The Home Depot

Corporate brand

American multinational home-improvement retailer serving do-it-yourself customers, professional contractors, and institutional buyers.

Last updated October 31, 2026

AI crawler reads

No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.

Overview

The Home Depot is an American multinational home-improvement retail corporation and one of the largest specialist retailers in the world. Its stores sell building materials, tools, hardware, plumbing and electrical supplies, paint, flooring, kitchen and bathroom products, appliances, garden merchandise, and related services. The company also provides equipment rental, delivery, installation, project support, and business-to-business supply services. The business was founded in 1978 by Bernard Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, Pat Farrah, and Ken Langone. Its original concept was to create warehouse-style home-improvement stores substantially larger than conventional hardware shops, giving customers broad selection, low prices, and the ability to complete large renovation projects in one location. The first two stores opened in the Atlanta metropolitan area in 1979 in former J. C. Penney facilities. The format combined a large selling floor, extensive inventory, and associate assistance aimed at both household renovators and trade professionals. Home Depot expanded from Georgia into Florida during the early 1980s and became a public company in 1981. It later listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Expansion brought rapid sales growth but also financial pressure in the mid-1980s, when falling earnings and rising debt led to a restructuring and additional stock offering. By 1989, the company had surpassed Lowe's to become the largest home-improvement retailer in the United States. During the 1990s and 2000s, Home Depot broadened its business beyond traditional stores. It entered Canada through the acquisition of Aikenhead's Hardware, expanded into Mexico, created design-oriented EXPO Design Center stores, and acquired distributors serving maintenance, repair, operations, plumbing, HVAC, and construction customers. The company also developed online and specialty retail initiatives, including Home Decorators Collection and other home-furnishings and lighting operations. Its professional distribution business was separated as HD Supply in 2007, then acquired again in 2020. The company faced a strategic reset after the 2007 departure of chief executive Robert Nardelli. Under Frank Blake and later Craig Menear, Home Depot concentrated more heavily on core retail operations, store productivity, merchandising, digital commerce, supply-chain investment, and professional customers. It closed the EXPO Design Center chain and withdrew from large-format retailing in China while retaining selected specialty operations there for a period. The company also invested in distribution centers and omnichannel services to connect stores, online ordering, delivery, and contractor fulfillment. Home Depot has continued to expand its professional and specialty distribution capabilities. Interline Brands, acquired in 2015 and later branded as The Home Depot Pro, strengthened the company's maintenance, repair, and operations offering. The 2020 purchase of HD Supply restored a major professional-distribution platform to the company. In 2024, Home Depot announced an agreement to acquire SRS Distribution, a major roofing and specialty-trade distributor, in a move intended to deepen its relationships with professional contractors and expand trade-specific distribution. The company operates warehouse-style big-box stores throughout the United States, including U.S. territories, all Canadian provinces, and Mexico. Its headquarters is in Cobb County, Georgia, with an Atlanta mailing address. Home Depot's brand identity is strongly associated with orange signage, employee aprons, practical project advice, and the mascot Homer D. Poe. Its marketing has used slogans including "You can do it. We can help.", "More saving. More doing.", and, since 2019, "How Doers Get More Done."

