Content about San Jose

Orchard Supply Hardware, the historic California brand that has strived to strike a happy medium between big-box home center and friendly neighborhood hardware store, is considering a bankruptcy option, according to a report in Bloomberg News.

The report also says the California hardware chain is continuing talks with lenders over its $261 million debt and lease obligations. 

San Jose, Calif.-based Orchard Supply Hardware posted deeper losses for its fourth quarter and full year.

For the quarter, the company’s net loss was $33.57 million, compared with a net loss of $7.24 million in the same quarter last year. For the full year, the net loss swelled to $118.38 million, compared with $14.45 million in the previous year. 

Back in June, Home Depot said it intended to defend its position as power tool market share leader. Now the giant chain finds itself a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Orchard Supply Hardware.

In a 43-page complaint, San Jose, Calif.-based Orchard said it's being iced by power tool makers Milwaukee and Makita at the urging of the world's largest home improvement retailer. "Orchard Supply vs. Home Depot, Milwaukee Electric Tool and Makita USA" was filed in December in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. OSH claims the defendants are running an unlawful group boycott.

California cities dominate the top-ten Eco-Friendliest Cities list assembled by small business-oriented web site thumbtack.com

San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose rank one, two and three on the list, which measures the per capita prevalence of a representative group of ten types of green services. More details about the data are here.

Here are the top ten eco-friendly cities from the list:

In the California company’s first full-year fiscal earnings report since separating from Sears, Orchard Supply posted a net loss of $14.5 million, compared to net income of $8.7 million in fiscal year 2010.

The company’s sales in 2011 were $660.5 million, roughly flat from the prior years. Same store sales declined 0.6% -- average ticket was up, but transaction volume was down.

San Jose, Calif.-based Orchard Supply Co. CEO Mark Baker described the retailer's efforts to keep the brand fresh while also honoring the company's 80-plus-year history.

An emphasis on the in-store experience and local knowledge is key for the California chain, Baker explained during his presentation to the Presidents Council advisory board meeting during the International Builders' Show here in Orlando, Fla.

"We're not a small big box, but a really big small box," he said.

Orchard Supply Hardware has gone through a lot of changes in its 80-year history, but the California chain — now numbering 89 units with $660.7 million in annual sales — has weathered them all. Changes in ownership, leadership, store design, color scheme and signage have come and gone. But the stores’ customers — known for their exceptional loyalty — have generally stuck with the chain. 


Orchard, the California home improvement chain formerly known as Orchard Supply Hardware or OSH, is opening a new store in South San Jose on Sept. 17. The new unit will be the company’s 89th location. 

An article in the San Jose Mercury News reported that Orchard Supply Hardware is working to distinguish itself from big and small competitors. 

In addition to introducing a new logo and a new brand name -- "Orchard" -- the San Jose, Calif.-based company intends to earn a reputation as the place for backyard home improvement. 

According to Tom Carey, senior VP for Orchard, the 89-store chain anticipates growth, perhaps even at the rate of 10 to 15 stores a year. 

Steve Mahurin, the former Home Depot and True Value Co. merchandising executive, will take over as the senior merchant at San Jose, Calif.-based Orchard Supply Hardware.

Mahurin's appointment as executive VP and chief merchandising officer takes effect May 2. He will replace Steve Olsen, who has been named senior VP and chief strategy officer for the California hardware chain. Both men will report to Mark Baker, who was named CEO earlier this year.