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May 21, 2013

Success in workplace violence prevention is equal parts intelligent response and observation, using as many team-based resources as possible, in anticipation of the subject’s potential actions, along with a mixture of intuition, experience and a thorough understanding of people who make threats versus those who pose threats.

A lot gets written about workplace violence, either in the aftermath of an incident or about how to minimize the possibility of such an event. There is talk about the need for more vigilance in the HR and security functions, the need for more policies, more access-control devices and better partnerships with the police. Others focus on anti-bullying campaigns for the workplace and the need for more government directives, safety enhancements and state laws on related workplace crimes.

May 19, 2013

May market emphasizes performance

Indianapolis -- A number of innovations, events and product deals helped draw thousands of member-owners to the 2013 Do it Best May Market.

“From the strong member response at the Sneak Peek, to the solid attendance at our many seminars and training events and continuing out to the bustle on the market floor, we’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm among our members this weekend,” said Do it Best Corp. President and CEO Bob Taylor.

May 6, 2013

A stand for 'Fairness'

Americans are correct to question laws that are packaged in ways that seem too good to be true. For instance: "No Child Left Behind Act" or the "Affordable Care Act." My personal suggestion is: "Strengthening America through higher pay for Editorial Writers Act."

Who could be against those?

May 6, 2013

Groundbreaking planned for wounded veteran

The Rhode Island Builders Association and Builders Helping Heroes in partnership with Homes for Our Troops are planning a May 18 groundbreaking for the home of an injured veteran.

The specially adapted-home project for Corporal Kevin Dubois will break ground in Burrillville, R.I.

The event is requesting community support for volunteers, tents, tables, chairs, podium and sound system, according to Doreen Lewis, community outreach coordinator. She can be reached at dlewis@homesforourtroops.org.

April 8, 2013

Inside the Beltway

The great H.L. Mencken wrote: "A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar."

Is he right? I don't know, but it seems as if Washington, D.C., is quite a mess these days, with a mounting deficit and acrimonious factions.

Still, one of the highlights on the HCN calendar is the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. This year's event, in addition to several rounds of strategizing and lobbying, featured presentations from not one, but two politicians.

March 15, 2013

LBM guys take Wall Street

For stock market advice, I always turn to my dad. He's not a stockbroker. But he has watched almost every episode of "Wall Street Week" since the mid-1970s. Now that he's retired, he sometimes watches the same episode of "Mad Money" twice in the same day. (The hands-down superiority of Louis Rukeyser over Jim Cramer will be discussed in a future editorial.)

Here's what my dad said about newly public Boise Cascade: "I like companies with tangible products — like building materials."

March 15, 2013

Storm trackers: HIRI follows Hurricane Sandy

When Hurricane Sandy slammed into the northeastern part of the United States, the level of damage was clearly devastating. It was the start of a tremendously difficult time for many residents of this highly populous region. When bad things happen, a silver lining often emerges. In this case, that is a positive impact on the home improvement industry.

March 13, 2013

Time to start using new Form I-9

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced March 7, 2013, that the official revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 will be made available in the March 8, 2013, Federal Register.

Employers should begin using this new form immediately. The new Form I-9 will contain a revision date of 03/08/13. The revision date is located on the bottom right-hand corner of the form.

Final changes to the Form I-9

March 11, 2013

In Arizona, a new Ace store

Ace Hardware opened in Casa Grande, Ariz., with a 9,950-sq.-ft. store in the Villago Marketplace, according to the TriValleyCentral.com web site.

The store is owned by Jan Blanco, who also owns Ace stores in Tempe and Chandler. Blanco told the news outlet: “We look forward to being a part of this community and providing the superior level of service associated with Ace Hardware stores."

February 27, 2013

For stores on the block, Ace launches listing service

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based co-op launched hardwarestoresforsale.com as a listing service for retailers, regardless of affiliation.

