Home Depot 2002 Annual Report Download - page 7

•We enhanced our logistics by opening four Transit
Facilities, bringing the total to 10, and by adding
two more Import Distribution Centers.
Associates
•We enhanced pay and benefits for our associates by
improving tuition reimbursement and by establishing
our Success Sharing program, which creates an oppor-
tunity for every one of our hourly associates to benefit
from their contribution to the Company’s success.
•We conducted our first-ever Employer of Choice sur-
vey with all of our associates and received an 81%
response rate. One of the key findings was that
nearly 70% of our associates said they plan to stay
with The Home Depot. Our results were favorable
compared to consumer industry averages but also
highlighted opportunities that we will be addressing
in 2003. Overall, there was a very strong commit-
ment to the Company and its direction.
•We introduced new e-Learning Product Knowledge
modules for associates in every store.
Our Community Focus
Beyond the financial accomplishments, our Company
also delivered on its commitment and long-standing
heritage of “giving back” to the communities in which
we live and work. Some of the more notable accom-
plishments for the year include:
•Our associates’ contribution of seven million volunteer
hours to thousands of worthy causes through Team
Depot, our associate volunteer program.
•Sponsoring the Declaration of Independence Road Trip,
a three-year program that will bring an original copy
of “America’s Birth Certificate” to hundreds of cities
across the U.S. to inspire Americans – particularly
young people – to participate and exercise their rights,
especially the right to vote.
•Completing our 100th KaBOOM!™ Playground with
a commitment to build 100 more by 2004.
•Completing our 150th home for Habitat for Humanity,
which builds affordable, energy-efficient and envi-
ronmentally-friendly houses in partnership with those
in need of adequate shelter.
•Increasing our commitment to support Olympic
hopefuls through our Olympic Job Opportunity
Program (OJOP), which provides athletes full-time
pay and benefits while they are in training.
Our Company also has a proud history of “doing
the right thing.” Among a long list of very noteworthy
honors we received this past year, we are especially
proud of two:
•The Home Depot received the “Corporate Patriotism
Award” from the American Veterans Association in
recognition of our continuing support of our military
and reserve associates and their families.
•President Bush named The Home Depot one of only
two companies in the U.S. to serve on the newly-
formed President’s Council on Service and Civic
Participation, honoring The Home Depot as a model
corporate citizen.
As the world’s largest home improvement retailer
and the second largest retailer in America, The Home
Depot has always been, and will continue to be, “more
than a store” to our valued customers, associates,
communities and shareholders. While the economic
landscape before us is more difficult than ever to predict,
I am more confident now than at any other time that we
have a solid foundation upon which we can transform
and build our business to deliver sustained profitability
and growth. We have a proud past, but we have an even
brighter future. And that brighter future will be shaped
as we continue to listen to our customers, learn about
new opportunities, and launch programs that will deliver
value for our customers and our shareholders.
I want to recognize the tremendous efforts, support
and dedication of The Home Depot associates. I have
immense respect for their talent, their dedication and
their commitment to winning in the marketplace. Let
there be no doubt, the “orange-blooded” culture is alive,
well and ready to take our business to new heights.
Sincerely,
Bob Nardelli
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
March 24, 2003
CHAIRMAN’S LETTER
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