BUZZ: March 2008

Eco-friendly products will be showcased at National Hardware Show, May 6-8, 2008. The new Green Product World will feature merchandise that’s easy on the environment. The show will also host Lawn & Garden World -- an area dedicated to gardening and outdoor products.

Lowe’s opened its first Canadian stores in December. The three new locations serve the greater Toronto area. The company plans to open eight to 15 more stores over the next few years.

Despite cleanup efforts, pollution in Chesapeake Bay tributaries is getting worse, Washington Post reported. Nitrogen and phosphorous, components found in manure and lawn fertilizer, are major contributors to ongoing problems. These two chemicals fuel large algae blooms that create dead zones in the water.

Many small merchants have turned to e-commerce to compete with big boxes, The New York Times reported. The article cites figures from consulting firm IDC showing the number of small- and medium-sized online retailers has swelled in the last two years, from 21 percent to 31 percent.

The United Nations’ Billion Tree campaign met its goal in 2007, the U.N. announced. The mass tree planting was inspired by Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai. The effort was spurred by a desire to mitigate effects of pollution and environmental deterioration.

Blue Iris is expected to be a hot color this year, according to the experts at Pantone. The blue-purple hue was described as emotionally anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic. The shade effectively combines with deeper plums, red-browns, yellow-greens, grapes and grays.

Lawmakers questioned executives of major credit card companies last winter, demanding explanations for rising interest rates and fees, CNNMoney reported. A Senate subcommittee looked into what they claim are unfair practices, like increasing interest rates on debt even when consumers pay on time. 

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