NEWS + ANALYSIS From the Tractor Supply playbook Tractor Supply is the nation’s largest farm and ranch retailer with more than 1,700 stores at last count. And the company is not sitting still. Here are five initiatives it has in the works: • It expects to open some 100 new Tractor Supply stores in 2017, with around 45% scheduled to open in the first half of the year. The company will continue the transition of its Del’s Feed & Farm Supply stores into Tractor Supply stores; • The company has big plans for Petsense, its recent pet store acquisition. Tractor Supply intends to grow the store base by 25 to 30 stores in 2017. The company is engaged in sharing best practices, and has already converted its two HomeTown Pet stores to the Petsense operation; • The Brentwood, Tenn.-based retailer is speeding up the rollout of its Neighbor’s Club loyalty program. The program was live in more than 600 stores at the end of the year. All stores are expected to be up and running with Neighbor’s Club sometime in the second quarter of 2017; • On the distribution side of the business, the company will begin construction of a new DC in the Northeast later in 2017. Also, Tractor Supply’s Waverly, Neb., distribution center will expand; and • The retailer boosted the number of products online through its drop-ship program. Also, it expanded its buy online, pick up in store program. The company projects 2017 comp- store sales to increase in the range of 2 to 3% in fiscal 2017. Product knowledge The product: Sheetrock brand wallboard panel The manufacturer: USG Corp., formerly known as United States Gypsum Co. The centennial: In 1917, USG officially named its wallboard panels “Sheetrock.” The background: In 1916, USG invented the modern wallboard — a single layer of gypsum plaster between two sheets of paper, eliminating the long drying time associated with plaster. The first panels were made in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Fun fact: USG makes enough Sheetrock brand wallboard each year to reach the moon, if laid end to end. News Map: Openings and closings Across the spectrum of home improvement, here’s a sampler of new locations and closed doors. For more, visit HBSDealer.com texas Montgomery McCoy’s Building Supply Expected to open its 87th location in the fourth quarter of 2017 texas Brownwood Weakly Watson Hardware Weakly Watson, described as the oldest hardware store in Texas, is closing. 14 MARCH 2017 HARDWARE + BUILDING SUPPLY DEALER maryland Baltimore Kurek’s Hardware A Canton neighborhood independent closes after 85 years. missouri Kansas City Menards The fourth Menards store opens in the Kansas City market. HBSDealer.com