Feb 4, 2015

Spring (Hiring) Fever Hits Lowe’s By Tim Hodson

Even though a good portion of the country is still dealing with the after effects of Winter Storms Juno and Linus, Lowe’s has got spring fever already.

The No. 2 home improvement retailer recently announced plans to hire 30,000 seasonal employees at its stores in the United States and another 2,000 associates for its Canadian stores.

The hiring process will begin on a market-by-market basis. Lowe’s stores in Florida, California, Texas and Arizona have already gotten the ball rolling and begun their spring hiring.

“As spring arrives, our stores are stocked with products homeowners use for their indoor and outdoor projects. To help make shopping and selection easier, we want our stores staffed with knowledgeable employees who’ll provide exceptional service for customers,” said Scott Purvis, Lowe’s vice president, human resources operations.

Still a Few Seats Left

The 2015 Big Grower Executive Summit gets under way this weekend and we still have a few open seats.

If you thought it was too late to attend this year’s Summit, it’s not! You still have a chance to register and learn how to “Survive & Thrive” in 2015 and beyond.

Just click here to sign up today.

– Tim

Home Depot Puts Tech in Georgia Tech

The Home Depot has partnered with the Georgia Institute of Technology to establish a new retail technology center on the college’s campus in Atlanta. The center is focused on creating technological innovations and educational opportunities to develop young talent at the university. Students will work with an academic advisor and Home Depot associates to develop new technologies like 3D printing, virtual reality and new scanning techniques.

Reduced Gas Prices Accelerate Sam’s Club Sales

The recent drop in gas prices is music to the ears and cash registers at Sam’s Club. Last week, the wholesale retailer’s CEO and president Rosalind Brewer told CNBC that the company’s stores saw an increase in traffic and consumer spending as fuel prices decreased. And that momentum has continually been building since before the holiday shopping season.

Wal-Mart to Offer Cash for Income Tax Refunds

Wal-Mart is teaming up with 25,000 tax preparation sites across the country to provide consumers with the opportunity to get their tax refunds in cash. The retailer hopes its Direct2Cash program will entice shoppers to then spend their refunds at Wal-Mart stores. The cash refund service will be available in all Wal-Mart stores offering the tax services and can be used for state and federal income tax returns.