Lowes vs. Home Depot Home Depot and Lowes compete in the same home improvement industry strategic group. The Home Depot is implementing a low-cost provider strategy but focuses on serving the do-it yourself consumer buyer. Home Depot is also developing more in the international markets. Lowe’s customer focus is on the professional, the do-it-yourself consumer, and the do-it-for-me consumer. In some cases, Lowe’s is on the cutting edge of market trends with Home Depot employing a follower strategy also implementing a low-cost provider strategy. Home Depot’s current generic strategy (based on Porter’s model) is broad differentiation combined with cost leadership. Home Depot uses broad differentiation as its primary generic strategy and cost leadership …show more content…
Based on this intensive growth strategy, a strategic objective is to offer products at affordable prices. Home Depot’s cost leadership generic strategy supports this intensive growth strategy. To enhance its product selection, the company has developed strategic alliances and exclusive relationships with suppliers to market a variety of well-known brand names (Home Depot Product Authority, LLC, 2016). Lowe’s competitive business level strategy is a low-cost provider. Lowe’s is able to keep costs low through by purchasing in large quantities from suppliers, buying directly from manufacturers, using technology to control costs, and setting up distribution centers to service area stores. To better service this set of customers, the company offers installation services, provides customers with the opportunity to order unique items not stocked in the store, and provides one stop shopping for commercial customers. Lowe’s offers everyday low prices to customers and financing via a proprietary credit card and Lowe’s project card (Lowes.com,
However with few exceptions, The Home Depot outperforms Lowe’s considerably. Lowe’s did outperform The Home Depot in revenue growth this most recent quarter, but this is just a snapshot when in reality both The Home Depot and Lowe’s have been experiencing very similar growth for years. Next is Earnings/Share, The Home Depot is earns over two times more than Lowe’s for one dollar of share price. Key differences can be found in profit margins, debt vs equity, and return on equity. The Home Depot has a considerably higher profit margin when compared to the margin of Lowe’s, and is much better at turning invested capital into equity.
Annual Reports and Press releases The annual reports and press releases of both companies slightly differ though with a portion of similarity. Although, Home Depot’s annual report is composed at the headquarters of giving an inclusive report on all of the retail stores in the world, through the company’s website these reports posted can be found. Therefore, this being impartial and all-inclusive to an extent of analysis it would have to be done on the contrasts, similarities, profitability, and performance of different retail stores in different regions or countries. However, the shareholders and customers analyze the summary provided to know the general performance.
I think the Home Depot is a stronger than Lowe’s, because the Home Depot is number one-largest hardware chain and Lowe’s is second-largest hardware chain in U.S. and Globally. They both have about the same number of store, but The Home depot is more profitable than Lowe’s. If you compare a Home depot revenue, operating income and free cash flow Lowe’s only generates about half of a what home depot is generating. That’s because Home depot leans more toward the professional contractor – who buy higher value items and Lowe’s leans more toward the homeowner. The Home Deport current Ratio is 1.32 and Lowe’s 1.0 that means that Home Depot has 1.32 to cover there $1.00 liabilities, and Lowe’s has 1.0 cover $1.00 liabilities.
Walmart prides itself of offering everything you might need for every day. Their marketing slogan is "Save Money. Live Better" which replace their famous "Always Low Prices.” According to Kroger their slogan is "Right Store, Right Price". Kroger offers a fewer selection of options for their customers.
Since the company was founded as a corner store, the company’s business plan has always emphasized on expect more, pay less brand promise that sets it apart from its chief rival, Walmart. Although, Walmart is known for its low prices and offers a large selection to its customers; it’s customer service is often found to be nonexistent. This
When I wish to do home improvement or purchase home materials, I think of Lowes or Home Depot. I also think about Sherwin Williams, Builder’s Supply, and Ace Hardware. While I was looking for further information on Lowes, I discovered that Lowes has done a great job and is number two in the home improvement industry. To be truthful, my class project for my Financial Statement Analysis was on Home Depot and Lowes. I got a good idea about where Lowes was financially, but I thought I’d like to know more about their business side as well.
Although Lowes has many products for sale, its services are what help the customer determine which product will ultimately will be used to satiate the need. Employee Interaction As a customer walks through the store there are employees stationed at each service center. From paint to flooring, bath to kitchen, and garden and appliances, each area is staffed with employees who approach the customer to solicit service. Once a service is determined or found, each department has dedicated staff knowledgeable about the service they are selling.
Evaluate two to four (2-4) weaknesses that are evident in the selected organization’s product life cycle. Generate a new product design and product selection, and then determine three (3) strategies that the organization needs to strengthen the operation. Product Life Cycle (PLC) is known as the stages in its lifetime that a product goes through, where the demand changes over time. [Rei132.
Companies all over the globe will experience some sales and profit decrease. Home Depot in the growing housing industry benefited greatly from the houses being built. The accounting concept portrayed in this situation for home depot is called operating leverage. Operation leverage is when managers view a small change in revenue and magnify it to dramatic changes in revenue (Edmonds, Tsay, & Olds, 2011). With a decrease in the market for construction materials, Home Depot is experiencing a 3% decrease revenue and a 21% decrease in profitability.
For my paper, I will be comparing the two websites, “Bass Pro Shops” and “Cabela's.” I’m extremely familiar with both of these websites, as well as their stores, because I’m an avid outdoorsman and spend the majority of my money at either of these companies. These two particular companies are a pretty interesting comparison right now as Bass Pro Shops just bought out the Cabela's brand and the future of Cabela's is unknown. The online rumors is that Cabelas will still be Cabelas, the brand will still exist and very little will change other than being owned by it’s main competition. To start my comparison, I am a little more biased towards Cabela’s between the two.
Home Depot is a multi-million dollar industry, with over 2,000 stores around the world. They supply contractors with tools and products to build a house or supply Do-It-Yourselfers with home and business improvements. But with all the good Home Depot has done, they have their faults too. Home Depot has faced job cuts, ethical violations and the mistreatment of their customers. When a person hears job cuts, they assume that the reason for the job cuts is downsizing.
For the business-level, Trader Joe’s adopted a differentiation focus strategy. According to our textbook with this strategy, Trader Joe’s seeks to differentiate in its target market. They rely on providing better service than broad-based competitors. Specifically, they focus on the special needs of the buyer in other segments (Dess, Page 159). Joe’s differentiates its self from other grocers by providing a unique shopping experience fortified with their private label goods and great service from their crew members.
Specifically, Ralph’s (similar stores are Vons and Albertson’s) and Whole Foods (similar stores are Gelson’s and Trader Joes) are two firms that utilize cost leadership and differentiation. On one hand, we have Ralph’s using cost differentiation by providing a broad range of merchandise at a decent price. On the other hand, we have Whole Foods that has implemented a differentiation strategy by marketing their merchandise as healthier (organic). The trade of for both companies is that they are attracting less consumers by just marketing to a specific crowed. For instance, if Whole Foods had lowered their price and still sold premium merchandise, soon Ralph’s would be in trouble.
4.4 Pricing Strategy For a number of reasons, price is one of the most important aspects of an effective marketing strategy (Gerstein & Friedman, 2015). First, price is the only marketing variable that generates revenue. Second, buyers see price as an attribute of value (Tanner & Raymond, n.d.). Consequently, an organization must carefully assess its internal and external environment to choose the most effective pricing objective, which—in turn—will drive a product’s initial pricing strategy.
Woodmere Products Case Study The case study is about time-based logistics. HomeHelp wants Woodmere to collaborate with it in an exclusive distribution using time-based logistics. Woodmere has to submit a proposal for implementing that. The following are the answers to questions about this collaboration.