Remodeling Ideas Etc

Menards headquarters is in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It is a private chain of home improvement stores and had 205 stores in 11 different states in 2006. It is the third largest DIY chain in the US after Lowe’s and the Home Depot.

Every Menards home improvement store is arranged in departments such as plumbing, hardware, building materials, mill work, floor covering, electrical appliances and cabinets and on bigger sites each has it's own manager,  assistant managers and floor sales team.

Menards founder, John Menard, Jr. is passionate about auto racing and as a result the company sponsors drivers, such as Dale Earnhardt, in various leagues. Menards grants are available in other circumstances as well. Similarly, a go-kart race track is situated on corporate campus.

If you're wanting to carry out a home improvement project, in the current economic climate, you'll be wanting to source good value items. So buying menards products may be a good solution.

Menards offers a low price guarantee such that "if you find a lower everyday or advertised price on an identical stock item at any local retail competitor that has the item in stock, (they) will beat their price by 11% when you buy the identical item from (them)." When you visit your nearest Menards store you will find complete details.

To find your nearest Menards visit http://www.menards.com/storeLocator.do for their store locator. Simply select your state and city, enter your 5 digit zip code or click on the map to find information about the store closest to you.

Posted January 31, 2009 Comments(3)

Brita 42618 chrome replacement faucet filters are used in the the Brita FF-100 Faucet Filter System and the Brita 42633 On Tap Black Chrome Faucet Filtration System. Brita chrome filters must be replaced from time to time with either system to ensure it is working up to its full potential. There is a convenient indicator light on the system that will blink red when filter changing is needed. Each replacement lasts on average either every four months or every one hundred gallons of water filtered.

There are many minerals and chemicals that are removed or greatly reduced from your drinking water with these filters. These minerals and chemicals include asbestos, chlorine, turbidity, Giardia, lindane, carbon tetrachloride, atrazine, lead, Cryptosporidium, toxaphene, TTHM, TCE, and benzene, the last four possibly linked to cancer. Removal or reduction of these substances is not only good for your health, but also gives the water a better taste and eliminates any odor.

These Brita replacement water filter cartridges are usually sold in a set of two. The replacements are sold at common department stores such as Walmart, Target, and Walgreens and can also be purchased online. Follow the links for a good value supplier. Wherever you purchase them, the replacements are economical and a marked savings over bottle water.

My sister and I took her three grandchildren shopping for an afternoon. Their mom had a dentist appointment and the regular care provider was not able to take them. It was a rainy day so we thought the mall would be a good place to spend some time. One of the first stores we saw was a dollar store. The children were excited because they each had money to buy a treat.

The goods on offer didn't look very appealing to me although I was impressed with the displays and the amount of dollar store merchandise. But upon closer examination you could tell how poorly made the items were. My sister’s granddaughter was looking at hair accessories. They were bright colors and so had immediately caught her attention. She was deciding which color she wanted. The boys were looking at bags of plastic soldiers. I mentioned to my sister that the items seemed of poor quality. She laughed and pointed out that I was talking about dollar products. It was supposed to be cheap. The children had so many things to choose from that they could not decide what to purchase. We were in the store for thirty minutes before we were finally able to take their choices to the checkout counter. As we were standing in line I noticed that there were packs of gum in the brand I like. They were six packs packaged together. This seemed like a great deal for a dollar so I picked one up. My sister picked up a couple bags of candy for the children to have in the car.

We had spent so much time choosing our purchases that we only had a few minutes before lunch time. I offered to take the packages to the car so that they would not get lost. I was almost to the door of the mall when I heard one of the boys calling my name. He came running up to me to make sure that I would remember to lock the car doors. I reassured him that his purchases would be safe. Before I went back in the mall I opened one of the packs of gum I had bought. It was so old and hard that I could hardly chew it. I told my sister that my purchase was not even worth the small price I paid for it.

We took the children to lunch then dropped them off at their home. My sister tried the candy that she had purchased and found that it was old and very poor quality. When she was complaining about this I reminded her about what she had told me - it was dollar store merchandise and was supposed to be cheap. I do not think that either of us will be returning to the store.

It is funny to me how everyone wants to save as much money as they can on everything they purchase yet no one wants to own cheap stuff. Just the words cheap stuff conjures up images of poor quality merchandise that is mass produced in a foreign country. Yet people will stand in line to be the first one in the door at a sale. Everyone wants to make a good deal or find a great buy, but no one wants to be accused of having cheap stuff.

The other day I was reminded of this when I was at a family gathering. My aunt was telling us that her daughter is getting into retail sales selling rug runners. She is going to open a franchise store in a neighboring town. This franchise deals mainly in closeout and discontinued items. I have been to one of their stores many times and have made several purchases. I made the mistake of telling my aunt that I like going there because they have cheap stuff. She was very quick to correct me. She said that they have discounted merchandise. She went on to talk about the merchandise is name brand and of good quality. This is one of those aunts that I just love to hate. I thought, why not have a little fun? When she was done with her sales pitch I said to my sister, who was part of the conversation, that the best part about going to this store is that the cheap stuff is so nicely displayed. My aunt decided to leave the conversation at that point, but as she walked away she again stated that it was not cheap stuff.

My sister and I still laugh about this. We went to the grand opening of the store to support our cousin and also to see if we could get some deals. There were several signs throughout the store advertising deep discount area rugs at close out prices. I told my sister that I wished I had brought a sign that said cheap stuff, to hang in the window. My aunt was helping out by bagging purchases and straightening merchandise. My cousin was happy to see us and was very excited about her new business venture. She went to help another customer. I had to take the opportunity to ask my aunt how much cheap stuff had been sold so far. She knows I like to tease her and so would not take the bait. We continued shopping and did find some great bargains. As we got into the car to go home I told my sister that I was excited to display my cheap stuff in my home.