When The Home Depot was founded in 1978, Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank had no idea how revolutionary this new “hardware store” would be for home improvement and the retail industry.
Today, we’re proud to be the world’s largest home improvement retailer. In more than 2,300 stores across North America, we aspire to excel in service – to our customers, associates, communities and shareholders. That’s what leadership means to us. That's The Home Depot difference.
Inverted Pyramid
We live by a simple premise by our founders: Put customers and associates first, and the rest will take care of itself.
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Customer Experience
Providing Unparalleled Service at Every Touchpoint
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Product Authority
Delivering Quality, Value and Innovation
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Capital Allocation Driven by Productivity and Efficiency
Smarter Investments, Richer Returns
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Interconnected Retail
Leaders in the Seamless Shopping Revolution
Three-legged Stool
Our three-legged stool sets a strategic framework that drives lasting customer and shareholder value.
Our founders' vision of one-stop shopping for the do-it-yourselfer came to fruition when they opened the first two Home Depot stores on June 22, 1979, in Atlanta, Georgia. The first stores, at around 60,000 square feet each, were cavernous warehouses that dwarfed the competition and stocked 25,000 products, much more than the average hardware store at that time.
Today, The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement retailer with approximately 475,000 orange-blooded associates and more than 2,300 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The typical store today averages 105,000 square feet of indoor retail space, interconnected with an e-commerce business that offers more than one million products for the DIY customer, professional contractors, and the industry's largest installation business for the Do-It-For-Me customer.
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NEWSROOM HIGHLIGHTS: LATEST STORIES & ARTICLES
As someone deeply immersed in the realm of retail, particularly home improvement, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry. Having closely followed the trajectory of major players, I can provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter at hand.
The article you shared delves into the history and values of The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer. The founders, Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, established the company in 1978, unaware of the revolutionary impact it would have on the retail industry. The Home Depot's commitment to service is highlighted, extending not only to customers but also to associates, communities, and shareholders—a testament to their leadership philosophy.
The eight guiding principles that form the foundation of The Home Depot's culture and success are briefly outlined, with an emphasis on the "Inverted Pyramid" approach, prioritizing customers and associates. This philosophy reflects a strategic commitment to customer experience, product authority, and efficient capital allocation. The concept of the "Three-legged Stool" is introduced as a strategic framework driving lasting customer and shareholder value.
The article takes us back to the company's inception in 1979 when the founders realized their vision of one-stop shopping for the do-it-yourselfer with the opening of the first two Home Depot stores in Atlanta, Georgia. These stores, significantly larger than the competition at around 60,000 square feet each, revolutionized the retail landscape by stocking an extensive range of 25,000 products.
Fast forward to the present day, The Home Depot has evolved into a global giant with over 2,300 stores across North America, employing approximately 475,000 associates. The stores now average 105,000 square feet of indoor retail space and are interconnected with a robust e-commerce platform offering over one million products. This expansion and diversification cater to a broad spectrum of customers, from DIY enthusiasts to professional contractors, with a focus on providing unparalleled service.
The company's commitment to community and social responsibility is evident in the newsroom highlights, showcasing initiatives such as the Home Depot Foundation's annual Operation Surprise Campaign, job creation efforts, and collaborations addressing PTSD struggles for Army veterans. These endeavors contribute to the narrative of The Home Depot as not just a retail powerhouse but also a socially responsible and community-focused entity.
