Housewares are appearing on the shelves of Toys “‘R” Us stores bearing labels from the Rooms + Spaces banner. That chain got its start last year when the toy seller’s parent, Putman Investments, acquired a collection of properties vacated in the bankruptcy of Bed Bath & Beyond. In the past year, according to the Canadian Press, its footprint has shrunk from 24 standalone stores to just two, but Toys “R” Us outlets are carrying its merchandise in categories ranging from bedding to stemware.

Grant Packard, associate professor of marketing at York University’s Schulich School of Business, said housewares are “a category that’s really struggled to become a destination of all things.”

Canadian shoppers are hesitant to adopt new retail tech and are wary of social media promotions, according to a report by Capterra Canada. The software platform says 42 percent of consumers avoiding brand engagement and 83 percent object to social platforms tracking their purchases. Despite this, they show openness to AI-driven recommendations, preferring search engines and retailer sites over social media for e-commerce journeys.

The city of Wilsonville, Ore., has rejected Home Depot’s application to move into a former electronics store, accusing the retailer of bribery and intimidation. Home Depot in turn alleges the city’s decision did not comply with its own regulations and state law. It will appeal to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals and seek an enforcement order with the state’s Land Conservation and Development Commission.

Mental illness among youth shouldn’t be glossed over or buried, says Rob Faries. Besides being a RONA dealer with two stores on the edge of James Bay in northern Ontario, he’s also the front man for a rock and roll band called the Relic Kings.

The band’s latest song, “Hey Good Night,” tackles the theme of teen addiction and mental health. “I think it’s a good story to tell. It’s better that we talk about it, so everyone can learn from it and console each other. Because we’re all going through the same thing,” says Faries.

(And it’s a hell of a great rock and roll song. Click here and take a few minutes on this Monday morning to experience it.—your seriously impressed Editor)

The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a US$1.6 million penalty to The Home Depot for selling prohibited hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) products. HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases used mainly for refrigeration and air conditioning.

“Restricting HFC products and equipment is key to achieving the state’s statutory greenhouse gas emission limits and ultimately getting to net-zero by 2050,” said Joel Creswell, manager of the state Ecology Department’s Climate Pollution Reduction Program. The company has 30 days to appeal the penalty to Washington’s Pollution Control Hearings Board.

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Koelnmesse, the German trade fair organization, has announced the opening of Confex, a new event centre with space for 6,200 guests located at the Cologne Messe/Deutz ICE railway station. The state-of-the-art venue creates new opportunities for innovative event formats in the region and its location at the railway station provides convenience to attendees coming from across Europe and around the world.

Federated Co-operatives Ltd. continues to deal with the fallout of what the company calls a “cybersecurity incident” recently that affected its retail locations in western Canada. On June 27, the co-op posted on social media that it was experiencing a cybersecurity incident that was impacting some internal and customer-facing systems. FCL later announced that there was no evidence that consumer data was compromised. As of yesterday, all 398 Co-op cardlock locations are back online

(Get the full story in Monday’s eye-popping edition of our flagship publication, Hardlines Weekly Report. You can learn more—and subscribe—by clicking here!)

Princess Auto has made a deal with the Canadian Football League that names the hardware and automotive retailer as the CFL’s official provider of tools and equipment. “This partnership represents the next step for the league and Princess Auto as they come together to provide unique experiences for their biggest fans,” the CFL said in a release.

Castle Building Centres Group is making the most of the summer home improvement season with a contest that gives Castle customers the chance to win prizes totalling $40,000. Called “The Four Seasons of Fun Contest,” the promotion will award a total of four seasonal prizes.

The contest began in April and runs until Sept. 30. It’s being advertised widely through a range of media, including on two cable TV channels, The Weather Network and HGTV.

(We’ll have more info on this cool promotion in next Monday’s edition of our flagship publication, Hardlines Weekly Report. You can learn more—and subscribe—by clicking here!)

Hudson’s Bay Co. has reportedly concluded a deal to buy Neiman Marcus, the Dallas-based luxury department store chain. HBC also owns Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Off 5th. The deal has been reported to be worth US$2.65 billion. Neiman Marcus has 36 stores in the U.S. According to the Dallas Morning News, the combined company would represent sales of US$10 billion.