The move would nearly double the combined manufacturing capacity of three ICI manufacturing facilities currently in India, which have a capacity to produce about 120 million liters (31.7 million gallons) of paint per year.

Tight SPF lumber availability generated from summer shutdowns continued to propel prices moderately higher, despite limited demand.

“I saw this as an opportunity to do a smaller, high-margin store with no building materials -- just basic hardware and lawn and garden, which are our strengths,” said Joe Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Do it Centers.

Still, the International Council of Shopping Centers noted the gain was “softer” than the 4.2 percent gain seen in June. "Although July captured some early back-to-school shopping, the month was dominated by clearance sales and discounts,” said ICSC chief economist Michael Niemira.

Looking ahead, the company anticipates ongoing pressure on raw material costs and continued weakness in the U.S. economy.

The Children’s Miracle Network is an organization that helps sick and injured children as well as the hospitals where they receive care.

The company said a large part of its strategy will be to continue recruiting independent dealers. The retailer announced 12 new franchisees yesterday and said it has added 21 independent dealers so far this year.

Michael Cassidy, former vp-corporate development at ProBuild, has been named the chief operating officer at TW Perry. He will take over as president next year.

Merchandise sales from Ace’s international business continued to be strong and contributed $6.5 million in incremental sales, up 13.5 percent compared with 2007.

In 2002, Copeland Lumber was acquired by Tum-A-Lum Lumber, a Bend, Ore.-based dealer with five other locations in California and Oregon.