Report says home improvement sales are on the rise

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 9/26/2012 11:48:10 AM

Outdoor furniture and accessories manufacturers and retailers are feeling the benefits of increasing home improvement sales, according to an article in USA Today.

The article cites an IBM Smarter Commerce study released Tuesday that states online home-related sales were up 30% in July compared to last year, and up 25.5% in August. The study incorporates home improvement items from paint to furniture and uses online shopping data from 500-plus retailers.

The trend is also present in traditional brick-and-mortar stores - the article reports Home Depot saw its highest quarterly earnings report in five years last month, totaling $1.5 billion.

Lane Venture President Gary McCray told USA Today the increasing popularity of the outdoor room has translated to the company's best sales in years.

The article also mentions Hartville Hardware, a 2012 Casual Living Powerhouse Retailer based in Ohio, which opened a new seven-acre retail facility in July as sales increased.

Click here to read the full article from USA Today.