Home Depot has a flatbed distribution center in the Dallas area. It is opening more of the facilities across the country to help fulfill home professionals’ large orders.
Melissa Repko, CNBC
In a giant warehouse in Dallas, a fleet of forklifts carries big and bulky home improvement supplies from drywall and concrete to lumber. Box cars cut though the giant facility on a rail line. Trucks pull up, ready to be loaded.
Home Depot‘s facility — which could fit about 14 professional football fields— is helping the company speed up the replenishment of store shelves and deliver purchases to customers’ doors. It is a key part of the retailer’s strategy to win more business from electricians, remodelers and other home professionals, particularly ones that place big orders.
The pandemic fueled a hot real estate market and a penchant for “nesting,” creating tailwinds for Home Depot and Lowe’s. As Covid-19 cases fall in the U.S. and homeowners spend more time on planes or at parties, the biggest business opportunity is sales growth from home professionals.
Home Depot has historically drawn more of its business from these more lucrative and frequent shoppers, but Lowe’s is trying to attract more pros, too. About 45% of Home Depot’s total sales come from pro customers versus about 20% to 25% at Lowe’s, according to the companies.
In recent months, executives at both companies have said they are seeing pent-up demand for professional projects as people…
