SPECIAL REPORTS / ONLINE STORE
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News in Perspective
Articles published in the print edition of Home Channel News are available online 30 days after publication date. Subscribe to the Magazine
Breaking news and other industry developments are published daily right here online. To browse or view these stories, just navigate to any of the various news sections (Tabs at the top of the page).
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HCN News Fax
A weekly summary, concisely edited and conveniently delivered by fax or e-mail, on developments in the U.S. retail home improvement market. Subscribe Online |
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Home Depot: The Big Orange
With an approaching anniversary, and almost 30 years under its belt, Home Depot is relying on its roots to ensure future growth. This special report includes interviews with top executives, including Frank Blake; a story on its supply chain initiative; and a piece on the company’s merchandising strategy.
Cost: $25
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Lowe’s: Taking Charge
In the face of a nationwide economic downturn, Lowe’s continues to charge ahead. With its determination to stay on course, the company is increasing its store count and finding hot markets to target. This special report includes a tour of a recently opened store in Texas, a map of new Lowe’s stores and a breakdown of the company’s merchandising strategy.
Cost: $25
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In the Beginning
Influencing consumers is always easiest at the start of their purchase decisions. Once they've locked into ideas, it is much harder to have an effect on them then it is to start them in the proper direction. How do consumers start a home improvement project? What sources of information do they use? How do they select a contractor? This original research poll of 1,000 respondents answers these questions and more. If you would like to have this Report sent to you on a CD-Rom, please Click Here.
Cost: $995
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True Value: Building Momentum
With earnings on the rise and 5,600-plus stores already under its belt, True Value is charging full speed ahead with plans for bigger and better stores. This special report includes an interview with True Value president and CEO Lyle Heidemann, three store profiles and articles about the company's merchandising and marketing strategies.
Cost: $25
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ENAP's Solid Links
Continuing a 40-year tradition of LBM distribution and solid service to its 230-plus members, ENAP plans to make $2 billion in sales by 2011. This special report includes a timeline, profiles of two ENAP dealers and a roundup of the co-op?s executive team -- plus the co-op's expansion strategy for hitting its goal.
Cost: $25
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Carter Lumber: Carving New Opportunities
As Carter Lumber celebrates 75 years in business, the company is primed and ready to continue its growth. The company's current goals: advance its outside sales, installation services and latest acquisitions. HCN's special section features a Q&A with the vp-installed sales, a look into Carter's marketing and branding strategy, highlights of its technological advancements and more.
Cost: $25
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Home Depot’s Bold Strokes
A tumultuous year can’t keep Home Depot from moving forward, and HCN is keeping up as it paints its pages with the big box’s plans for the future. From store improvements and catalog changes to a new incentive program and online strategy, Home Depot is poised to hit 2007 with an orange splash. This special report includes interviews with five of Home Depot’s top executives, including chairman, president and CEO Bob Nardelli; a look into its merchandising strategy; and a map of new stores in the United States.
Cost: $25
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Do it Best
Do it Best has hit $3.05 billion in sales this year and is now focusing its efforts on reaching $4 billion. The co-op is also living up to its name with its Signature Store Design Program, improved Web site and various offerings for its LBM dealers. This special report reveals these and other upgrades Do it Best has currently been devising.
Cost: $25
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ACE
HCN lays out the floor plan for Ace’s planned growth in this special report. Some building blocks explored in this section are the co-op’s Vision 21 program, Elements of Style program and new Shanghai distribution center. In addition, Ace has been turning its attention to growing the co-op by encouraging store owners to expand and increasing foreign-dealer sales.
Cost: $25
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Pro-Build
HCN honors Pro-Build Holdings with the 2006 Pro Dealer of the Year award. The pro dealer, which is currently the largest chain of lumberyards in the nation, merged 10 LBM dealers and has more than 500 locations in 40 states. HCN’s special report reveals what the company is up to and how it is working toward creating a corporate identity.
Cost: $25
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A new start for True Value
True Value has a new focus on its retail brand. To market itself as the destination spot for consumers with small home-improvement projects, the co-op has created an aggressive marketing campaign that will include print ads, television commercials and radio spots, down to new name tags for sales associates. Along with this new identity comes a new slogan for the hardware giant: "Start Right, Start Here." This five-page special report focuses on the details of this marketing blitz, along with information about new products and lines.
Cost: $25
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HCN's Top 150 Distributor Scoreboard
With significant two-step wholesale growth and a number of distributors hitting the $1 billion mark, the Top 150 Distributors have certainly deserved their spots on the scoreboard. HCN delivers a comprehensive list of the top 150 distributors, with comprehensive analysis and data examining various information, including two-step distribution sales and wholesale sales.
