The three largest big-box home improvement retailers in the U.S. have unique stories. Lowe’s, as the oldest, began in 1921 as an independently owned single store that grew to 15 locations before it became an investor-owned business in 1961. Read …

Read the Lowe’s 360 story from Hardware Retailing magazine here. The following extras are only available online and provide a closer look at Lowe’s. SWOT Analysis  Lowe’s has been successful for decades, but operates in a competitive marketplace with strong contenders among …

To read Hardware Retailing’s analysis of Lowe’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, click on the icons below and scroll down. Read the full Lowe’s 360 profile here.

Warren Shoulberg is a retail industry observer and a contributing writer to a variety of business publications, including Forbes. He spoke with Hardware Retailing about Lowe’s position in the home improvement industry and the opportunities the big-box retailer has. For a comprehensive …

Lowe’s is making a comeback before it needs one. The company has been busy since 2018, restructuring its executive team, shedding side ventures and reevaluating its approach to serving professional customers.  The retailer is refocusing on growing its core U.S. …

Ben Houser was 16 years old when he interviewed for a job at King’s Ace Hardware in Billings, Montana. He had zero work experience and knew nothing about hardware, but he wanted to earn some cash. King’s Ace hired Ben …

When the spread of COVID-19 began changing the lives of residents in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Cloverdale Ace Hardware was quick to find new ways to serve. Store owner Douglas Brown scrambled to ensure his business could continue operating, while accommodating …

When the local Easter egg hunt got canceled, Dawne Ramshaw of Ramshaw’s Ace Hardware in Mount Shasta, California, printed Easter egg coloring pages to give away.  She invited the community to decorate the paper eggs and hang them in their …