Lowe’s and Home Depot are two of the largest home improvement retailers in the United States. These home improvement chains offer customers consistency, organization, and knowledgeable staff to help you complete any home improvement project.
While there is no definitive answer to which store is better in the Lowes vs. Home Depot debate, as it depends on individual preferences and needs, we will be breaking down and comparing these two stores.
What is Lowe’s?
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is an American home improvement retailer. Lowe’s had sales of $71.3 billion in 2018, making it the second-largest hardware store in the United States behind The Home Depot and ahead of Menard’s.
Lucius S. Lowe, the founder of Lowe’s Home Improvement, opened his first store in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in 1946. Since then, Lowe’s has expanded to become one of the most well-known home improvement stores across the United States. By 2019, there were more than 2,000 Lowe’s shops throughout the United States.
Lowe’s is based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The firm has retail locations across both the United States and Canada. Lowe’s & Associates now operates 2,015 home improvement stores across North America.
Lowe’s is the second-largest hardware store globally, behind Home Depot.
What is Home Depot?
The Home Depot, Inc. is the world’s largest home improvement store, with everything from tools to building materials and services available. The company’s headquarters are in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, at the Atlanta Store Support Center.
It runs a variety of big-box retail locations in the United States (including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam), all 10 provinces of Canada, and 32 Mexican federal agencies (1).
In 1978, Pat Farrah, Ron Brill, Bernard Marcus, and Arthur Blank came together to found The Home Depot. They set out to create bigger home-improvement warehouses than any of their rivals. Today, The Home Depot is the largest home improvement store in the United States and the world’s biggest hardware store.
How are they different?
The main difference is that Lowe’s has a more personal feel to it, while Home Depot offers a more do-it-yourself approach. As a result, Lowe’s offers customers more assistance and guidance throughout their home improvement projects. But, again, this differs from Home Depot, which gives customers the freedom to complete their projects on their own.
Lowe’s prices are typically lower than Home Depot’s, making it a more budget-friendly option. However, Home Depot offers a wider selection of products and services than Lowe’s, making it the better option for those who want more choices.
How are they similar?
These two stores are both large retailers that offer a wide range of home improvement products and services. They are both great options for those in need of assistance with their home improvement projects. In addition, both stores offer financing options to help make your project more affordable and offer some price matching.
Also, both are large retailers that offer a wide variety of home improvement products and services. They both issue store credit. Lowe’s will offer a full refund with receipt, while home depot works within a bit stricter return policy, and is more likely to issue a store credit.
In addition, they both offer in-store pickup. Finally, they both provide same-day delivery and various installation services.
What is a distribution center?
A distribution center is a facility where companies store and distribute products. Distribution centers are usually large warehouses near transportation hubs, such as airports or railroads. Companies use distribution centers to store products they will eventually sell to customers and offer in their stores.
Do Home Depot and Lowe’s have distribution centers?
Yes, both Home Depot and Lowe’s have distribution centers. In fact, Home Depot has multiple distribution centers across the United States, while Lowe’s has a network of distribution centers located throughout North America. Home Depot and Lowe’s distribution centers ensure that products are correctly stored and shipped efficiently to customers and stores.
What’s better about Lowe’s?
Lowe’s is a great option for those who need more personalized assistance and guidance throughout their home improvement projects. In addition, Lowe’s prices are typically lower than Home Depot’s, making it a more budget-friendly option.
1. Lowe’s offers a wider variety of affordable products than Home Depot, including:
Major appliances from brands like Samsung, LG, GE, Whirlpool, and Maytag; Outdoor power equipment from brands like Honda, Troy-Bilt, John Deere, and Craftsman; and home improvement products from brands like Behr paint, Valspar paint, Sherwin-Williams paint, and more.
2. Lowe’s is typically cleaner and more organized than Home Depot as it is organized by department.
Each department has a team of experts who can help you with your project needs. So whether you’re looking for appliances, bathroom, and kitchen remodeling ideas, or just need a few supplies for a do-it-yourself project, their professionals can point you in the right direction.
The vast majority of Lowe’s stores are organized into the following departments: Appliances, Bath, Building Materials, Flooring, Hardware, Home Decor, Kitchen, Lighting & Electrical, Outdoor Living, Paint, and Window & Wall Coverings. Some stores also have additional or unique departments not found at all locations, such as a Garden Center or a lumberyard.
3. Lowes offers more sales and discounts than Home Depot.
Lowe’s offers a variety of sales and discounts to customers throughout the year. Some of the more popular sales include the Presidents’ Day sale, Memorial Day sale, Fourth of July sale, Labor Day sale, and Black Friday sale.
Lowe’s also offers a 10% military discount to active duty and retired military personnel and their families (2). Additionally, Lowe’s offers a variety of coupons and promo codes that can be used to save even more on your purchase.
What’s better about Home depot stores?
A few things make Home Depot better than other home improvement stores.
First, Home Depot has a great selection of everything you need for your home improvement projects. They also have very friendly and helpful staff members who are always willing to help you find what you need. For example, Home Depot will cut lumber for you when buying lumber there.
Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer, while Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is the second-largest hardware chain in the United States. Both companies operate in similar industries and offer many products and services; however, there are some key differences between the two retailers.
Home Depot was founded in 1978 and now has more than 2,200 stores across the United States. It is a publicly-traded company (NYSE: HD) worth over $200 billion, while Lowe’s is a privately held company.
Home Depot is known for its huge big box store layout and wide selection of merchandise, while Lowe’s is known for its more intimate store experience and customer service. The Home Depot also offers installation and home improvement workshops, while Lowe’s does not.
Finally, The Home Depot has been able to better weather economic downturns than Lowe’s; during the Great Recession of 2007-2009, for example, The Home Depot’s sales increased while Lowe’s sales declined. This is likely due to The Home Depot’s larger size and more diverse product selection.
Who should go to Lowe’s stores (and why)?
Lowes stores are a great option for anyone who is on a budget and is relatively new or inexperienced with their home improvement project. Lowes is a service catered to a much more intimate customer experience.
Their knowledgeable staff is eager to help, and a customer with smaller-scale projects may find the personalized experience much more assuring and relaxing. Lowes is a great place for a customer on a budget who is working on a smaller home improvement project.
It is especially good if you are eager to learn about home improvement and need a little more help in completing your goals.
Who should go to Home Depot stores (and why)?
Home Depot is a great option for any professional who is looking for a one-stop shop for all of their home improvement professional contracts. In addition, home Depot’s wide selection of merchandise and services makes it the perfect place to go for customers who are working on a large project or multiple projects at once.
Home Depot’s competitive bulk order prices make it an excellent option for professionals looking to get the most bang for their buck.
The best of Lowe’s and Home Depot home improvement stores
Each of these retailers are excellent options for your next home improvement project. The main thing that separates the two is the level of involvement and help required.
If you are a professional who just needs to get their list items and get out, you may find home depot to be of more value. In contrast, for a smaller-scale home improvement project or those for professions such as interior designers, Lowe’s maybe a bit more fulfilling of an experience.
Sources
(1) – https://www.nationalgeographic.org/maps/united-states-regions/#:~:text=A%20common%20way%20of%20referring,West%2C%20Southeast%2C%20and%20Midwest.
(2) – http://warpp.info/en/m3/layers/military-resources/military-personnel/infotext#:~:text=Military%20personnel%20is%20defined%20as,air%20force%20and%20the%20navy.
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