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Maume, Ohio-based Therma-Tru introduced a new line of Pulse modern-style doors.

The contemporary door styles reflect four aesthetic feelings, according to the company: Eclectically Chic, Mid-Century Modern, Retrospective and Distinctively Modern.

“Pulse doors capture a modern feel, but at the same time bring you back to the 1940s through 1960s when door styles were simple,” said Derek Fielding, senior product manager for Therma-Tru Corp.

Towson, Md.-based Black & Decker introduced four new models of germ-killing steam cleaning units.

The units use water to kill 99.9% of germs to achieve a deep down clean, according to the company. 

Innovative new products engineered with the latest advancements in battery technology continue to fuel the power tools industry for the major brands — including DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee Tool — as they introduce faster, lighter products that provide superior performance for users.

As founder of the home channel’s leading Internet retailer of power tools, Don Cohen of ToolKing.com has as good a perspective as any on the trends shaping the power tools market.

His observation: “Faster, smaller, cheaper, better — that’s where products are going,” Cohen said. “There are more technology-enhanced products that are better looking, and better working, than ever before.”

While no product category is absolutely recession-proof, there are a few in the home channel that come close. Paint will always sell, and weather permitting, lawn and garden is a safe bet.

Add pet products to the list.

Dunn-Edwards, the Los Angeles-based paint and sundries line, has introduced a premium interior enamel product line that has the performance and appearance of traditional oil-based paint but cleans up with soap and water. 

Called Aristowall, the gloss and semi-gloss paint is a water-oil hybrid product designed for interior walls, trim, molding, cabinets, doors, kitchens, baths and high-traffic areas. It uses waterborne alkyd technology, according to Terry Chi, product manager. “The end result is a surface that looks like glass,” she said. 

Advancements in battery technology, more efficient tool engineering and ergonomic design have transformed the power tools segment in recent years. But this golden age of development and innovation hasn’t translated into sales growth, because all the major categories are in retreat, according to consumer data from The NPD Group.