New service for small firms

In its efforts to expand sales to small firms and commercial customers, Home Depot is now offering them assistance in the form of payroll management and credit card services. After all, these customers, who include plumbers, electricians, builders and contractors, account for around 30 per cent of the company's US $ 82 bn in sales. Because of its massive size, Home Depot has been able to negotiate considerably better terms and conditions for the package of services that it has quietly developed and introduced as the "Home Depot Business Toolbox", than the small firms could have obtained on their own. Already 12 000 accounts have signed up for the package, and a massive media campaign is due to be launched soon.
But Home Depot is now going one step further, with plans to offer health care as well, always a considerable cost factor for small businesses. The company says that some 38 per cent of Toolbox users are interested in this service. CEO Bob Nardelli also intends to offer the Toolbox package to other small businesses such as shops and restaurants, and even to non-profit organisations like churches and child-care centres, etc.