick Trading Co. that Orgil purchased. 3/00 |
| Five
Star Group expands south
* * |
The Five-Star Group of New York and New Jersey has acquired the inventory of Felmor Corporation and has hired some of the Felmor Sales people. Representative of the company said that Five-Star will cover the same geography that Felmor was covering and will deliver out of their vast inventory in New Jersey. Five Star lines have been moving more into hardware in recent times enabling them to be more meaningful to a broader base of dealers. Vernon Harvey is sales manager. 2/00 |
| Benjamin
Moore closing plants
to restructure. |
Benjamin Moore will close 8 of 16 and reduce its staff by 300 people. Plants in VA, NJ,CA, MO, FL, and Canada will close by the end of March, 2000. 2/00 |
| PPG
Acquires Monarch * * |
PPG acquired Monarch Paint in Houston. Monarch manufactures finishes and operates more than 50 retail stores in the SW. This follows the 1998 acquisition of 120 Porter paint stores and the 1999 acquisition of Wattyl paint stores which are currently operating as Porter Paint. Look for more acquisitions. 2/00 |
| Gibson-Homans
Reorganizing * |
It was announced this week that Gibson-Homans has requested protection from the courts while it reorganizes and prepares itself for being sold. 2/00 |
| Rumor:
EZ Painter/ Purdy * * |
Yes, the rumor is that EZ Painter has an offer on the table to purchase Purdy/Bestt-Liebco. How will our business be affected when this company that has become VERY successful by selling the mass merchants is now controlling the distribution of Purdy and Bestt-Liebco. If the deal goes through, we shall see. 2/00 |
| Acro
Building Systems buys Pedersen Products |
ABS of Milwaukee bought Pedersen. Both are manufacturers of roofing products to assist roofers, painters, masons, and others who need to work high on the roof or walls. Click on Pederson or Acro until I get this site updated. 01/00 |
| 5-Star
Grows * * |
5-Star Corporation has hired five of the sales reps from Felmor. Three others chose to retire. With these experienced reps covering their same areas, 5-Star intends to expand their coverage and make a strong impact in N. VA, MD, DC, E. PA, and DE. 1/00 |
| Felmor
Ceases
* * |
It is with regret that I relate that Felmor Corporation has ceased being a paint sundry distributor in the area surrounding Baltimore, MD. That leaves a serious void that another distributor will have to work to fill. I wish the best future to all of the employees of Felmor and to the reps who for so long made it the strong, model distributor that it was. 1/00 |
| Valspar buying Masterchem? | This is only a street rumor but there could be something to it. It sounds like a good fit to me. 1/00 |
| Benjamin
Moore stores change hands * * |
Two stores, Rockville Paint and Gaithersburg Paint have been sold by Chuck Barker. These will be owned and operated by the present owners of two more area stores. It has not yet been announced whether the Pratt & Lambert line will remain, be dropped, or be expanded to the other stores. 12/99 |
| Home
Depot buys. Lowes passes.
* * * |
It was reported today that Home Depot purchased several of the Hechinger locations in metro Washington, DC area. Lowes said that they are not interested in that the stores doe not fit their profile for new properties. The article in the Washington Post said that Home Depot is more flexible on their store configurations. The article also said that several of the NY stores purchased by Kimco Realty would be sold to Home Depot. 12/16/99 |
| Ace
shooting for 100% Online * * * |
Ace Hardware and its 10,000 member dealers are targeting the end of 2000 to have all dealers on AceNet 2000. The goal is using the Internet for paperless communications. When this is in place many other systems will operate a optimum efficiency. Order placement, freight movement, order tracking, inventory reduction and control, customer service and much more. |
| HWI (Do It Best) is selling online | DoItBest.com is taking orders from consumers. |
| Bankrupt Hechinger sells 34 locations | This $57 million sale was to Kimco Realty as a part of the liquidation. You can bet that this is not speculation. 12/99 Click here for Opinion: Hechinger |
| TruServe
by 2000: Selling online!
