Industry News: Home Center and Hardware Chains

Personnel Update:Do itBest Corp. announced that Amanda Harmeyer, the former Associate MerchandiseManager for Housewares, has been promoted to Merchandise Manager for CleaningSupplies and Storage, a newly created position.
HavertyFurniture Companies, INC.,announced that Clarence H. Smith has been elected chairman succeeding L.Phillip "Phil" Humann who was elected lead director.
OrchardSupply Hardware announced thatSenior VP and Chief Marketing Officer    Thomas Carey has left the company to become Senior VP,Chief Customer Officer, a newlycreated position, for The Pep Boys –Manny, Moe & Jack.

Mergers and Acquisitions:InterlineBrands, Inc. announced the completion of its acquisition byaffiliates of Goldman Sachs CapitalPartners ("GS Capital Partners") and P2 Capital Partners, LLC ("P2 Capital Partners" or"P2").

Industry Insight:AshleyFurniture Industries Inc. plans to open about 50 bedding stores, underthe Zzz's By Ashley banner in 2012.The sleep shops will average about 4,500 sq. ft. each, and will offer awide selection of mattresses and sleep accessories.
BarrLumber Co. Inc., a pro dealer that recently operated fiveSouthern California locations, has closed three locations and now operates fromtwo locations.
McCoy’sBuilding Supply announced plans to open its first new locationsince 2007, with a store in Tyler, Texas.  The store will mark theregional company’s 84th unit overall as it celebrates its 85th anniversary.  The new store will also feature a newstore design that focuses on energy conservation while decreasing itsconstruction timeline. A smaller, more efficient store further supports McCoy’s fundamental beliefthat its customers want to get in, get out and get back to building as quicklyas possible. Construction on the store broke ground in August.
OrchardSupply Hardware opened a 50,000-sq.-ft. store in Torrance, Calif.,showcasing the company’s new store format.   Orchard’snewest location is at the site of a former Kmart store and marks the company’s89th store in the state of California.
ProBuildHoldings Inc., cut 127 corporate positions across itsoperations nationwide “to reduce costs and better serve customers.  The job cuts were across alldepartments and geographic areas, although most of the cuts were administrationpositions, including jobs in finance and human resources.
Westlake Ace Hardware has closed one of its two storesin Independence, MO.

Green Initiatives/Sustainability:HomeDepot has begun selling EcoScraps, which is composed of overripe produce thatwould otherwise have rotted is the feedstock, for the startup manufacturer’s organiccompost and potting soil.