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.

In March 2011, Orchard’s majority owner, Sears Holdings, announced that Orchard had hired Mark Baker as its new chief executive. Baker’s curriculum vitae — former head merchant for Home Depot and, more recently, president and COO of Scotts Miracle-Gro — has observers expecting big-league initiatives from the California company. Baker had only been on the job for a few weeks when he hired Steve Mahurin, the former chief merchandising officer at True Value and another former Home Depot executive, as his head merchant.

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(As reported by HomeChannelNews.com)

Stormy weather around the country had something to do with Home Depot’s third quarter sales gain of 2.9%. So did strength in core categories.

The world’s largest home improvement retailer posted a 4.2% comp-store sales gain for the quarter ended Oct. 30. Total sales increased 2.9% to $17.326 billion. And even bigger growth came in the net earnings column, where Home Depot reported a 13.0% increase and net earnings of $934 million.

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(As reported by RetailingToday.com)