* * * |
True Value claims it is committed to selling on the Internet to consumers on behalf of its dealers by early 2000. It looks to me like one of those lead, push, or get out of the way deals. It has been reported that of the 10,000 TruServe dealers, 700 already have web sites and 150 of those are selling online.The group plan is to link the purchase of online products to its dealers. 12/99 |
| TruServe
goes as True Value
* * * |
TruServ, the largest dealer owned buying group announced to its True Value and Servistar members that it would be moving to one "banner", True Value. This merger a few years ago was followed by emotional claims that the names would not change. Now they will and the ServiStar name will come down. 12/99 |
| Find
your Niche
* |
|
|
New to the Internet? * * * * |
If you plan to use your email service to send or receive files to and from business contacts, do not use AOL or Compuserve. Instead subscribe to a local internet provider (ISP). That will likely be cheaper too. If you cannot find a local provider consider Earthlink.com or MindSpring.com. AOL and CompuServe are great for what they do but their systems are not dependable for sending and receiving files. The files often leave or arrive corrupted. If you would like more explanation or a better solution, contact Rusty Vaughan by phone or email. 11/7/99 |
|
Hechinger real estate auction draws major retailers * *
|
Largo, Md. - Oct. 18, 1999 - Failed retailer Hechinger, based here, last week began auctioning off its real estate. Bidders for store sites included Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sears, Best Buy and Burlington Coat Factory. 10/18/99 (Full Story) |
|
Lowe’s creates
business development division * * * * |
Wilkesboro, N.C. - Oct. 15, 1999 - Lowe’s today announced that it has created a business development division, responsible for introducing "new business concepts to the marketplace." Under the umbrella of the business
development division is the Internet Business Group, a team of more than
50 employees charged with developing Lowe’s efforts in Internet
marketing and e-commerce. In a company release, Lowe’s said the group is
"the largest commitment of human resources to a new business endeavor
in the company's history." 10/17/99 (Full
Story) |
|
Distribution America is the premier national paint sundry dealer * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
|
|
TruServ will now
support True Value banner alone
|
Chicago - Sept. 28, 1999 - TruServ today announced its decision to shed its ServiStar and Coast to Coast retail identities in favor of the True Value name nationwide. "There will be upwards of 8,100 True Value stores. One of the aspects is having all of our direction behind one retail identity," said TruServ’s CEO Don Hoye to NHCN. 09/29/99 (Full Story) |
|
Sherwin-Williams continues ad partnership with furniture retailer (This is "cross-marketing" at its best. You can do it in your block or in your town. Just do it.) * * * * * *
|
Cleveland - Sept. 28, 1999 - Sherwin-Williams, based here, has developed a paint palette to complement a new furniture collection from Fort Worth, Texas-based retailer The Bombay Company. The joint promotion is called "Sacred Spaces," and is a continuation of the partnership that the two retail chains launched last spring. All furniture vignettes in
Bombay’s newest catalog – entitled "Sacred Spaces," of
course – feature walls covered with Sherwin-Williams paint or wallpaper.
The catalogs include discount coupons to Sherwin-Williams paint stores.
Sherwin-Williams’ coupons, brochures, posters and decorating magazines,
as well as color chips for the Sacred Spaces line of paint, are also
available at all of Bombay’s stores. 09/29/99 (Full
Story) |
TruServe goes to Online Auction * * * * |
It was reported that in order to sell off inventory in a scheduled closing of a DC, TruServe had an "Internet Online Auction" for its member dealers. It was most successful. If you are a dealer and wisely want to begin working into an Internet presence, there is an opportunity right here. Contact RVA for details 10/99 |
Hechinger begins turning out the lights and admitting it. * * * * * * * |
The home center group Hechinger / Builder Square / Home Quarters while operating in Chapter 11 with 117 stores has thrown in the towel. Read details. This is a great example of a company who failed to change. They got close to the top and thought that they could rest. AND the acquisition of HQ was never digested. Today's market does not allow for hesitation and procrastination. Home Depot and Lowes did a better job in each market and sucked away their life blood. You could see each market tumbling with no response from Hechinger. If you are a
store owner and do not go into your competitors' stores, shame on you. You should go into
those nearby AND ask your reps for the ones you should visit that are in other markets.
