Home Depot 2003 Annual Report Download - page 9

The Home Depot, Inc. | 07
We continue to anticipate changing customer preferences and deliver innovative and distinctive products,
services and solutions. At The Home Depot, customers find an unsurpassed selection of products from
both brands they know and brands we are introducing. We offer a great assortment and great value.
Meeting Customers’ Needs
Unique and compelling merchandise, such as RIDGID professional
power tools, John Deere lawn tractors, our Color SolutionsSM Center
and our exclusive appliance offerings, have helped us increase our
average ticket and our market share. Over the past three years, we
have become the third largest appliance retailer in the U.S. Another
extension of our merchandise selection is our success in the tool
rental business. We have the most tool rental locations in the indus-
try, the newest equipment and the most convenient store hours. We
also continue to add new merchandise in décor categories, provid-
ing effective solutions to customers’ decorating needs.
Connecting with Customers
Beyond our wide geographic breadth of retail locations and depth of
merchandise, our associates play an integral role in building relation-
ships with our valued customers. To ensure the continued strength of
this relationship, we have established a three-pronged approach to
empowering the best associates in the industry. Through our Store
Leadership Program, Fast Track Program and continued promotion of
our experienced talent from within, we are growing our talent and fill-
ing our projected leadership needs. We reward our associates’ hard
work with benefits like Success Sharing, which awards bonuses to all
full- and part-time associates whose stores have exceeded company
targets. Additional incentive programs reward store managers and
salaried associates for exceeding their goals.