What You Need to Know About Lowe’s Home Improvement

There are so many reasons to buy your home improvement items from Lowe’s, including their great selection, customer service, and competitive pricing. And if you don’t live close to one of their stores, you can also get your stuff online. Here’s what you need to know about ordering from the company, its history, and its return policies.

History

Lowe’s home improvement has a long history. From a small store in North Wilkesboro, NC in 1921, the company has grown to become one of the largest home improvement retail chains in the United States.

• The name of the company has changed since its inception, but the core of the business remains the same. It sells hardware, appliances, and home office equipment.
• Lowe’s began as a small family-owned hardware store in North Wilkesboro, NC, in 1921. Lucius Smith Lowe’s daughter, Ruth, took over the business when her father passed away. Her son, Jim, bought the business after her death.
• In 1943, Jim Lowe brought on Carl Buchan as his partner. Buchan redesigned the company to focus on building materials. He also decided to buy products directly from manufacturers.

After World War II, the construction industry experienced a boom. Homeowners were beginning to take on larger projects. People who came of age in the 1950s were buying homes.

As more homeowners started do-it-yourself (DIY) practices, Lowe’s began to expand its customer base. They also expanded their sales network. This led to a surge in revenues.

In 2003, Lowe’s introduced a smaller prototype format. These stores were designed for more rural markets. Also, the company adopted a financing program to help contractors get government forms completed.

In addition to the financing program, the company continued to expand its product lines. As do-it-yourself practices gained popularity, more and more homeowners were investing in older homes to modernize.

Online shopping experience

With an ever-changing retail environment, Lowe’s executives are re-examining their omnichannel strategies to deliver a new and improved customer experience.

• They are investing in mobile resources, improving product merchandising and deploying artificial intelligence to improve Pro relationships.
• Lowe’s is the biggest home improvement retailer in North America with more than 2,200 stores across the US and Canada.
• It offers a wide variety of products, services and experts. However, its store experience is often a bit overwhelming. Here are seven tips to make your next trip to the store easier.

One of the best things about Lowe’s is its friendly, expert staff. Often, the experts are actual plumbers and other handymen. If you have a question, they can answer it right there in the store.

Lowe’s also has a website called “myLowes,” which provides consumers with a one-stop shop for home improvement information. The tool allows them to research products, read reviews, and find the closest Lowe’s location. In addition, customers can order nearly 30,000 items for delivery in an hour. This may be a good thing if you’re planning to start a big project in your primary residence.

Another excellent feature of Lowe’s website is the ‘Quick List.’ Customers can save up to 10 unique items in their list. You can add notes to your list without signing in.

Lowe’s has even launched a mobile app. These apps provide customers with the same functionality as the Web site. For example, you can track your pending orders and get updates on your order as it’s being processed.

Favoritism

Favoritism in the workplace is often defined as partiality towards associates and friends. This type of favoritism may present ethical dilemmas.

Lowe’s home improvement company has been catching up to The Home Depot in many ways. They have caught up in several aspects of lumber, roofing, siding, and Pro tradesman.

Lowe’s has also made a push to increase staffing levels at its stores. Employees are complaining about pay discrepancies. Many of them are also disgruntled about the emphasis on self checkout and organizational changes. Some workers are also complaining about the cleanliness of some areas of the store.

In this lawsuit, Randy Albright claims Lowe’s discriminated against him. He contends that the company’s failure to promote him was due to age and cronyism.

Albright argues that the Lowe’s interview process was deviated from the usual procedures, including the selection of two candidates for interviews instead of the usual three. He points out that Lowe’s failed to properly check the accuracy of Mitchell’s resume.

Albright contends that Sloan was biased when making hiring decisions. He claims Sloan commented on his age prior to the interview. His argument is that Sloan believed that younger employees were more qualified for the position. However, he is failing to demonstrate that Sloan actually had this pretext.

The Lowe’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. Lowe’s is free to respond to Albright’s claim. Although, it is not a challenge to his prima facie case.

Return policies

Lowe’s has a solid return policy for customers who are unhappy with their purchases. They offer a range of ways to make a return, including online and in-store. However, there are also some rules and requirements that you should know.

Most items sold by Lowe’s have a 90-day return period. If you have a special order item, you may have to pay a 20% restocking fee. This is due to the fact that Lowe’s has to keep the merchandise in stock.

To expedite the process of receiving a refund, you should bring the receipt to the store. However, Lowe’s also accepts returns without a receipt. You will have to have a valid government-issued photo ID to receive the full refund.

As a general rule of thumb, it is best to ship the item back in its original packaging. In addition, Lowe’s accepts most products in “like new” condition, but there are some exceptions.

The most important point to note is that Lowe’s does not offer a full refund on items that were not returned in the original box. You can, however, receive a full refund on the same payment method. Likewise, you can get a gift card or store credit.

When making a return at the store, you should first check with a customer service representative for more information. Depending on the size and complexity of the return, it could take anywhere from two to 15 days to complete.

Origin21

Origin21, the newly-launched home improvement brand from Lowe’s, is a multi-category home decor program that features modern home accessories such as light fixtures, throw pillows, rugs and furniture.

• The brand also offers up-to-date design and function with a hefty dose of class and panache.
• Among the products is the Brennfield egg chair, a wicker statement with a natural-hued cushion. Its not often that a company comes up with a well-designed chair that blends mid-century modern curves with a Scandinavian aesthetic. This makes it a worthy addition to any outdoor space.
• Origin21 is also making a splash in the garden and lawn and garden categories. Aside from the aforementioned Veda Springs bar cart, there’s the arch matte black framed wall mirror. Other noteworthy pieces include the soft home.
• Origin21 is part of a new Home of Style campaign from Lowe’s. This ad campaign aims to showcase the brand’s unique and stylish offerings in the context of a millennial’s vision for his or her dream home.

In addition to the new brand, Lowe’s has rolled out a private label program that includes a slew of new products. These are all aimed at making the most of its booming home improvement business. Some of these products are available at local stores while others are only found online.

The name Origin21 pays homage to the company’s founding year of 1921. A modern take on the traditional home improvement store, the new program is intended to entice both Millennials and tradesmen alike.

Partnership with Petco

Lowe’s has announced a new home improvement partnership with San Diego-based Petco. The companies plan to offer Petco products and services in selected Lowe’s stores, starting with a pilot program in Texas and the Carolinas.

In addition to offering pet services, the pilot locations will also provide customers with a variety of pet-related products and brands. These items will include pet food, grooming supplies, and other products. At the same time, Lowe’s associates will be available to give guidance on home improvement projects.

According to Lowe’s research, Americans have spent more time in their homes in the past two years. They have adopted pets, taken on do-it-yourself projects, and have become more comfortable in their homes.

While Lowe’s does not specifically specialize in pet supplies, the company does carry several pet-friendly items. Products range from pet proof carpeting to dog beds. It also offers a limited selection of Petco-branded goods, including dog and cat food and toys.

While Petco and Lowe’s declined to release financial terms, they did say the partnership was prompted by the growing pet ownership trend in the U.S. The two partners will also work together to develop and promote a “store-in-store” concept.

As part of the program, Petco mini-shops will be installed in select Lowe’s stores. These shops will feature a small inventory of Petco merchandise, as well as grooming, vaccination, and other pet services.

Final Thoughts 

In 2006, Lowe’s was the second-largest home improvement retailer in the country. In addition to home improvement, Lowe’s is also a major general retailer. Its products include appliances, flooring, and garden supplies.