Content about Iowa

May 6, 2013

Cascade, Iowa-based Cascade Lumber Company, a family-owned and operated retail lumberyard, is celebrating its 60th year of operation in 2013. Operating from a single location in eastern Iowa, Cascade Lumber operates a lumberyard in addition to a full-service home center serving retail and contractor customers. In addition, floor covering sales and installation are conducted from the Cascade location and a second outlet in nearby Monticello, Iowa.

April 25, 2013

Cascade Lumber Co., an eastern Iowa pro dealer and home center, is planning a special Founders Day event in May.

Cascade, Iowa-based Cascade Lumber Company, a family-owned and operated retail lumberyard, is celebrating its 60th year of operation in 2013. Operating from a single location in eastern Iowa, Cascade Lumber operates a lumberyard in addition to a full-service home center serving retail and contactor customers. In addition, floor covering sales and installation are conducted from the Cascade location and a second outlet in nearby Monticello, Iowa.

January 3, 2013

An egg incubator sold at certain farm and ranch retailers and manufactured by Houghton, Iowa-based Hawkeye Steel Products' Brower divison is being recalled.

The base can ignite during use, posing a fire hazard to the consumer, according to a release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. No injuries have been reported, but Brower received three reports of fires, resulting in property damage.

December 6, 2012

Cequent Consumer Products, a market leader in household cleaning tools and automotive aftermarket products, announced the asset purchase of Harper Brush Works, located in Fairfield, Iowa.

John Aleva, president of Cequent Consumer Products, said the acquisition was a way of expanding the Solon, Ohio-based company beyond automotive products.

December 3, 2012

Electrolux will relocate its North American laundry products research and development center to Charlotte, N.C., from Webster City, Iowa.

The move signals the company’s commitment to further product innovation in its fabric care business and builds on the design, testing and marketing capabilities that already exist in its Charlotte-based North American headquarters.

November 2, 2012

Among the top 10 companies on the 2012 Home Channel News Industry Scoreboard, none grew faster than Brentwood, Tenn.-based Tractor Supply. The farm-and-ranch lifestyle provider showed a 16.3% sales increase and an overall ranking of seventh on the Top 300 retailer list.

Rural King Supply of Mattoon, Ill., moved up the list from 25th to 22nd. Also moving up the rankings were Atwood Ranch & Home of Enid, Okla., and Bomgaars Supply of Sioux City, Iowa.

June 14, 2012

Holstein, Iowa-based manufacturer of laminate countertops, VT Industries is giving contractors the opportunity to showcase their skills and craftsmanship through the “Ugly Countertop” contest.

Contractors are eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Marco Island, Fla. But first, they have to show photos of how a VT Countertop transformed a countertop into a beautiful home fixture.

May 21, 2012

The 2012 selections 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.

The list of Hardware Store All-Stars, one from each of the 50 U.S. states, continues with Illinois, Indiana and Iowa:

March 29, 2012

The Toro Co. has partnered with Ryan Cos. to build a 450,000-sq.-ft. distribution center near Des Moines, Iowa. Toro will lease the facility from Ryan once construction is completed later this year. Toro will then transition distribution operations from its current facilities in Lakeville, Minn., and Beatrice, Neb., to the Des Moines facility.

November 10, 2011

Mead Lumber, the regional LBM chain with locations in seven Midwestern states, has purchased four locations of Fullerton Building Center, according to an announcement on its website.  

The stores are located in Yankton, S.D., and Vermillion, Winner, and Norfolk, Neb. Fullerton will still operate its lumberyards in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

November 10, 2011

Mead Lumber, the regional LBM chain with locations in seven Midwestern states, has purchased four locations of Fullerton Building Center, according to an announcement on its website.  

The stores are located in Yankton, S.D., and Vermillion, Winner, and Norfolk, Neb. Fullerton will still operate its lumberyards in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

June 21, 2011

The supplier to Blain's Farm & Fleet has begun construction on a 43,000-sq.-ft. addition to its Janesville, Wis., headquarters, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Blain Supply serves 34 Blains' Farm & Fleet stores in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

June 21, 2011

The supplier to Blain's Farm & Fleet has begun construction on a 43,000-sq.-ft. addition to its Janesville, Wis., headquarters, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Blain Supply serves 34 Blains' Farm & Fleet stores in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

May 23, 2011

The May issue of Home Channel News compiled the first-ever state-by-state Hardware Store All Star list.

The May issue of Home Channel News compiled the first-ever state-by-state Hardware Store All Star list. Here are three more of the 50: standout stores from Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

May 23, 2011

The May issue of Home Channel News compiled the first-ever state-by-state Hardware Store All Star list.

The May issue of Home Channel News compiled the first-ever state-by-state Hardware Store All Star list. Here are three more of the 50: standout stores from Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

May 3, 2011

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.” 


January 17, 2011

Muscatine, Iowa-based Prefense, maker of Prefenz Botanicals hand sanitizers, has signed several contracts with major retailers, including Do it Best and True Value, according to the DesMoines Register. 

December 2, 2010

US LBM Holdings has appointed Rick Kolaczewski as its new chief financial officer, effective Nov. 30....

November 21, 2010

Iowa retailers have snow and technology working in their favor....

November 21, 2010

Iowa retailers have snow and technology working in their favor....

November 2, 2008

True Value president and CEO Lyle Heidemann delivered a pointed message to co-op members at...

October 15, 2008

The Wisconsin Retail Lumber Association will join up with Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and...

July 13, 2008

The worst flooding in the Midwest in 15 years has left communities across several states...

July 13, 2008

The worst flooding in the Midwest in 15 years has left communities across several states...

June 23, 2008

Lowe’s, Home Depot and Wal-Mart are among the big-box retailers helping rebuild communities devastated by...