Cost: $25
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Building a Category
Ace Hardware has been building up its building materials program for years, serving dealer-members who can put together an entire house package to a builder. In this six-page special report, readers will discover how several of Ace’s dealers have seized opportunities and found the right niche to make their pro-oriented business successful.
Cost: $25
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Follow the Leader: Building Materials Holding Corp.
With sales skyrocketing to $2.1 billion in 2004 and a construction division that reached sales of more than $904 milion the same year, BMHC was chosen as HCN’s 2005 pro dealer of the year. This five-page special report features an interview with CEO Rob Mellor, who discusses the pro dealer’s business acceleration since its 1987 inception through a variety of means, including calculated acquisitions and a focus on growing its BMC West business through expansion and built-up manufacturing capabilities.
Cost: $25
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The Ace nation
Through a change in leadership, Ace Hardware’s strategy for success is moving forward. In this 12-page special report, Ace’s new CEO, Ray Griffith, discusses his plan to increase retail sales and expand through existing members in the co-op’s Vision 21 and Branching Out programs. A look at the company’s recent successes is included, such as opening new stores and converting dealers from other co-ops. Also featured are Ace’s techniques for successful merchandising, a historic look at its expansion, as well as information on the various new programs the company unveiled in 2005, such as a new paint color palette that includes lifestyle cards for contemporary and traditional color arrangements.
Cost: $25
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Sized to Fit: Orgill
With sales moving in a constant upward direction, it’s no surprise that Memphis-based Orgill has expanded to keep up with its ever increasing customer base west of the Mississippi. Positioning itself as a "co-op" alternative," Orgill doesn’t believe in applying pressure to customers and has a liberal approach to serving them. In this 19-page special report, Orgill execs discuss their marketing strategies, such as holding twice-annual shows and making customization the key to distributor success. Also included are special sections on buyer visions, customer service, technology upgrading and marketing.
Cost: $25
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84 Lumber Celebrates 50 Years
Over half a century, Joe Hardy and Maggie Hardy Magerko have built a $4 billion company out of hard work, a sense of family and extraordinary leadership. This 50th anniversay issue includes interviews with Joe Hardy and Maggie Hardy Magerko, profiles of senior execs, Western expansion, training, logistics, rewards programs, community service and a historic retrospective.
Cost: $25
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Lanoga celebrates 150 years
Lanoga executives reflect on their company from its western expansion roots to today's growth-oriented enterprise. Includes Lanoga's legacy; finding future leaders; profiles of every division of the company; and reports on purchasing, safety, technology, green building and community service. This 29-page PDF has also been updated with news reports through February 2006, including news about Lanoga's merger with Strober.
Cost: $25
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HCN's December 2005 Home Depot Report
Home Depot wants to be the major supplier not only for its core DIY customers, but in virtually every aspect of home-related building and maintenance, serving production builders, contractors, remodelers and municipalities. The theme of this Home Channel News special report is Home Depot's "All Around the House" strategy. While its orange box remains central to Home Depot's business model, it is clear that the retailer is preparing its pro operation for exponential growth. On top of its core DIY business, Home Depot is quickly acquiring pro companies to touch every industry in the home channel.
Cost: Free
Low Resolution File (1.5 MB PDF - recommended for dial-up connections)
High Resolution File (22 MB PDF - recommended for high speed broadband connections)
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Get the meaning behind Menards: A Profile of Menards Stores (September 2005)
A Research Study Conducted for Home Channel News By Consumer Specialists
Based on an in-depth survey of a sample of 401 homeowners in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, this September 2005 report takes an in-depth look at Menards through the eyes of consumers. Who are Menards' shoppers? How familiar are they with the Menards' brand? This report includes home channel retailer comparisons, geographic variations and more.
- How strong is the Menards brand among consumers?
- How well does Menards rate in areas customers care about?
- What is the demographic breakdown of Menards shoppers?
Don't miss out on this exclusive 130-page research study with charts, tables, comprehensive survey results and analysis!
Cost: $899
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HCN Top 500 CD-ROM
The most authoritative databank of information about America’s Top 500 home improvement retailers sorted and organized to help you analyze the market.
Basic: Details on annual sales, units, SKUs, staff, products carried, buying group affiliations, headquarters addresses, area, nurseries, Top 350 pro dealers and more. $495.00
Premium: 10-plus years of historical data on select home centers, warehouses and lumberyards; historical buying group data, store formats, and the state of the market; and statistics on distributors, pro dealers, farm and fleet stores, and the top industry powerhouses. $695.00 |
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