Content about Alaska

A recently released report by IHS Global Insight shows how far away U.S. states are from peak employment and the distance each one must travel to reach pre-recession job levels. According to U.S. regional economist Steven Frable of IHS Global, only four states have been able to reach or surpass their previous employment peaks. All four are beneficiaries of the current energy boom: Alaska, North Dakota, Texas and Louisiana. Some states, though -- notably New York -- are less than 1% away from reaching peak employment.

The 2012 crop of Home Channel News Hardware Store All-Stars marks the second year of the state-by-state accounting of high-performance retailers. The common theme of “excellent customer service” runs through the entire list, but that’s just the beginning.

Here are the first three on our alphabetical listing:

ProBuild Holdings, the nation’s largest pro dealer, has announced a restructuring that will eliminate several high level management positions, lay off a number of people, and institute a hiring freeze at its Denver headquarters. 

In an internal memo obtained by Home Channel News, ProBuild’s CEO Rob Marchbank outlined the new leadership and reporting structure of the Denver-based company. The executive VP operations layer of management will be eliminated, and all senior VPs of operations will report directly to Marchbank.

Log and lumber exports from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska in the first three quarters of 2011 already surpass the total exports of 2010 according to the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station.

CoreLogic, a provider of information, analytics and business services, has reported that home prices in the United States decreased 0.4% on a month-over-month basis, the first monthly decline in four months. According to CoreLogic, national home prices, including distressed sales, also declined on a year-over-year basis by 4.4% in August 2011 compared with August 2010. This follows a decline of 4.8% in July 2011 compared with July 2010.

On the eve of the company’s second-quarter earnings announcement, Lowe’s closed seven underperforming stores. 


Shuttered are locations in Meriden, Conn.; Riverdale, Ga.; Elgin and Schaumburg, Ill.; Kenai, Alaska.; Cambridge, Minn.; and Ticonderoga N.Y.


Obviously, the move upset the affected communities. For instance, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski complained of the lack of notice. But CEO Robert Niblock is paid to make tough decisions, which is how he described the seven closings.


Lowe’s announcement on Aug. 15 that it was closing seven stores around the country has brought some swift reactions from politicians, community leaders and local media outlets.

From New York’s Island to the Redwood Forests, the great American hardware store maintains a revered place in the commercial history of these United States. 


On the following pages, Home Channel News editors travel state-by-state to find examples of leading hardware store retailers. To those deserving candidates not on the list — and there are many — we offer this advice as consolation: “Keep up the good work. We’ll get to you eventually.” 


From New York's Island to the Redwood Forests, the great American hardware store maintains a revered place in commercial history of these United States. 

The May issue of Home Channel News compiled the first-ever Hardware Store All Star list. Here are three of the 50: standout stores from Alabama, Alaska and Arizona. 

• Alabama