Carr promoted, Hardy appointed at RONA

BOUCHERVILLE, QC — Dave Carr has been promoted to the position of vice-president, Retail, Western Canada for RONA inc. He was most recently vp of Totem. Carr will report to Luc Rodier, who was recently appointed RONA's executive vice-president, retail. Also at RONA, Francois Hardy is new vice-president dealer-owner network development at RONA... full story in next Monday's weekly edition of the HARDLINES e-newsletter!

Richelieu reports healthy year-end

MONTREAL — Fourth-quarter consolidated sales for Richelieu increased by 14.8% and diluted earnings per share rose by 10.4%. For the full year 2011, consolidated sales grew by 17.2% to $523.8 million, with 1.2% coming from internal growth and 16.0% from acquisitions.

Tembec's results dip in first quarter

MONTREAL — Forest products company Tembec has reported consolidated sales for the first quarter ended Dec. 24, 2011, of $401 million, down from $422 million in the comparable period a year earlier. The company generated a net loss of $16 million in the quarter, vs. a net loss of $11 million in 2010.

Chalifour to open retail development centre

LONDON, ON — With the consolidation of more of its operations into its London facility, Chalifour Canada Ltd. has revealed it will build an 8,500-square-foot "Retail Development Centre" right in the warehouse. The RDC will be, in effect, a model store that will feature product displays and merchandising... full story in the next well-researched edition of HARDLINES!

Sears Canada lays off 400

TORONTO — Sears Canada has laid off 400 workers. According to the Financial Post, cuts were not made to sales staff, but to behind-the-scenes jobs, such as food service in the stores, and at head office... full story at business.financialpost.com

Bonnie Brooks to head up HBC and Lord & Taylor

NEW YORK — The holding company that owns both Lord & Taylor and Hudson's Bay Co. have combined the two units through the acquisition of Lord & Taylor by its Canadian sister. The combined company will operate under the Hudson's Bay name, with former HBC head Bonnie Brooks now in charge of the entire company... full story at business.financialpost.com

PayPal expands presence in Home Depot stores

ATLANTA — PayPal, the online payment service, is going bricks and mortar in 2,000 Home Depot stores, in direct competition with traditional credit cards... full story at ecreditdaily.com

Hart Stores gets court order to begin repaying creditors

LAVAL, QC — The Québec Superior Court has authorized Hart Stores to file a Plan of Arrangement under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada). The plan calls for the junior department store chain to make payments totaling $6 million over three years for distribution to Hart Stores' creditors... full story in the next financially suspect edition of HARDLINES! Not getting your own weekly copy of HARDLINES? Click here for a FREE TRIAL subscription!

Home Depot acquires its own online retail company

Walmart makes changes to Sam's CLub executive ranks

BENTONVILLE, AR — Brian Cornell, president and CEO of Sam's Club, has informed the company that he and his wife would like to move back to the Northeast for family reasons. Rosalind G. Brewer has been promoted to president and CEO of Sam's Club to replace Cornell. She reports to Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke, effective Feb. 1. Brewer was most recently president of the Walmart U.S. east business unit, where she was responsible for more than $100 billion in annual revenue, representing almost 1,600 stores and more than 500,000 associates.

Blues legend Etta James is dead

LOS ANGELES — Etta James, who lived her life as she sang her blues, rough and ready, died on Friday from complications of leukemia. She was 73. Her career began when she ws just five years old, singing on radio in a gospel choir in Los Angeles. Through her life, she was a pioneer for female singers, even as she battled with drugs and illness. (Get your Monday morning hit of the blues here!)