History

Home Depot emerged from a 1970s plan to create a new kind of hardware retailer: a very large warehouse store with an unusually broad assortment and prices aimed at both do-it-yourself shoppers and professionals. Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank developed the concept after leaving a previous retail business, while Ron Brill, Pat Farrah, and Ken Langone contributed operational and financial expertise. Langone helped arrange the capital required to launch the chain. The first two Home Depot stores opened on June 22, 1979, in the Atlanta area, using large former hypermarket spaces. The stores emphasized inventory depth, warehouse presentation, and customer assistance. The concept quickly spread beyond Georgia, with Florida becoming the company's first major expansion market in 1981. Home Depot went public on NASDAQ in September 1981 and moved to the New York Stock Exchange in 1984. By 1984 it had 19 stores and sales above $256 million. Rapid expansion also produced financial strain. The company entered the Dallas market in 1984 through the purchase of Bowater Home Center. By the middle of the decade, weaker earnings and substantial debt forced Home Depot to reduce the pace of new-store openings and raise capital. A 1986 stock offering helped the company restructure its finances. The strategy ultimately succeeded: in 1989 Home Depot overtook Lowe's as the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer. The 1990s brought geographic growth and experimentation with new formats. Home Depot entered Canada through the acquisition of a controlling interest in Aikenhead's Hardware in 1994, subsequently converting the stores to the Home Depot banner. The company launched EXPO Design Center in 1991 to target higher-end remodeling customers with design advice and specialized products. It also expanded its professional supply capabilities through acquisitions such as Maintenance Warehouse, Your Other Warehouse, and Apex Supply. These businesses broadened the company from a store-based retailer into a supplier for maintenance, repair, operations, plumbing, HVAC, and construction customers. Home Depot entered Mexico in 2002 through the acquisition of Del Norte and construction of additional stores. It experimented with Landscape Supply locations and developed online specialty businesses in furnishings, lighting, and decor. The acquisition of Hughes Supply in 2006 significantly enlarged the construction-wholesale operation. That unit was renamed HD Supply in 2007 and sold to private-equity buyers later that year, allowing Home Depot to refocus on its retail stores. Robert Nardelli became chief executive in 2000. His tenure emphasized scale, centralized management, and expansion into supply businesses, but his compensation and management style drew criticism, particularly in light of weak share performance. Nardelli and the company parted ways in January 2007. Frank Blake succeeded him and pursued a more consensus-oriented approach, including a sharper focus on core retail execution. The housing-market downturn of 2008 and 2009 led to layoffs, store closures, and the shutdown of the EXPO Design Center chain. Home Depot also closed its large-format stores in China in 2012, reflecting the difficulty of transferring its U.S. warehouse model to that market. It continued investing in logistics, including major distribution centers, and increasingly integrated physical stores with online ordering and delivery. Craig Menear became chief executive in November 2014 after serving in merchandising and retail leadership roles. During his tenure, Home Depot expanded its professional strategy and acquired Interline Brands in 2015. It also added the online business of The Company Store in 2017 and reacquired HD Supply in 2020. The COVID-19 period produced unusually strong demand for home-improvement products as consumers spent more time at home, although the company subsequently operated in a more normalized demand environment. Ted Decker succeeded Menear as chief executive and president on March 1, 2022, while Menear remained chairman. Under Decker, Home Depot has continued emphasizing professional customers, supply-chain capabilities, digital tools, and trade-specific distribution. The announced acquisition of SRS Distribution in 2024 represented a major step toward serving roofing and other specialty contractors. The company remains a large-format retailer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, supported by stores, digital commerce, distribution operations, rental services, installation, and professional-account programs.

2024
SRS Distribution acquisition announced
[2]The Home Depot corporate newsroomcorporate.homedepot.com
Home Depot announced an agreement to acquire SRS Distribution to strengthen its specialty-trade and professional-contractor platform.
2022
Ted Decker becomes chief executive
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
Ted Decker succeeded Craig Menear as chief executive and president on March 1.
2020
HD Supply reacquired
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
Home Depot agreed to buy back HD Supply, restoring a major professional-distribution business to the group.
2015
Interline Brands acquired
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
The acquisition expanded Home Depot's professional maintenance, repair, and operations distribution network.
2014
Craig Menear becomes chief executive
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
Craig Menear succeeded Frank Blake as chief executive on November 1.
2007
HD Supply separated from Home Depot
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
The professional distribution division was renamed HD Supply and sold to a consortium of private-equity firms.
2002
Enters Mexico
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
The company entered Mexico through the acquisition of Del Norte and subsequent store development.
1994
Enters Canada through Aikenhead's Hardware
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
Home Depot acquired a controlling interest in Canadian chain Aikenhead's Hardware and later converted its stores to the Home Depot brand.
1991
EXPO Design Center launches
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
The company introduced a design-focused format aimed at higher-end remodeling customers.
1989
Becomes the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
Home Depot surpassed Lowe's in U.S. home-improvement store sales and scale.
1981
Initial public offering
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
Home Depot became a publicly traded company on NASDAQ.
1979
First stores open in metropolitan Atlanta
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
The first two Home Depot stores opened in former hypermarket locations in Doraville and Decatur, Georgia.
1978
Company founded
[1]Home Depoten.wikipedia.org
Bernard Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, Pat Farrah, and Ken Langone co-founded Home Depot around a warehouse-style home-improvement retail concept.

Products and positioning

Large-format, value-oriented home-improvement retailer combining broad product assortment, project assistance, professional-customer services, omnichannel fulfillment, and contractor-focused distribution.

