The Home Depot was founded in 1978 by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank in Atlanta, Georgia. Their vision was to create a one-stop shop for do-it-yourself home improvement projects. The first Home Depot stores opened in 1979 and resembled large warehouses filled with supplies. Over time, the company expanded across the U.S. and internationally under various CEOs while maintaining a focus on customer service and knowledge. Today, The Home Depot operates over 2,200 stores with a mission to provide homeowners and professionals with the right tools and products to complete their projects.

1. HOME DEPOT
The History

2. THE BEGINNING
 Founded in 1978 by Bernie Marcus and Arthur
Blank, along with investment banker Ken Langone,
and expert at merchandising Pat Farrah
 The vision was one stop shopping for the do-it-
yourself person
 First two Home Depots opened in Atlanta Georgia
on June 22nd, 1979
 First stores looked like cavernous warehouses,
which remains a theme today
 Set themselves apart by offering the customers
knowledge on how to do their own projects, instead
of just selling items

3. LEADERSHIP
 The first Chief Executive Officers, Bernie Marcus
and Arthur Blank, retired in 2000
 Robert Nardelli was then chosen to be CEO
 In 2007, Frank Blake was elected CEO. He
previously served as vice chairman of the Board of
Directors, and executive Vice President of the
company

4. VALUES
 Taking Care of Our People
 The key to our success is treating people well. We do this by
encouraging associates to speak up and take risks, by
recognizing and rewarding good performance and by leading and
developing people so they may grow. 3
 Giving Back to Our Community
 An important part of the fabric of The Home Depot is giving our
time, talents, energy and resources to worthwhile causes in our
communities and society. 3
 Doing the Right Thing
 We exercise good judgment by "doing the right thing" instead of
just "doing things right." We strive to understand the impact of our
decisions, and we accept responsibility for our actions. 3
 Excellent Customer Service
 Along with our quality products, service, price and selection, we
must go the extra mile to give customers knowledgeable advice
about merchandise and to help them use those products to their
maximum benefit. 3

5. VALUES CONT’D
 Creating Shareholder Value
 The investors who provide the capital necessary to allow our
company to grow need and expect a return on their investment.
We are committed to providing it. 3
 Building Strong Relationships
 Strong relationships are built on trust, honesty and integrity. We
listen and respond to the needs of customers, associates,
communities and vendors, treating them as partners. 3
 Entrepreneurial Spirit
 The Home Depot associates are encouraged to initiate creative
and innovative ways of serving our customers and improving the
business and to spread best practices throughout the company. 3
 Respect for All People
 In order to remain successful, our associates must work in an
environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination and
harassment where each associate is regarded as a part of The
Home Depot team. 3

6. THE PHILOSOPHY
 “Whatever It Takes”
 Means that employees should aim to do whatever
is necessary to build up customer service, and not
just try to sell customers a product
 “At the end of the day, we’re in the people
business.” – Bernie Marcus, Built from Scratch
 Customer has a Bill of Rights that’s entitles them to
the right assortment of products, quantities and
price, along with trained associates on the sales
floor who want to take care of customers

7. FURTHER INFORMATION
 Went public on NASDAQ in 1981
 Moved to the New York Stock Exchange in 1984
 In 1989 the 100th store opened
 Arrived in Canada in 1994
 Arrived in Mexico in 2001
 Arrived in China in 2006
 The slogan "More saving. More doing." was introduced
by The Home Depot in the 2009, replacing "You can do
it. We can help." which had been used since 2003.
Other slogans used in the past 25 years include "The
Home Depot, Low prices are just the beginning" in the
early 1990s and "When you're at the Home Depot, You'll
feel right at home" in the late 1990s and "The Home
Depot: First In Home Improvement!" from 1999–2003.

8. REFERENCES
1
https://corporate.homedepot.com/OurCompany/Hist
ory/Pages/default.aspx
2
https://corporate.homedepot.com/OurCompany/Lea
dership/Pages/CEO.aspx
3
https://corporate.homedepot.com/OurCompany/Val
ues/Pages/default.aspx