home-depot.asia :: The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer

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.”

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.”

* Learn more about our values.

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.

* View the latest company statistics.
* Learn more about our stores, services and products.

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

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer.

The Home Depot provides products and services for all your home improvement needs whether remodeling your kitchen or purchasing new appliances and power tools.


* The Home Depot Launches National CFL Bulb Recycling Initiative (24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, June 24, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today expanded its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb rec
* The Home Depot to Present at the 18th Annual Wachovia Securities Nantucket Equity Conference (17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, June 17, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced that Paul Raines, executive vice president, U.S. Stores, will present at the 18th Annual Wachovia Securities Nantucket Equity Conference on Tuesday, Ju
* The Home Depot To Present at William Blair &Company 28th Annual Growth Stock Conference (17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, June 17, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced that Craig Menear, executive vice president, Merchandising, will present at the William Blair & Company 28th Annual Growth Stock Conference in Chic
* The Home Depot Declares First Quarter Dividend of 22.5 Cents (22 May 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, May 22, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today announced that its board of directors declared a first quarter cash dividend of 22.5 cents per share. The dividend is payable on June 19 to shareholders of
* The Home Depot Announces First Quarter Results (20 May 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, May 20, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported fiscal 2008 first quarter consolidated net earnings of $356 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared with $1.0 billion, or $0.53 per diluted s
* The Home Depot to Host First Quarter 2008 Earnings Conference Call on May 20, 2008 (06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, May 6, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced today that it will hold its First Quarter 2008 Earnings Conference Call on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at 9 a.m. ET. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin
* The Home Depot Updates Square Footage Growth Plans (01 May 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, May 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today updated its plans for square footage growth. The strategic plan outlined today centers on the Company's capital efficiency model to improve free cash flow, p
* The Home Depot Names Frank Bifulco Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, April 21, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced it has named Frank Bifulco senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Bifulco will report to Craig Menear, the Company's executive vice presid
* The Home Depot Releases Proxy Statement and Annual Report Online; Announces Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held in Atlanta on May 22 (11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, April 11, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network
The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today released its Proxy Statement and Notice of 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders as well as its 2007 Annual Report via the Company's Web site. The materials
* Bob DeRodes, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, to Leave The Home Depot at Year's End (03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST) ATLANTA, April 3, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network

The Home Depot is built on the principle of creating value for our stockholders while never forgetting our values . We seek to be profitable, responsible and balance the needs of our communities.

Throughout our company, our associates are challenged with finding ways in which we can provide the best products for our customers, provide the best possible work environment for our associates, have a positive impact on the communities in which we operate, and provide excellent returns for our stockholders.

Through The Home Depot Foundation, our community impact grants and associates’ volunteer time, The Home Depot strives to have a positive impact on communities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. We also invite the community into our stores to participate in practical and educational programs that benefit children and adults. Our commitment to environmental sustainability shows through our energy efficient and sustainable products, recycling practices, and business principles.

Corporate Responsibility Report

The Home Depot recognizes the value of providing timely and accurate information about the social and environmental impacts of our business. The improvements in our systems for tracking and reporting this information are steadily progressing. As such, we will work to make continuous improvements and edits to this Web site rather than produce an annual corporate responsibility report. This method will enable us to provide the most up to date information and more opportunities to communicate throughout the year.

Reporting new information and updating existing information on an ongoing basis is not without its challenges. We are implementing the following procedures to ensure consistency with established standards:

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Each page will contain the date of the last revision.
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We will make ongoing updates as appropriate and communicate those updates to everyone who requests to be notified by completing our Contact Us form.
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All performance data will reference the base year, geographic scope and business units being measured.
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At times, new performance data will be made available mid-year; however, as soon as data has been collected for a full fiscal year it will be displayed on a full year basis.

For most people, their home is the biggest financial and emotional investment they make. Through a variety of innovative merchandise and services, The Home Depot’s goal is to help consumers create the home of their dreams whether they want to do it themselves or have it done for them. In addition we offer specialized support and services for professional contractors and tradespeople to ensure they have the right tools and supplies for the job site.
Stores and Products

The Home Depot has 1964 convenient locations throughout the United States (including the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), Canada, China and Mexico. Stores average 105,000 square feet with approximately 23,000 additional square feet of outside garden area.

Our store inventory consists of up to 40,000 different kinds of building materials, home improvement supplies, appliances and lawn and garden products for all of your project needs. Selections may vary from store to store because The Home Depot stores are always stocked with merchandise that is localized to match your area's specific market needs. We even offer a low price guarantee to beat anyone's advertised specials. And if for some reason you can't find it in the stores, we offer 250,000 other products that we can special order for you.

* To find a store near you, visit our store locator.
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Frequently Asked Questions about our Products

Services

Home Services

Instead of doing it themselves, many consumers choose to have qualified professionals complete home renovation projects for them. The Home Depot’s Home Services program offers national installation services through certified independent contractors for products ranging from floors to roofs, windows to water heaters, and kitchen cabinets to vinyl siding. Customers can call 1-800-Home-Depot or 1-800-79-DEPOT to receive free consultations, product information and estimates and to schedule installations.

* Home Services

Serving the Pro Customer

The Home Depot’s retail stores offer professional customers, including repair and remodel contractors, special services and support to make them more successful on the job site. Through dedicated contractor services desks in more than 1,900 stores, professional customers have access to loyalty programs, a pro bid room to handle large customer orders with volume discounts, direct ship programs, credit programs and other specialty sales initiatives.

* Contractor Services

Free How-To Clinics

Discover how you can get hands-on experience at the free How-To Clinics offered at every The Home Depot store every Saturday and Sunday.

Kids Workshops

Check out Kids Workshops, our fun and free children's How-To Clinics held in all The Home Depot stores for kids and their parents.

FACT CHECK: HAGGLING / IN-STORE PRICE ADJUSTMENTS

There have been recent news stories regarding haggling in retail stores. To put this in context and provide more detail, our position is as follows:

The Home Depot has an In-Store Low Price Guarantee for most of the products found in our stores. If our customers find a current lower price on an identical, in-stock item from any retailer, we will match the price and beat it by up to 10 percent. This does not cover every product in our store as this guarantee does not apply to select products including John Deere, special order and installation orders among other things. Details on our In-Store Low Price Guarantee can be found on our Web site in the Promotions section.

FACT CHECK: CUSTOMER SERVICE

The Home Depot was founded on the principles of providing a great customer experience. Each week, about 200,000 customers proactively rate their most recent shopping experience at The Home Depot through an online survey. Our analysis of more than 9 million of these customer shopping experiences last year shows The Home Depot's service levels improved across every category in such areas as speed of checkout, associate know-how and merchandise selection.

FACT CHECK: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Home Depot is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance. The board consists of 10 individuals, with nine of them being outside directors. In addition, The Home Depot Inc.'s Corporate Governance Quotient (CGQ®) as of 1-Jun-08 is better than 99.6% of S&P 500 companies and 100% of Retailing companies, according to ISS.

FACT CHECK: ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR GIFTS

Maintaining our ethical standards is of utmost importance to The Home Depot and is something we enforce strongly. The Company has a zero tolerance policy for receiving gifts and entertainment from suppliers when there is any chance that the purpose is to improperly influence the recipient, violate the Company's policies, or violate the law. This policy has been broadly communicated to our merchandising associates and suppliers. We continually review our practices and procedures, and regularly conduct internal audits of the business to ensure compliance.

FACT CHECK: HIRING IN THE U.S.

The company has a long standing policy that in order to be considered for employment at a United States location of The Home Depot, candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. As part of the application process, candidates are asked to confirm that they meet all legal requirements to work in the United States. Then, all candidates who receive an offer of employment must pass a comprehensive background check. In addition, once a candidate passes the background check, he/she must complete the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Employment Eligibility Form I-9, which includes presenting the required documentation to demonstrate eligibility to work in the U.S., within three days of starting employment. If it is discovered that an individual presented documentation during this process that does not satisfy legal requirements, the individual will be terminated.

FACT CHECK: HIRING PARTNERSHIPS

The Home Depot is committed to hiring a diverse work force. As a sign of our commitment, we have partnered with national nonprofit and government agencies and educational organizations. These partnerships allow us to reach out to the communities in which we operate, and provide our company with a broad range of qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds. Partnerships include AARP, US Department of Labor, The Art Institutes, and four of the country's leading national Hispanic organizations: The ASPIRA Association, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and SER - Jobs for Progress National.

FACT CHECK: ASSOCIATE BENEFITS

The Home Depot is dedicated to providing innovative and industry-leading benefits, and makes benefits available to all of its 350,000 full-time and part-time associates. The Company offers medical, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; the opportunity to share in the Company's growth through its Success Sharing program--a bonus plan for associates; a discounted stock purchase plan; and other benefits to eligible full-time and part-time associates.

FACT CHECK: OUR CONTRACTORS ARE CERTIFIED

Home Services has assembled a national network of independent contractors who are pre-qualified thorough a rigorous certification process to ensure work is completed according to The Home Depot’s high standards for quality and safety. These Service Providers install products ranging from floors to roofs, windows to water heaters, and kitchen cabinets to vinyl siding. More than 98 percent of our installation projects are completed without a single complaint from our customers.

FACT CHECK: GIVING BACK TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

Giving back to communities and doing the right thing are two coveted values at The Home Depot. Because we hold these values so close, we contribute over $25 million in donations, millions of dollars of in-kind products and millions of volunteer hours per year to our communities. Across four countries, The Home Depot associates are looking for ways to contribute in our communities through service and civic engagement. The Home Depot's core purpose is to improve communities where we live and work primarily through the following:

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Community Impact Grants - For nonprofit organizations seeking donations from The Home Depot, see CommUnity Impact Grants for more details.
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The Home Depot Foundation - For more information, please go to www.homedepotfoundation.org.
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Playgrounds/Play Spaces - The Home Depot partners with KaBOOM! to build and rebuild community play areas.
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Store Gift Card Donations - For nonprofit organizations seeking small donations.
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Team Depot 1-2-3 Projects - For nonprofit organizations seeking to complete a community project with assistance from Team Depot.

FACT CHECK: NON-SOLICITATION

The Home Depot has attracted public attention in a few markets where day laborers typically gather near store property. The Company policy on solicitation is as follows:

Like many businesses in the community, The Home Depot maintains a policy of non-solicitation at its stores by individuals and organizations not affiliated with our Company. In the interest of safety and convenience, we maintain our non-solicitation policy to keep people from loitering or otherwise creating or causing safety risks to our associates or customers.

The Home Depot does not operate any day laborer centers. There have been a few instances in the state of California where The Home Depot was required by local governing agencies to provide space for day labor centers. In none of these cases does The Home Depot own or operate the required facilities.

FACT CHECK: WOOD PURCHASING

The Home Depot is committed to buying only wood products that have come from forests managed in a responsible way. Upon its announcement in August 1999 that the Company would no longer purchase wood from endangered forests, The Home Depot has become one of the lead organizations for forest protection throughout the world.

To help protect endangered forests and to ensure that there will be timber for future generations, The Home Depot first issued its Wood Purchasing Policy in 1999. The Company’s Wood Purchasing Policy is as follows:

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The Home Depot will give preference to the purchase of wood and wood products originating from certified well-managed forests wherever feasible.
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The Home Depot will eliminate the purchase of wood and wood products from endangered regions around the world.
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The Home Depot will practice and promote the efficient and responsible use of wood and wood products.
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The Home Depot will promote and support the development and use of alternative environmental products.
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The Home Depot expects its vendors and their suppliers of wood and wood products to maintain compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to their operations and the products they manufacture.

In recent years, as the world’s largest seller of certified wood products, The Home Depot has helped to assist in the monitoring of sustainable wood harvesting throughout the world. A recent example occurred in Chile where The Home Depot assisted in the brokering of a deal that resolved a 15-year conflict between Chilean environmental groups and the Chilean timber industry. In 2002, The Home Depot was called on to assist with this conflict, and Company representatives began working with the environmentalists and industry representatives in Chile. Two years of mediation and meetings culminated with the implementation of a new sustainable wood harvesting agreement in 2004.

FACT CHECK: MULCH

Does The Home Depot sell mulch from protected forests?

The Home Depot strongly encourages all cypress mulch suppliers to use wood from forests that utilize best management practices for the harvest and renewal of cypress resources. As the world's largest home improvement retailer, and an industry leader on the environment, responsible stewardship of the world's forests is something The Home Depot takes very seriously. We are committed to working with our vendors to conserve and preserve natural resources and are dedicated to buying only wood products that have come from forests managed in a responsible way. We take consumer concerns about Cypress mulch very seriously and continue to review the situation with industry, state and local foresters.

Does The Home Depot sell mulch from the coastal areas of Louisiana?

The Home Depot will not purchase or sell any cypress mulch logged from the coastal areas of Louisiana. In 2007, we notified all of our suppliers that we will not accept cypress mulch harvested in Louisiana south of Interstates 10 and 12. Our suppliers have since provided written confirmation that they are compliant with this requirement.

Does The Home Depot sell mulch made from termite-infested trees?

The Home Depot does not and will not sell mulch from termite-infested trees, nor does it utilize any mulch suppliers from the New Orleans area. We have very strict policies and procedures in place to ensure the integrity of the mulch products sold in our stores. Mulch suppliers to The Home Depot are required to be certified by the Mulch and Soil Council (MSC), which created the industry standards and criteria for mulch and soil certification and inspection.

On October 3, 2005, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture enacted a quarantine on all hurricane-related damaged materials and goods. This includes wood waste from destroyed homes, fallen trees, debris, etc. No such materials or goods are allowed to leave the 12-parish area of New Orleans, where this quarantine is being enforced. This is designed to assure that the selling and transporting of these fallen trees, either intact or as ground up fiber, is prohibited. Additionally, according to experts, the practical survivability of a soft-bodied insect - such as the termite - withstanding the violent environment inside the mulch grinding process or the high temperatures (130F -160F) of mulch storage, packages and pallet stacks is extremely unlikely.

Does The Home Depot sell mulch that is properly packaged and labeled?

The Home Depot has strict policies and procedures in place to ensure the integrity of the mulch products in our stores. All The Home Depot mulch suppliers are required to be certified by the Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) which created the industry standards and criteria for mulch and soil certification and inspection. MSC-certified mulch products are required to undergo random inspections by MSC representatives to help ensure the mulch is being properly packaged and labeled to comply with state weights and measures regulations.

Is mulch sold at The Home Depot harmful to pets?

The Home Depot offers various mulch options for our customers. A few contain cocoa shells and are clearly labeled as cocoa mulch. Some believe this type of mulch may pose a risk to some animals if ingested. We have received no reports of pet illness from ingestion of this product. We provide countless alternatives for our customers in this category, and stand by the quality and safety of our mulch products for use in the garden and outside the home.

At The Home Depot, dedication to serving our customer and providing the ultimate shopping experience is everyone's priority. Maintaining this focus and commitment is a leadership team that believes our company values and commitment to great customer service will create value for all our stakeholders. Working in a Store Support Center, rather than a corporate headquarters, our leadership knows that the most important people in the fabric of our company are the store associates and store leadership teams.

The Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. We entered Canada in 1994 and Mexico in 2001 through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. We also operate 12 stores in six cities in China as a result of an acquisition made in December 2006. Our global expansion demonstrates how The Home Depot combines its vast knowledge of the home improvement industry with the needs, shopping trends and customs of each unique geography to best serve customers.

* International Fact Sheet
* The Home Depot Canada
* The Home Depot Mexico
* The Home Depot China

Global Sourcing

The Home Depot operates procurement offices in the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico and India. We are committed to being a global company by enhancing our direct relationships with quality manufacturers, and reinforcing the confidence we have in global suppliers to provide products that offer Home Depot customers quality, value and innovation.

* Visit our Supplier Center.

Home Depot, home improvement, décor, decor, electrical, flooring, garden, hardware, kitchen, bath, lighting, fans, paint, plumbing, storage, tools, windows, doors, heaters, appliances, water heater, blinds, appliances, outdoor living, lighting & fans, power tools, www homedepot, homedepot com, www homedepot com, open hour, open hours, opening hours

The Home Depot’s values guide the beliefs and actions of all associates on a daily basis. Our values are the fabric of the Company’s unique culture and are central to our success. In fact, they are our competitive advantage in the marketplace. Associate pride and our “orangeblooded” entrepreneurial spirit are distinctive hallmarks of our culture.

1. Taking care of our people:
The key to our success is treating people well. We do this by encouraging associates to speak up and take risks, by recognizing and rewarding good performance and by leading and developing people so they may grow.
2. Giving back to our communities:
An important part of the fabric of The Home Depot is giving our time, talents, energy and resources to worthwhile causes in our communities and society.
3. Doing the right thing:
We exercise good judgment by "doing the right thing" instead of just "doing things right." We strive to understand the impact of our decisions, and we accept responsibility for our actions.
4. Excellent customer service:
Along with our quality products, service, price and selection, we must go the extra mile to give customers knowledgeable advice about merchandise and to help them use those products to their maximum benefit.
5. Creating shareholder value:
The investors who provide the capital necessary to allow our company to grow need and expect a return on their investment. We are committed to providing it.
6. Building strong relationships:
Strong relationships are built on trust, honesty and integrity. We listen and respond to the needs of customers, associates, communities and vendors, treating them as partners.
7. Entrepreneurial spirit:
The Home Depot associates are encouraged to initiate creative and innovative ways of serving our customers and improving the business and to spread best practices throughout the company.
8. Respect for all people:
In order to remain successful, our associates must work in an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination and harassment where each associate is regarded as a part of The Home Depot team.

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We are the world’s largest home improvement retailer.
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We are the second largest retailer in the U.S.
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We are the third largest retailer in the world.
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The Home Depot is the youngest retailer in the Fortune 50.
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The Home Depot is ranked No. 8 on the S&P 500 list of largest employer of the companies. This excludes companies that did not report
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The Home Depot is ranked No. 17 on the Fortune 500 U.S. list.
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The Home Depot is ranked No. 79 on the Forbes 2000 Largest Companies list.
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The Home Depot is ranked No. 50 on the BusinessWeek 50 list.
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The Home Depot is ranked No. 44 on the Forbes Global list.
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The Home Depot created nearly 20,000 net new jobs in 2006.
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The Home Depot won the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for our leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through marketing and promotion of energy-efficient solutions.
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Since 1997, more than 17.5 million projects have been completed at Kids Workshops.
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More than 1 million children built their first toolbox at a Kids Workshop.
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The Home Depot is the world's leading employer of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls.
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The Home Depot is the fastest growing retailer to reach $30 billion, $40 billion, $50 billion, $60 billion and $70 billion in sales. At the end of fiscal year 2006, revenue was $90.8 billion.
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More than 22 million people visit The Home Depot each week.
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The Home Depot is the largest home-improvement retailer in Canada and Mexico.
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In 2006, Team Depot donated a half million hours working on community service projects.
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The Home Depot, The Home Depot Foundation, and our suppliers committed a total of more than $11 million to support recovery and rebuilding efforts throughout the regions impacted by the Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.