Retail format · 1979
Home-improvement stores
Home Depot's core format is a large warehouse-style store carrying building materials, tools, hardware, paint, flooring, appliances, garden goods, and project-related supplies. Stores also provide delivery, installation, rental, and associate assistance. The format is designed to support both individual renovation projects and recurring professional purchases.
Professional services and distribution
The Home Depot Pro
The Home Depot Pro combines contractor-oriented merchandising, account services, delivery, fulfillment, and distribution capabilities. It incorporates professional supply operations associated with Interline Brands and other acquisitions, serving maintenance, repair, operations, construction, and specialty-trade customers.
Home furnishings and decor · 2006
Home Decorators Collection
Home Decorators Collection is a Home Depot-owned home-furnishings and decor brand sold through Home Depot's retail and digital channels. Its assortment has included furniture, lighting, textiles, storage, bath products, and decorative accessories.
Rental service
Tool and equipment rental
Home Depot rents tools, vehicles, and construction equipment to customers who need project capability without purchasing specialized assets. The service supports do-it-yourself users and contractors and complements the company's building-materials assortment.

Controversies

2021
Georgia church leaders called for a Home Depot boycott
In April 2021, Black religious leaders in Georgia called for a boycott of Home Depot. They criticized the company for not speaking out against recently passed voting restriction laws in the state. The call for a boycott was reported as a controversy involving the retailer, centered on the company's lack of public opposition to the voting laws.
Source
2021
Home Depot faces union protest over out-of-state contractors
Painters union representatives protested the Southtown Home Depot in St. Louis over its hiring of out-of-state contractors for store renovations. A Home Depot manager said she could not comment and added that corporate hires everyone.
Source
2020
The Home Depot reaches multistate data breach settlement
The Home Depot agreed to a $17.5 million multistate settlement resolving an investigation into its 2014 data breach, which exposed payment card information of approximately 40 million consumers. It also agreed to implement and maintain specified data security practices.
Source
2020
Home Depot agrees to proposed settlement over lead-paint rule violations
Home Depot agreed to a proposed nationwide settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice, under which it would pay a $20.75 million penalty. The settlement addresses alleged violations of lead-safe renovation rules by contractors working on Home Depot renovations. The source reports allegations only and does not state that any determination of guilt has been made.
Source
2020
Home Depot temporarily changes rope sales after nooses found in stores
After nooses were found in several stores, Home Depot temporarily removed spooled rope from its aisles and said it would sell rope only in pre-cut lengths. The company said spooled rope had been used to create hate symbols and that it would not tolerate this.
Source
2020
Home Depot penalized over Worcester soil contamination
Massachusetts' Department of Environmental Protection penalized Home Depot $22,000 after it failed to promptly report metals released to soil at its Worcester store. The DEP said Home Depot later conducted additional excavation and disposed of soil without proper state approval.
Source
2014
Payment-card data breach
A breach exposed payment-card information associated with Home Depot transactions. Investigations identified weaknesses in the handling of card data at service desks and specialty departments. Home Depot discontinued the relevant manual-entry practice and offered credit monitoring to customers who requested it.
Source

2019How Doers Get More Done
United States
The platform focused on active project makers and positioned Home Depot around helping customers accomplish practical tasks more efficiently.
Outcome. Became the company's principal reported brand slogan.
Source
2009More saving. More doing.
United States
The campaign connected price value with the satisfaction of completing home projects and replaced the previous corporate slogan.
Outcome. Replaced by "How Doers Get More Done" in 2019.
Source
2003You can do it. We can help.
United States · Canada · Mexico
A long-running brand platform presented Home Depot as a practical partner that enabled customers to complete home-improvement projects.
Outcome. Replaced by a new platform in 2009.
Source

Brand decisions

2024
Acquire SRS DistributionM&A
Background
Home Depot identified professional contractors and specialty trades as an important area for growth beyond traditional do-it-yourself retail.
Action taken
The company announced an agreement to acquire SRS Distribution, a specialty-trade distributor serving roofing and other professional customers.
Aftermath
The announced transaction was intended to broaden trade-specific distribution, customer relationships, and fulfillment capabilities.
announced transaction value. 18.25 billion USD (2024)
Source
2020
Reacquire HD SupplyM&A
Background
Home Depot aimed to expand its professional distribution platform and serve institutional and trade customers more comprehensively.
Action taken
Home Depot agreed to acquire HD Supply, returning the former supply division to the company.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened the company's professional customer and distribution strategy.
announced transaction value. 8 billion USD (2020)
Source
2015
Acquire Interline BrandsM&A
Background
Home Depot sought to improve its reach among maintenance, repair, operations, and other professional buyers.
Action taken
The company acquired Interline Brands and integrated its brands and distribution capabilities into the professional business.
Aftermath
Interline products were progressively integrated into Home Depot stores and digital channels, later supporting The Home Depot Pro.
announced transaction value. 1.6 billion USD (2015)
Source
2009
Close EXPO Design Center chainStrategy
Background
The housing downturn weakened demand for discretionary remodeling and high-end design retail.
Action taken
Home Depot closed the EXPO Design Center chain and reduced its store base and workforce.
Aftermath
The company redirected resources toward the core Home Depot store network and broader omnichannel operations.
Source
2007
Sell HD Supply and refocus on core retailStrategy
Background
The company reassessed its broad supply-distribution strategy after a period of expansion and leadership controversy.
Action taken
Home Depot sold HD Supply to a consortium of private-equity firms and concentrated more heavily on its retail stores and core customer proposition.
Aftermath
The company later rebuilt its professional-distribution capabilities through acquisitions, including the 2020 reacquisition of HD Supply.
Source

