Content about Massachusetts

May 13, 2013
Beacon challenged in second quarter

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%." 

May 6, 2013
Perennial Wood adds Northeast dealers

Kingsport, Tenn.-based Perennial Wood, maker of a modified and real wood product, expands in the Northeast.

April 26, 2013
Rocky's Ace CEO credits associates

In an interview on CBS 3 in Massachusetts, Rocco Falcone credited employers for the retailers Retailer of the Year award.

April 1, 2013
Golden Hammer strikes for Rocky's Ace Hardware

Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky's will accept the Retailer of the Year Award at the 2013 Golden Hammer ceremony in Las Vegas May 8.

February 11, 2013
Lowe’s officially proposes Cape Cod store

Facing a potential public relations battle, the retail chain promotes plans for the smallest Lowe’s in New England.

February 8, 2013
Mixed results for Beacon Roofing Supply

Up against a strong comparison quarter, the specialty distributor saw total sales gain in its first quarter as organic sales declined.

February 8, 2013
Northeast storm to spur snow sales

As Winter Storm Sandy -- described by the all-too-familiar phrase “hundred year storm” -- bears down on the Northeast, retailers are bracing for emergency storm sales.

January 31, 2013
Lynn Lumber closes after 68 years

A company that described itself as Boston's leading purveyor of fine architectural millwork closed its doors.

January 22, 2013
Stairway manufacturers see climbing membership

The Fall River, Mass.-based Stairway Manufacturers’ Association (SMA) says it expects a record high turnout for its Annual Conference and Business Meeting in New Orleans, April 10-14.

January 16, 2013
Rocky’s appoints new VP operations

Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky’s Ace Hardware appointed Bill Madormo to the post of VP operations for the 33-store chain. 

January 9, 2013
Rocky’s Ace’s annual pet food drive a success

Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky’s Ace Hardware collected more than three tons (6,556 lbs.) of pet food, along with beds, leashes, treats, toys and cleaning supplies during its second annual pet food drive. The supplies were delivered to local animal shelters.

Each of the 33 Rocky’s Ace Hardware stores partnered with an area Humane Society or Shelter to collect food during the holiday.

January 3, 2013
Beacon Roofing Supply appoints acting chief financial officer

While searching for a permanent CFO, Peabody, Mass.-based Beacon Roofing Supply appointed Rick Welker to the position of acting CFO.

Welker is currently the company's VP and chief accounting officer. He replaces David Grace, who retired a the end of 2012. 

December 27, 2012
Rocky’s promotes HR executive

Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky’s Ace Hardware promoted Karen Gravelin to the position of VP corporate administration.

Gravelin, 56, joined Rocky’s Ace Hardware in September 2011 as director of human resources. In her new role, Gravelin will be responsible for information technology, organizational development and training in addition to human resources, payroll and benefits.

December 21, 2012
More employees covered by self-insured health plans

The percentage of U.S. workers in private-sector self-insured health plans has been increasing. In 2011, 58.5% of workers with employer-provided health coverage were in self-insured plans, up from 40.9% in 1998, according to a November 2012 report by the not-for-profit Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

December 13, 2012
Rocky’s holds Second Annual Pet Food drive

Through a partnership with Nutro Pet Foods, Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky’s Ace Hardware and customers are helping homeless and abandoned pets.

December 10, 2012
Suspected shoplifter came right from court hearing

A woman arrested for shoplifting from a Home Depot in Tewksbury, Mass., spent the morning in court being arraigned on burglary charges, according to an article in the Tewksbury Patch.

Erica Jane Ruane, 25, was arrested by Tewksbury Police on the night of Dec. 4 for breaking into a home, along with two accomplices, earlier that day.

November 5, 2012
Ballots weigh on business

Voters in 38 states will consider 174 statewide ballot measures on Nov. 6, 2012, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). These proposals are wide-ranging, with a number of them having potential workplace implications.

Questions appear on the ballots in more than one state concerning:

• Medical marijuana use; • Legalization of marijuana; and • Same-sex marriage.

October 10, 2012
Lancaster makes executive moves

Lancaster, the paint sundries distributor, has made some executive moves.

Tom Daniels has joined the company in the newly created position of VP sales for the Northeast. He will be responsible for the direct management of the Lancaster sales team and business development for the Northeast market.  

The company also appointed Steve Amaral as its new territory manager covering southeast Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Rhode Island. 

June 28, 2012
Russin Lumber expands outside sales force

Montgomery, N.Y.-based Russin Lumber has announced the hire of Lauren Litwin to join its expanding outside sales force.

She will work with the company’s existing dealer base on Massachusetts’ North Shore, in southeastern New Hampshire and throughout the state of Maine.

June 19, 2012
'The State of the Nation’s Housing' reveals complicated picture

The State of the Nation’s Housing is, in a word, complicated.

Housing markets are showing signs of reviving, concluded "The State of the Nation’s Housing" report released by the Cambridge, Mass.-based Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. But we’re not out of the woods, yet. 

June 11, 2012
Rocky’s builds new store in Fairhaven, Mass.

Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky’s Ace Hardware, founded in 1926, will open a brand new store in Fairhaven, Mass. 

Construction at the new site will begin immediately, converting a relatively new space in the busy Fairhaven Stop & Shop Plaza into the newest Rocky’s location, expected to be open in September.

May 31, 2012
Chain saws stolen, Lowe's has pictures

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men suspected of stealing six Husqvarna chain saws at a Lowe’s store in Springfield, Mass., according to a report on WGGB-TV, an ABC affiliate.

On May 21, the individuals allegedly placed the items, valued at $766 each, in a store cart and wheeled it out the front door. 

May 28, 2012
Fifty winning retailers, state by state

For the second year in a row, HCN has compiled a state-by-state list of high performers, innovative retailers and classic stores. It’s called the 2012 Home Chanel News Hardware Store All-Star list. Strong customer service is the common thread for all 50 retailers. From there, community involvement, company history, great products and interesting niches set these businesses apart from the competition. 

May 14, 2012
Rocky's Ace opens new store

Rocky’s Ace Hardware will open a new store in Westfield, Mass., during a grand-reopening ceremony May 19.

The new concept store measures 12,000 sq. ft. and is located at the corners of Main and Free Streets. The new store reflects the chain’s “Re-Discover Rocky’s” concept, described by the chain as a hardware store and more.

May 10, 2012
Beacon Roofing swings to profit

Beacon Roofing Supply, the Peabody, Mass., distributor of roofing and other housing exterior materials, posted net sales of $395.1 million for its second fiscal quarter of 2012, a 33.4% increase over sales of $296.3 million in the same quarter in 2011. Existing market (organic) sales, which exclude branches acquired after the beginning of last year's second quarter, increased 28.2%.

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