Home Depot, the nation's largest
do-it-yourself chain, is gearing up
for a major push into high-end
installed sales. After testing the concept
with seven stores in five cities,
the company plans to open 200 standalone
"Expo Design Center" stores
nationwide, targeting upscale kitchen
and bath remodeling customers. The
80,000-square-foot showrooms will
feature dozens of elegant displays and
provide full installation services. The
new Expo stores could eventually
dominate the kitchen and bath
remodeling industry in the same way
Home Depot has rapidly grabbed a
leading share of DIY sales in many
markets.
Construction partner? Although
Home Depot does some 20% of its
business with pro customers, many
contractors find it inconvenient to
work with the consumer-oriented
mass retailer, which does not offer
discounts or