Create and implement new and better ideas to grow. We either grow or decline. There is no
standing still. 9/10/99 |
|
|
TruServ makes another strategic alliance * * * * * *
|
|
Masco makes five acquisitions * * * * * * * * * *
|
Taylor, Mich. - Sept. 1, 1999 - Masco has made five acquisitions costing about $3.8 billion. Masco purchased tool manufacturer Arrow Fastener in Saddle Brook, N.J.; Santa Ana, Calif.-based coatings supplier Behr Process; Inrecon, a repair and remodeling service company in Birmingham, Mich.; cabinet maker Mill’s Pride, based in West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Belgian radiator manufacturer Superia Radiatoren. At least two of these companies — Mill’s Pride and Behr — make what are, for all intents and purposes, house brands for Home Depot. Masco is the parent of a number of building products companies, including Delta/Peerless Faucets, American Shower and Bath, Franklin Brass, Weiser Lock, Kraftmaid and Merillat. |
|
This is a link that could help you or your contractor get business. This could be especially good for Radiance or for Bix. Check it out for much more information. * * * * |
Q. Specifically what benefits will small businesses receive under this program? Small business firms will have the opportunity to negotiate sole source contracts and participate in restricted competition limited to HUBZone firms. Also, small businesses located in HUBZone areas will be allowed a ten percent price evaluation preference in full and open competition. In such cases, the price offered by a HUBZone firm will be determined lower than the price offered by a non-HUBZone firm as long as the HUBZone firm's price is not more than 10% higher than the price offered by the otherwise lowest, responsive offeror. 9/99 |
Por-Rok Sold * *
|
The brand and manufacturing facilities of Por-Rok concrete patch has been purchased from Sherwin-Williams Co by Novex Systems International. It is expected that Novex will expand the brand names of Por-Rok, Dash Patch, and Lev-L-Astic that are already known for quality worldwide. 8/99 |
Benjamin Moore buys more stores * * * *
|
Ben Moore bought the Janovic Paint Store group in NY. Independents across the country are wondering what meaning to read into this. With the large J.C. Licht chain being the first and now this, what changes are happening. It has been said that Ben Moore is making Philadelphia a test for "forcing" independents to upgrade, carry a minimum inventory, go online for ordering and inventory control, purchase a new sign, and hire at least one outside salesman. Where will this go? 8/99 |
Home Depot Opens Villager Hardware * * * * * * |
Home Depot's much anticipated venture into the small hardware store (40,000 sq. ft.) has happened in N.J. just 5 miles from a Home Depot. A second Villager Hardware is under construction just 7 miles from the first site. There are new innovations and old standbys. All independents should see this store for ideas on the direction to take or not to take your stores. Change is imminent, embrace it. An independent company did a price shop between the Home Depot and Villager and found the same pricing with very few exceptions. It was reported that this site was not served well and certainly not aggressively by the existing hardware stores. 8/99 |
MAB on the move * * * * * * |
Broomall, Pa., and San Carlos, Calif. - July 6, 1999 - M.A. Bruder & Sons, the 153-store paint maker and retailer, last month formed a marketing alliance with Western paint company Kelly-Moore that allows both businesses to serve national accounts. Under terms of the partnership, Kelly-Moore will supply paint for West Coast jobs while M.A. Bruder will serve the East Coast. (Home Center News) |
Home Depot asserts more into the domain of the independent hardware dealer making it more necessary for him do develop his niche. * * * |
East Brunswick, N.J. - June 21, 1999 - This Thursday, Home Depot will open its first Villager’s Hardware, a store that the company believes will “recreate” the hardware store format. Villager’s has 40,000 square feet of inside selling space and another 9,200 square feet outside for lawn and garden products. The store employs 85 people and stocks 37,000 skus, including 6,150 skus in the fastener department alone. For more of this story, Click Here. 6/99 |
PPG Grows their Paint Stores * * * * * * |
Pittsburgh - June 23, 1999 - PPG Industries, the coatings manufacturer based here, next month expects to complete its acquisition of Atlanta-based specialty retailer Wattyl Paint. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wattyl, a division of Wattyl Ltd. in Sydney, Australia, operates 21 stores in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. A PPG spokesperson said that the stores’ names will be changed to Porter Paints soon after the acquisition is finalized. PPG purchased Louisville, Ky.-based Porter Paints in March 1999. (Reported in Home Center News 6/23/99) |
Painting/Wallcovering Cont. Mag. * * |
PWC has a "virtural paint store". It is a place that painters and vendors come together. It is also a good source for industry news. Check it out. Click on the name. |
Computer Decisions: Don't make the wrong one and spend time learning software with which you cannot grow and share. * * * * * * |
TIP:As many novices get new computers and new software, I have noticed that the everpleasing salesman assures that the MICROSOFT WORKS software is all that he will ever need. Wrong!. MS WORKS is a scaled down group. The unfortunate thing is that MS Works files cannot be read by MS Word or Excel and vice versa. I strongly suggest that you get a copy of MICROSOFT OFFICE. The standard version will contain MS Word, Excel, and Power Point. Don't be scared off by the price of full retail around $500. You can buy a new version for $75 or less at a local computer show or via mail order. Begin with the best and be able to share files via email. Software is a tool. Use the best to work your craft. |
Bruning closes Gaithersburg store |
Bruning has closed the former Potomac Paints store in Gaithersburg, MD 5/99 |
Felmor Corporation * *
|
Felmor Corporation has moved into massive new facilities dramatically increasing their capacity to load, unload, and stock product. It appears that the increas could be by a factor of 6. 3/99 |
SW forms new sales group * * * * |
Sherwin-Williams has formed separate groups to represent it's owned brands. Previously the same people called on SW stores and the independants. Now, those selling the brands to independants do not call on SW. You might say that it takes the conflict out AND shows that SW is still interested in improving the brands. I feel that if an independant can sell the products for a profit and grow his business, go for it. |
|
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| This page was last updated on 07/19/05 | |
