Home Depot 2007 Annual Report Download - page 18

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Store Growth
United States . At the end of fiscal 2007, we were operating 1,950 The Home Depot stores in the U.S., including the territories of Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands and Guam. During fiscal 2007, we opened 87 new The Home Depot stores, including nine relocations, in the U.S.
Canada
. At the end of fiscal 2007, we were operating 165 The Home Depot stores in ten Canadian provinces. Of these stores, ten were opened
during fiscal 2007.
Mexico . At the end of fiscal 2007, we were operating 66 The Home Depot stores in Mexico. Of these stores, six were opened during fiscal
2007, including one relocation.
China . At the end of fiscal 2007, we were operating 12 The Home Depot stores in six Chinese cities.
Other . In fiscal 2007, we opened five Yardbirds stores in California and a THD Design Center in California and North Carolina. At the end of
fiscal 2007, we were operating 34 EXPO Design Center stores in 13 states. Also in fiscal 2007, we closed our 11 The Home Depot Landscape
Supply stores and our two The Home Depot Floor stores.
Financial information about our operations outside of the U.S. is reported in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Store Support Services
Information Technologies.
During fiscal 2007, we continued to make information technology investments to better support our customers and
provide an improved overall shopping environment and experience.
With our focus on the stores, we provided technology improvements designed to help store associates perform their jobs and improve customer
service. Over 650 stores received new computers, registers and printers, while over 1,100 stores received a refresh of their self-checkout
equipment. All stores received a design system upgrade and new equipment to allow sales to be processed in the specialty departments and over
100 stores received new paint dispensers. A satellite-based network was deployed to all stores in order to increase network resiliency and
connectivity to our data centers. Along with the improvements to the stores, we installed new hardware in approximately 18 logistics facilities.
The installation of a new Radio Call Box system, designed to help customers obtain in-aisle assistance, was completed in every store across the
U.S. and Canada. The deployment of self-checkout registers to all our stores was completed, and new coupon handling automation was
implemented. We equipped managers, designers and expediters with BlackBerry/cell phone devices and e-mail accounts enabling them to more
easily communicate with customers and store support centers.
In addition to significant investments in store technology, new warehouse and transportation management technology was implemented in
support of our supply chain. A new Customer Care technology was implemented in the store support center and each store to assist with
recording and resolving customer disputes. Considerable progress was made in the development of an ERP system (Core Retail) that will first be
deployed in Canada in 2008.
Credit Services. We offer six credit programs through third-party credit providers to professional, D-I-Y and D-I-F-M customers. In fiscal
2007, approximately 4.3 million new The Home Depot credit accounts were opened, and the total number of The Home Depot active account
holders was approximately 13 million. Proprietary credit card sales accounted for approximately 29% of store sales in fiscal 2007.
Logistics.
Our logistics programs are designed to ensure product availability for customers, effective use of our investment in inventory and
low total supply chain costs. At the end of fiscal 2007, we
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