Home Depot 2007 Annual Report Download - page 16

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The Home Depot, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that was incorporated in 1978. Our Store Support Center (corporate office) is located at 2455
Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30339. Our telephone number is (770) 433-8211.
We maintain an Internet website at www.homedepot.com. We make available on our website, free of charge, our Annual Reports to
shareholders, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements and Forms 3, 4
and 5 as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such documents with, or furnishing such documents to, the SEC.
We include our website addresses throughout this filing only as textual references. The information contained on our websites is not incorporated
by reference into this Form 10-K.
Our Business
Operating Strategy. In fiscal 2007, following changes in senior Company management and in the face of rapid deterioration in the housing,
residential construction and home improvement markets, we adopted and implemented strategic objectives of focusing on our retail business,
investing in our associates and stores, improving customer service and returning capital to shareholders. We completed the sale of HD Supply;
we completed approximately one-half of our $22.5 billion recapitalization plan by acquiring approximately 15% of our outstanding shares; and
we invested over $2 billion in five key operating priorities: associate engagement, product excitement, product availability, shopping
environment and own the pro. Further information about our efforts on each of these key priorities may be found in Part II, Item 7.
Customers. The Home Depot stores serve three primary customer groups:
•
Do
-
It
-
Yourself ("D
-
I
-
Y") Customers:
These customers are typically home owners who purchase products and complete their
own projects and installations. To complement the expertise of our associates, The Home Depot stores offer "how-to" clinics
taught by associates and merchandise vendors.
•
Do
-
It
-
For
-
Me ("D
-
I
-
F
-
M") Customers:
These customers are typically home owners who purchase materials themselves and
hire third parties to complete the project and/or installation. We arrange for the installation of a variety of The Home Depot
products through qualified independent contractors.
•
Professional Customers:
These customers are professional remodelers, general contractors, repairmen, small business owners
and tradesmen. In many stores, we offer a variety of programs to these customers, including additional delivery and will-call
services, dedicated staff, extensive merchandise selections and expanded credit programs, all of which we believe increase sales
to these customers.
2