Hardware Industry Focuses On Women

Women account for nearly 38 percent of all do-it-yourself purchases.

With women accounting for nearly 38 percent of all do-it-yourself purchases last year, the hardware industry and its manufacturers are redesigning tools to make the job easier for women.

At this year's National Hardware Show in Chicago, women-friendly products were on display, which included tools with smaller grips, gloves that accommodate long fingernails and lightweight lines of gardening tools.

North Carolina-based Lowe's also reported revamping its home-improvement stores to make them more appealing to women, who now account for 50 percent of purchases at its stores.