Total nonfarm payroll employment rose in June by 195,000, and the unemployment rate was unchanged from May at 7.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The number of unemployed persons, at 11.8 million, was also unchanged in June. …

Three decades ago, Central Florida businessman and former North American Retail Hardware Association President Walter Toole purchased the existing Bray Hardware, a fixture in Winter Garden, Fla., since it was established there in 1906. His company, Toole’s Ace Hardware, has …

Are your customers proud of their peonies? Crazy about their koi pond? Raving about their roses? Finally found the mulch, rock or pavers they love? Here’s a great opportunity to promote your store by having them tell us about their …

Frank Denny, former president of big-box home improvement retailer Builders Square, died July 2 at the age of 79. The former president of W.R. Grace and Co.’s home center division, Denny was chosen to manage the expansion of Home Centers …

The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it will delay until 2015 the requirement that businesses with more than 50 employees provide health insurance to their workers or pay a penalty under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. This delay …

Sunny days mean people want to get out and about and spend some extra time outdoors. Offer events that will get people to your business. Here are some tips to help you plan your special event: Define your goals for …

Retail industry specialists will contribute to a webinar “boot camp” designed to help retailers drive in shoppers and increase profits during the holiday selling season. Hosted by One Step Retail Solutions, a retailing consultancy firm, the webinar will focus on …

Pending home sales increased in May to the highest level since late 2006, suggesting a possible boost in sales as mortgage interest rates began to rise, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based …