Recent events

2026-11-02
Wahlburgers announces further Home Depot outlet expansion[10]Wahlburgers宣布进一步拓展Home Depot门店渠道prnewswire.com
Reported: 2026-11-02
Wahlburgers announced that its partnership with Home Depot would add outlets in Florida and expand into Nevada.
Unconfirmed
Home Depot upgrades Skelly with app-controlled features[11]家得宝为 Skelly 增添应用程序控制功能cnbc.com
Reported: 2026-10-31
Home Depot has upgraded its Skelly Halloween skeleton with an app-controlled version that can move its head and mouth, let owners speak through it in real time, and display other settings.
2026-08-18
Home Depot reports biggest sales gain since 2022[12]家得宝公布自2022年以来最大销售增长bostonglobe.com
Reported: 2026-08-18
Home Depot posted comparable sales up 1.7 percent for the most recent quarter, its biggest sales gain since 2022, while CEO Ted Decker was temporarily away for medical reasons.
2026-08-11
Home Depot appoints interim leaders during CEO medical leave[13]家得宝在CEO病假期间任命临时负责人finanznachrichten.de
Reported: 2026-08-12
Home Depot said CEO Ted Decker will take a temporary medical leave of absence, and the board appointed Ann-Marie Campbell to oversee day-to-day operations, CFO Richard McPhail to manage financial functions and Pro subsidiaries, and lead director Greg Brenneman to chair the board during Decker's absence.
2021-10-26
US retailers stop selling Lorex and Ezviz products[14]美国零售商停售 Lorex 与 Ezviz 产品setn.com
Reported: 2021-10-27
The article reports that Home Depot and Best Buy stopped selling Lorex and Ezviz products, while Lowe's stopped selling Lorex products, citing reports that the surveillance manufacturers' products were implicated in human rights violations. The allegations are reported, not established as a determination in this source.
2021-10-06
Home Depot and Walmart partner on delivery[15]家得宝与沃尔玛合作提供配送服务ntdtv.com
Reported: 2021-10-07
Home Depot announced a partnership with Walmart’s GoLocal delivery platform to offer same-day or next-day home delivery to customers. The service is planned to begin in Texas, New Mexico, and Arkansas in the coming weeks, with expansion to more areas expected by year-end.
2021-09-27
The Home Depot announces South Carolina supply chain expansion[16]家得宝宣布扩展南卡罗来纳州供应链业务governor.sc.gov
The Home Depot announced plans to expand its supply chain and distribution operations in Charleston, Greenville, Jasper and Lexington counties, with nearly 100 new jobs.
2021-05-12
Home Depot faces union protest over out-of-state contractors[7]Home Depot faces union protest over out-of-state contractorspatch.com
Reported: 2021-05-12
Painters union representatives protested the Southtown Home Depot in St. Louis over its hiring of out-of-state contractors for store renovations. A Home Depot manager said she could not comment and added that corporate hires everyone.
2021-04-20
Home Depot stated its position on voting access[6]Georgia church leaders called for a Home Depot boycottibtimes.com
Reported: 2021-04-20
In response to criticism over Georgia voting laws, Home Depot said elections should be accessible, fair and secure, supported broad voter participation, and said it would continue providing associates with voting information and resources.
2021-04-20
Georgia church leaders called for a Home Depot boycott[6]Georgia church leaders called for a Home Depot boycottibtimes.com
Reported: 2021-04-20
Black religious leaders in Georgia called for a boycott of Home Depot, criticizing the company for not speaking out against recently passed voting restriction laws.

Showing the 10 most recent.

Sources27 sources

Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/home-depot · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled