help consumers build and remodel with environmentally safe products and techniques and offer clinics to teach skills locally. In this quest, Home Depot has received numerous awards from the National Environmental Development Association (1993), Renew America and the National Awards Council for Environmental Sustainability (1995), and was recognized with the President’s Sustainable Development Award (1996). Home depot has extended its 24-hour format to an entire region for the first time. Stores in the Seattle, Wash., area now operate around the clock to benefit large numbers of aerospace and other shift workers. New reorganization of its operations area and additional executive promotions has taken place to accommodate plans to have more than 1,900 stores by the end of 2003. It also has acquired three Sam’s Clubs in Argentina, which will be converted to home improvement warehouse stores, with plans to launch four stores this year and four next year. It is home Depot’s strategy to proceed cautiously and gather momentum. The first Expo Design Center was opened in San Diego in 1991 and grew to three stores by 1995. Last year started with seven Expo stores and ended with 15. The company plans to roll out 11 more this year and to ultimately have more than 200 in the next five to seven years. It also introduced its Villager’s Hardware format last year. They appear to be focusing on two new trends: the influences of female consumers and the growth of specialty stores. At Villager’s products found in discount store such as Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target will be available. All of these products are presented with modern, upscale merchandising that helps create a specialty store atmosphere. Other tactics add to this ambience, such as a decorating department that includes space to work on projects and plenty of books for ideas. Villager’s motto sounds as if it was specifically written to meet this demand. ...
