Home Depot takes the lead online

Home Depot is developing its online trading faster than its competitors’ Lowe’s and also Walmart, the biggest retailer in the world. Home Depot’s turnover, generated through Internet sales amounted to USD 3.8 bn in the past financial year. That’s 4.5 per cent of the total revenue. In comparison, Lowe’s, who aggressively advertises its online sales channel, only recorded a turnover of USD 1.1 bn i.e. a share of 2.1 per cent. At Walmart USD 12.2 bn or 2.5 per cent of the sales can be attributed to its e-commerce activities.
Home Depot relies heavily on “click and collect”. Almost 40 per cent of the online sales are picked up in store. The company operates three logistics centres from where the online trading is processed. They offer 700 000 stock-run products. In comparison: A bricks and mortar store usually stocks around 30 000 to 40 000 products.