Remembering Bernie Marcus’s Invention of the Modern DIY Retailer

The passing of the legendary co-founder of Home Depot earlier this month reminded the industry of his role in creating the biggest retailer in home improvement. When Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank were fired from the long-since-forgotten Handy Dan home improvement chain, it started a process that led to the creation of a $150 billion […]

Outlook for Home Improvement Products Increases for 2025

Even as the rest of this year looks soft, the Home Improvement Research Institute is more optimistic for what’s ahead. The market for home improvement products should rebound and grow by 3.9 percent in 2025 according to a new market forecast from the HIRI. This will follow what is projected to be a 0.1 percent […]

Home Reno Will Drive Builder Market for 2025

Whatever happens with mortgage rates, it will be existing homeowners renovating their homes that will be the big surge next year. The builder market may still be waiting for an expected reduction in interest rates to drive the new housing market but in the meantime, a new report is suggesting the renovation and home improvement […]

True Value Being Acquired by Do It Best

It’s yet another change in the home improvement and repair retail sector that will impact building materials suppliers. The upheaval in the retailing business continues with the news that True Value Co., the brand for more than 4,500 independently owned and managed outlets, had agreed to sell itself to a major competitor Do It Best […]

Who Wins Now that LL Flooring Has Lost?

With the big retailing flooring chain liquidating, several competing retailers stand to pick up its $900 million in annual revenues. The news that LL Flooring, the 400-store specialty chain already in bankruptcy, would be shutting down completely and liquidating was not totally unexpected: the company had said if it couldn’t arrange for a new owner […]

Home Depot’s Lower Forecast Sets Stage for ’25 First Half

Home Depot has been one of the best performing retailers in the home improvement space but it sees a slower return for its business. No retailer has been a better performer or been more indicative of the remodeling and home improvement sector than Home Depot so when it reduces its forecast for its upcoming business […]

Window Boxes, Shelving, Picket Fences Among Top No-Demo Reno Projects

For homeowners looking to spruce up their homes a number of DIY projects using wood rank high on their to-do lists. As Americans continue to remain in their current homes, unable to move due to high mortgage rates and lack of supply, they are looking at do-it-yourself or low-cost renovations that can add value to […]

Which Ten States Are Best for Home Remodeling Businesses?

A new study points to these states with homeowners “most committed” to upgrading their homes. Even as many current homeowners are hesitant to leave their low-rate mortgages and move elsewhere those very same people are quite interested in fixing up their current houses. A new study from the self-storage company SpareFoot identified ten states in […]

Spring/Summer DIY Projects Include “Great Undoing”

Fixing decorating and remodeling mistakes ranks high for homeowners’ “To-Do” lists, says new Thumbtack study.  Homeowners are getting busy this spring and summer with all kinds of repair and remodeling projects, many of which involve bringing in tradespeople to do the dirty work. A big job for many will be undoing previous design choices they […]

Home Depot Doubles Down on Pro Business

The giant home improvement retailer’s latest acquisition makes a big statement on its focus on contractors and professional builders. Only a month after announcing four new distribution centers specifically focused on its pro customers, Home Depot made a huge purchase that strengthened its attention to the roofing, landscaping, and pool sectors of the professional building […]