A new online tool from Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware is designed to help retailers sell a hardware store or find an existing retail space.

The website -- hardwarestoresforsale.com -- launched in mid-February as a listing service for "all convenience hardware retailers, no matter their affiliation."

December 18, 2012

Co-op buys Westlake Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware Corp. acquired Lenexa, Kan.-based Westlake Ace Hardware for $88 million.

Westlake was named the HCN 2011 Retailer of the Year, and was featured in the May 2011 issue of Home Channel News. Since 2006, the company was owned by a private equity firm -- Goldner Hawn Johnson and Morrison.

December 18, 2012

HomeSphere partners with Lebhar-Friedman’s new e-zine

Technology provider to the residential construction community HomeSphere Inc. announced a partnership with Lebhar-Friedman’s soon-to-launch digital magazine Residential Building Products and Technology.

December 13, 2012

At LMC, a billion-dollar campaign

It’s an age-old fact of business: Small companies will promote the many virtues of being small. Large companies will promote the many virtues of being large.

A new marketing campaign from Wayne, Pa.-based Lumbermens Merchandising Corp. (LMC) represents a noteworthy recent attempt to appeal to both ends of the spectrum. The effort is rooted in four words: “billion dollar buying power.”

December 13, 2012

Contractors go digital, but not social

By Brad Farnsworth

A recent study conducted by The Farnsworth Group, research and insight specialists for the building material and home improvement industries, found roughly 50% of builders and remodelers purchasing products online.

December 13, 2012

Hurricane Sandy lessons

Hurricane lamps

December 13, 2012

Major push to reach struggling homeowners

Two federal agencies have teamed up with the Ad Council to launch the third and final phase of the Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Public Service Advertising (PSA) campaign. Both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will promote the Making Home Affordable Program for homeowners who face foreclosure.

December 13, 2012

Old is for museums, current is for retail

When I picked up my local newspaper the other day, a headline read “Collierville’s McGinnis Hardware to close its doors after 146 years.” Clearly this isn’t the first independent store to go out of business, but it brought on feelings of nostalgia. Started in 1866 and in the same location on the picturesque Town Square since 1879, McGinnis Hardware was a fixture in the community. It stood through the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm and the Iraq War.

November 20, 2012

Builders FirstSource relaunches web site

Dallas-based Builders FirstSource unveiled its new company web site, at www.bldr.com.

Among the improvements are an “improved end-user experience,” along with location-specific information on products and services.

“The new website will provide an enhanced user experience and will give our customers much better information about our locations and the products and services we offer,” said Morris Tolly, Builders FirstSource senior VP of operations.

November 15, 2012

Lebhar-Friedman set to launch digital magazine for the building industry

The Residential Products Group of New York City-based publishing company Lebhar-Friedman plans to launch Residential Building Products, a digital magazine for builders, remodelers and subcontractors.

The digital tablet and desktop magazine combined with an interactive website will be dedicated to delivering valuable information in an exciting digital package.

November 13, 2012

LMC puts up big numbers for marketing

Wayne, Pa.-based Lumbermens Merchandising Corp. (LMC) launched a new Billion Dollar Buying Power branding strategy, highlighting the collective purchasing power of LMC Dealers.

November 6, 2012

Ace Hardware granted Wingman status

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. has officially been granted a trademark for the phrase “In-store Wingman,” according to Plus Patent News.

The trademark was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ace has used the phrase to promote its customer service in the past, including in this twitter tweet from May.

November 6, 2012

Weyerhaeuser expands manufacturing at Louisiana mill

Weyerhaeuser has added the capability to manufacture specialty oriented strand board (OSB) using high-performance MDI adhesives at its OSB plant in Arcadia, La. The mill can now produce Weyerhaeuser Edge Gold floor panels, a subfloor product designed to resist edge swell for smooth, even floors. The MDI capabilities also enable potential production of furniture grade OSB and rimboard.

November 2, 2012

A bright idea?