Content about Philadelphia

April 29, 2013
Navigating the leave-management maze

When an employee requires a period of leave because of a medical issue or disability, the situation is not always straightforward, and the best way to manage it is not always clear. Adding to the confusion is that employers face an ever-changing alphabet soup of federal and state laws and regulations, starting with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

When an employee requires a period of leave because of a medical issue or disability, the situation is not always straightforward, and the best way to manage it is not always clear. Adding to the confusion is that employers face an ever-changing alphabet soup of federal and state laws and regulations, starting with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

April 22, 2013
Shelly Enterprises joins US LBM Holdings

US LBM Holdings announced the acquisition of seven-unit Shelly Enterprises of Telford, Pa., the company’s ninth acquisition since 2010.

April 22, 2013
Use social media smartly when hiring

There are so many legal pitfalls to avoid when using social media in the candidate sourcing and screening processes, some employers might wonder whether it’s worth all the trouble.

There are so many legal pitfalls to avoid when using social media in the candidate sourcing and screening processes, some employers might wonder whether it’s worth all the trouble.

The answer is yes -- if it’s done carefully. Social media can significantly expand the universe of applicants and shed valuable light on job candidates -- when a disciplined approach is used, experts say.

September 4, 2012
CertainTeed boosts Philly green project

Valley Forge, Pa.-based CertainTeed Building Products donated to a project set to be YouthBuild Philadelphia’s first LEED Platinum-certified housing rehabilitation.

The recent rehabilitation of 4620 Greene Street benefited from CertainTeed insulation, gypsum, roofing, siding, fence and railing products -- all of which contributed to the lofty certification.

July 5, 2012
Saint-Gobain lends a hand in Philadelphia

Worldwide building materials company Saint-Gobain helped The Philadelphia Chapter of Rebuilding Together hold a three-day community rebuilding effort at 62nd Street and Lancaster Avenue. 

The Valley Forge, Pa.-based company sent several employee volunteers to the site.

July 3, 2012
Philly’s first net-zero townhomes in the works

In downtown Philadelphia, Nexus EnergyHomes is bringing to market the first net-zero capable townhomes in the city while advancing the green building trend.   

June 20, 2012
Sexy novel inspires niche market

We’re not making this up: The steamy, chick-lit best seller “Fifty Shades of Grey” has led to a niche market in at least one hardware store.

According to a segment on WCAU of Philadelphia, Penndel Hardware of Penndel, Pa., is seeing an increase in sales of products and materials used by characters in the novel about a relationship fueled by sadomasochism and bondage. 

January 9, 2012
Steep jump in improving housing markets

The list of improving U.S. housing markets tracked by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) almost doubled in January 2012 with the addition of 40 new metro areas. The NAHB’s First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) now counts 76 improving markets, up from 41 in December, with 31 states and the District of Columbia represented by at least one entry.

November 8, 2011
Philadelphia looks ahead to 2013 green conference

An article on Philly.com reveals that Philadelphia will have plenty of environmentally friendly projects to show off for GreenBuild when it comes to town in 2013. 

GreenBuild is the annual conference of the U.S. Green Building Council, and it will enter its 12th year in 2013. The event will take place Nov. 20 to 22. 

November 8, 2011
Philadelphia looks ahead to 2013 green conference

An article on Philly.com reveals that Philadelphia will have plenty of environmentally friendly projects to show off for GreenBuild when it comes to town in 2013. 

GreenBuild is the annual conference of the U.S. Green Building Council, and it will enter its 12th year in 2013. The event will take place Nov. 20 to 22. 

November 4, 2011
Allied Building Products completes three acquisitions

Allied Building Products Corp. has recently completed three acquisitions: Ivan Supply Co.; the Smyrna, Ga., branch of American Wholesale; and Pacific Source.

Philadelphia-based Ivan Supply Co. is a privately held, four-branch distributor of roofing and siding. It was founded in 1981 by Ivan Tancredi.

October 12, 2011
True Value shows off DTV in a small format

Store design and the art of packing high-volume sales in a small space was one of the front-and-center topics at the True Value Market in Philadelphia.

The company's Destination True Value (DTV) initiative -- its store design and merchandising concept -- came to Philadelphia in a new package that measured just over 5,200 sq. ft. The concept store, on full display at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, included 50% less lineal feet than the medium-size DTV format, but had 68% of the SKU count, according to the co-op.

October 12, 2011
True Value shows off DTV in a small format

Store design and the art of packing high-volume sales in a small space was one of the front-and-center topics at the True Value Market in Philadelphia.

The company's Destination True Value (DTV) initiative -- its store design and merchandising concept -- came to Philadelphia in a new package that measured just over 5,200 sq. ft. The concept store, on full display at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, included 50% less lineal feet than the medium-size DTV format, but had 68% of the SKU count, according to the co-op.

