Content about e - commerce

Home Depot has reached an agreement with 360Buy.com, one of China’s biggest Internet retailers, to launch its own Chinese e-commerce sales effort, according to an article in the Morning Whistle.

Memphis-based distributor Orgill plans to upgrade its Orgill.com ordering tool for members, with an emphasis on improving its speed and efficiency.

The improvement project will be rolled out in two phases, according to David Meany, Orgill’s director of eCommerce. The first phase is expected to launch in mid September, with phase two occurring in spring of 2013.

A new Internet retailer has entered the marketplace, promising name brand tools at discount prices, customer reviews and social media networking. The site, dwttools.com, is owned and operated by DWT Global, based in Delaware.

Current product categories found on dwttools.com include abrasives, pneumatic, power, hand and automotive tools. Brand names include Channellock, DeWalt, Irwin and Milwaukee. 

E-commerce sales continue to grow, proving that more and more consumers are choosing to shop online in addition to or instead of shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. Measurement firm comScore reported that online retail spending (excluding auctions, autos and large corporate purchases) for the fourth quarter reached $49.7 billion, up 14% versus year ago. This growth rate represented the ninth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates. For the entire 2011 year, U.S.

The race for the winning e-commerce formula continues. The latest effort comes from Mooresville, N.C., where the nation’s second-largest home improvement retailer is taking a holistic approach to engaging customers across channels.

Lowe’s launched its MyLowes Web-based tool last month and described it as a digital effort to help consumers maintain, manage and dream about home improvement.

Fort Worth, Texas-based eCommerce Industries has announced that Ace Hardware has given its final certification to ECi’s RockSolid POS business system software for integration with the Ace Rewards program. Ace Rewards is a retail incentive program that awards points based on dollars spent and provides members advanced notice of sales, members-only coupons and allows them to submit rebates online. 

Fort Worth, Texas-based eCommerce Industries has been named to the Inc. 5000, a list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States.

The company made the list for the fourth consecutive year. ECi, which provides business software for small and growing companies, was also listed at No. 284 in the Software industry category.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest differences. Then again, sometimes it’s the big things.


The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp., fresh from its October Market in Indianapolis, is advancing a slate of initiatives both large and small. Projects range from reprinting its field staff’s business cards to building what it calls a digital World Class Commerce Center. And as CEO Bob Taylor sees it, they are all in service of one overarching goal: serving the members. 


Let’s start with the big plans first. 


Lowe’s second-quarter financial report was a disappointment to the company’s executives, who made no excuses for the retailer’s poor showing. Earnings were down slightly, revenues grew by only 1.3%, and comp-store sales were essentially flat. “Even after taking into account the challenges of the macro environment, we are still not pleased with our performance this year,” said chairman and CEO Robert Niblock, speaking at an analysts’ conference call on Aug. 15. 


Lowe’s second-quarter financial report was a disappointment to the company’s executives, who made no excuses for the retailer’s poor showing. Earnings were down slightly, revenues grew by only 1.3%, and comp-store sales were essentially flat. “Even after taking into account the challenges of the macro-environment, we are still not pleased with our performance this year,” said chairman and CEO Robert Niblock, speaking at an analysts’ conference call on Aug. 15.

Buy.com, a leading e-commerce marketplace, has expanded into the home improvement arena through a partnership with CPO Commerce, a leading supplier of new and reconditioned tools and other home channel products. Customers can now shop for more than 6,000 hammers, drills, saws and other tools, all with free shipping, through Buy.com's CPO Outlets store online section. Products also include floor care, ceiling fans, saws, generators, lawn care products, pressure washers and compressors.

Continuing the alphabetical, coast-to-coast rundown of all-star hardware stores, here are three standouts from Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota.