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Interactive Timeline
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We take pride in our history and accomplishments. This is The Home Depot story.
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Did You Know? |
The Home Depot operates more than 1,200 Tool Rental Centers and has 1,600+
stores with Contractor Services
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Our History |
The Beginning
The Home Depot was founded in 1978 by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank. Along
with investment banker Ken Langone and merchandising guru Pat Farrah, the
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 SKUs,
much more than the average hardware store at that time. Empty boxes piled high
on the shelves gave the illusion of even more product.
From the start, associates were able to offer the best customer service in the
industry, guiding customers through projects such as laying tile, changing a
fill valve or handling a power tool. Not only did store associates undergo
rigorous product knowledge training, but they also began offering clinics so
customers could learn how to do it themselves. The Home Depot revolutionized
the home improvement industry by bringing the know-how and the tools to the
consumer and by saving them money.
According to Bernie and Arthur, the customer has a bill of rights at The Home
Depot, and this entitles the customer to the right assortment, quantities and
price, along with trained associates on the sales floor who want to take care
of customers. Their philosophy of customer service – “whatever it takes” –
means cultivating a relationship with customers rather than merely completing
a transaction. As Bernie says in Built from Scratch, “At the end of the day,
we’re in the people business.”
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The Home Depot Values
The Home Depot is still guided today by those values established by its
founders: excellent customer service, taking care of people, entrepreneurial
spirit, respect for all people, building strong relationships, doing the right
thing, giving back to communities, and creating shareholder value. The
founders viewed the structure of the company as an inverted pyramid, with
stores and customers at the top and senior management on the bottom. Arthur
demanded that associates take risks to succeed, saying, “It is your business,
your division, your market, your store, your aisle and your customer.”
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A Story of Growth
The Home Depot is the fastest growing retailer in U.S. history. In 1981, the
company went public on NASDAQ and moved to the New York Stock Exchange in
1984. The 1980s and 1990s spawned tremendous growth for the company, with 1989
marking the celebration of its 100th store opening. The company arrived in
Canada with the acquisition of Aikenhead’s home improvement centers in 1994,
and it began flying its flag proudly in Mexico in 2001 through the acquisition
of Total HOME. In 2006, the company extended its reach to China by acquiring
The Home Way, a 12 store chain.
From the beginning, The Home Depot developed strategic product alliances
directly with industry-leading manufacturers to deliver the most exclusive
assortments to customers. Through a combination of national brands and
proprietary products like Ryobi® tools, RIDGID® tools, BEHR® paint, LG®
appliances, and Toro® and Cub Cadet® lawn equipment, the company sets the
standard for innovative merchandise for the do-it-yourselfer and the
professional contractor.
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The Legend – The Home Depot Museum
The Legend, our company museum, chronicles the history of The Home Depot and
illustrates the values that set us apart. The Legend opened in 1999 at the
Atlanta Store Support Center. It is primarily an internal educational tool for
The Home Depot associates, their families, vendors and stockholders. The
museum is open to groups on a limited basis by appointment only. Please
contact us at (770) 433-8211 for more information.
We collect and archive materials from the early days of The Home Depot to the
present. If you are a past or current associate of The Home Depot and have
items you would like to add to our collection, please contact us at (770)
433-8211 for more information.
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