S20 · E25

The Home Depot

Founded in 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia, The Home Depot is today the largest home‑improvement retailer in the world, with stores in all 50 states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Envisioned at a time when America was shifting toward greater self‑reliance, the concept behind The Home Depot® was to create a one‑stop shopping experience for every home‑improvement need. With its emphasis on low prices, vast merchandise selection, and superior customer service, the company built an empire that redefined the “do‑it‑yourself” movement. Success, however, was not immediate—The Home Depot faced early challenges and at times became a victim of its own rapid growth. In this captivating Biography, interviews with co‑founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, along with some of the store’s first employees, reveal the vision, perseverance, and innovation that turned a simple idea into a retail powerhouse.