California Business Minute™

Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer and one of the top
ten retailers in the nation with over 1500 stores has launched a new test store for
women in California. Market information illustrates that 80 percent of the decisions
concerning home improvement projects are made by women, hence the reason for
Home Depot’s efforts.

The new concept store is in Concord. The store foregoes the signature orange color
for earthy tones. The store has lower ceilings and provides desks throughout the store
for customers to use while planning their projects.

In addition, the new concept store features upscale furniture, showrooms, a large home
organization area and garden shop boasting orchids and pottery.

Home Depot also has a test store in Charlotte, North Carolina.  But there is no indication
if these test stores will act as precursor for the revamping of Home Depot’s stores changing
their physical facilities to their product lines or is yet another component of their operations
such as their ‘Expo’ stores.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.