Home Depot

Starbucks has released a letter in full support of same-sex marriage rights. It's a bold move considering just how much PR trouble other large brands like Home Depot are currently having with the issue.

Home Depot has acquired home services marketplace Redbeacon in a move set to tighten the retailer's customer relationships while opening up new markets. The deal's financial terms have yet to be disclosed.

Home Depot is continuing to prove that mobile is a prime part of its digital strategy by running commerce-enabled mobile ads. The retailer is running a mobile ad campaign to promote its line of floor products and lead consumers to a commerce-enabled mobile site. The ads are running within Pandora's iPhone application.

The thousands of temporary workers who lost their jobs after the holidays dampened the weekly unemployment report. But at least one retailer is hiring now. Home Depot said it would add 70,000 workers this spring, its biggest season. Last year about half that number were hired permanently as cashiers, sales, lot and garden staffers. Home Depot employs about 300,000 workers overall.

Slipcover and home accessories supplier Sure Fit Inc. has acquired the assets of the Patio Armor brand from Trilink Global LLC.Financial terms were not disclosed nor was the size of the acquired company.Patio Armor products include heavyweight fabric covers for patio furniture, grills and other outdoor items. Its major accounts include The Home Depot, Costco, Amazon and Factory Direct. The company is based in Atlanta and will retain its own headquarters.Tom Atchison, who has served as director of sales of the Trilink business since 2008, has joined Sure Fit as VP of sales - outdoor division."The Patio Armor brand

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Customer experience analytics firm ForeSee today released its annual analysis of Cyber Monday customer satisfaction suggesting that some online shoppers may not be as satisfied with the holiday shopping season as retailers likely are. ( Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110819/DE54780LOGO ) Sponsored by: Comscore reports that compared to last year, online commerce was up 26% on Black Friday and 22% on Cyber Monday, and the National Retail Federation is reporting that sales over the four-day holiday weekend increased 16% over last year. But while sales are up, website browser satisfaction is down. A browser

Supply chain investments by Home Depot are putting more product within customers' reach. The retailer's 19 rapid deployment centers play an important role in improving both stores' efficiency and in-stock levels.

The new empowered consumer has high expectations for retailers. A consistent, relevant and engaging shopping experience no matter when, where or on what device or channel they're shopping is demanded. In order to remain competitive, retailers need to think about how to not only meet these expectations, but to exceed them.

ATLANTA — Stormy weather around the country had something to do with Home Depot's third quarter sales gain of 2.9%. So did strength in core categories. The world's largest home improvement retailer posted a 4.2% comp-store sales gain for the quarter ended Oct. 30. Total sales increased 2.9% to $17.326 billion. And even bigger growth came in the net earnings column, where Home Depot reported a 13.0% increase and net earnings of $934 million. “Our third quarter was driven by strength in our core categories and storm-related sales as well as strong operating performance,” said Frank Blake, chairman &

Minneapolis -- Target announced it will open a CityTarget store in the Westwood Market Place, Westwood, Calif., in July 2012. The 98,000- sq.-ft. store will occupy a space that formerly housed Home Depot Expo. The Westwood location is the second CityTarget store confirmed in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Target previously announced that it would open a small-format, urban store at Figueroa and 7th in downtown Los Angeles in October 2012. In addition to the two Los Angeles area CityTarget stores, Target will open small-format stores in Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco in 2012.