September 28, 2011
True Value's top merchant points to winners

With the message that relevant, up-to-date assortments are the lifeblood of successful hardware retailers, True Value Co.'s Mike Clark, senior VP and chief merchandising officer, identified winners during his presentation at the co-op's Fall Market in Philadelphia.

Clark also introduced the Chicago-based co-op's initial Farm & Ranch assortments.

True Value's farm and ranch offerings range from towing, jacks, oil and air filters, electric fencing, baler twine and Miller plastic buckets, to name a few.

September 27, 2011
Ideas emerge at True Value University event

During the True Value’s Fall Market in Philadelphia, a day spent on Retail Best Practices produced some actionable advice, according to organizers.

Some 500 True Value members attended the Retail Best Practices Conference (RBPC) and generated some actionable, take-home ideas.

September 26, 2011
Miracle-Gro and Rachael Ray plant garden in South Philly

Miracle-Gro and celebrity chef Rachael Ray installed the Camden Children's Garden in South Philadelphia, introducing the neighborhood to fresh produce from the garden to the dinner table.

September 26, 2011
Miracle-Gro and Rachael Ray plant garden in South Philly

Miracle-Gro and celebrity chef Rachael Ray installed the Camden Children's Garden in South Philadelphia, introducing the neighborhood to fresh produce from the garden to the dinner table.

September 25, 2011
In Philadelphia, True Value CEO sees growth

Philadelphia -- True Value Co. CEO Lyle Heidemann presented some positive numbers during the co-op's Fall Market general session, as he encouraged members to remain visible to their customers.

Speaking here Friday morning at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, site of the company's fall market, Heidemann pointed to positive recent sales gains across the co-op. Since the third week of May -- a starting point selected because it was the beginning of this year's delayed spring -- retail sales are up 4.3% at True Value, with every department positive, he said.

September 22, 2011
True Value Co. members head to Philadelphia

Chicago-based True Value Co.'s September market kicks off bright and early Friday morning with a 7:30 a.m. general session in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Sept. 23 to 25 event at the Philadelphia Convention Center also includes a Retail Best Practices Conference today, Sept. 22. 

One of the highlights of the event will be a display and demonstration of a small-format Destination True Value store, which will be open all hours of the market, with guided tours throughout the day. 

September 22, 2011
True Value Co. members head to Philadelphia

Chicago-based True Value Co.'s September market kicks off bright and early Friday morning with a 7:30 a.m. general session in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Sept. 23 to 25 event at the Philadelphia Convention Center also includes a Retail Best Practices Conference today, Sept. 22. 

One of the highlights of the event will be a display and demonstration of a small-format Destination True Value store, which will be open all hours of the market, with guided tours throughout the day. 

August 31, 2011
For True Value, new tools and destinations

True Value CEO Lyle Heidemann offered some friendly advice to a reporter recently. “Bring your camera to Philadelphia this year,” he said. 


Philadelphia is the site of the Chicago-based co-op’s Fall Market, Sept. 23 to 25. Here, True Value will be displaying its Destination True Value store design and format for smaller stores. In the Philadelphia and nearby East Coast markets, the co-op is expecting strong attendance from dealers with smaller-than-average footprints. 


July 14, 2011
Pennsylvania lumberyard closes

Graeber’s Lumber, a one-unit lumberyard and millwork shop in Fairless Hills, Pa., closed for business on July 11, according to a notice on its website. 

Located in Buck’s County, about 20 miles outside of Philadelphia, Graeber’s Lumber did $17 million in sales in 2009, according to the latest figures available. It sold roofing, flooring, kitchen and bath fixtures, windows and doors, in addition to lumber and other wood products.

March 7, 2011
Green retailing enters the big time


The idea of a nationwide chain of green building material outlets has been dreamed about by many eco-minded business people and investors. But it’s never gotten past the one-off stage, where successful green retailers push past their local markets with a successful model that can work in multiple cities across the country. Until now. 


The merger of Ecohaus and Green Depot, announced on Feb. 7, is a West-meets-East event that unites three of the pioneers in the green-building movement. Four, if you count Greenmaker in Chicago, which Green Depot purchased in 2008.


February 10, 2011
Green Depot acquires Ecohaus

Two of the nation’s largest dealers of green building materials became one this week when Green Depot purchased Ecohaus, a Pacific Northwest icon, creating an East-West network of environmentally friendly LBM stores. 

December 1, 2010
A weed by any other name

Several years ago, the couple down the street -- one of them a landscape architect -- decided to tear out their front lawn and put in a drought tolerant garden. This being Southern California, no one batted an eye. In fact, San Diego Home & Gardens magazine did a photo spread on the project.