STORM2K

Home Depot to test convenience stores at 4 Nashville locations

By MARIA HALKIAS / The Dallas Morning News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Need some gasoline to get those two-by-fours delivered? In a hurry to get home with those bedding plants but need to stop for milk?

Home Depot Inc. on Monday confirmed a report in trade journal Oil Express that it's launching a pilot project in Nashville, Tenn., to test convenience stores in its parking lots.

The test will begin in December at four stores, said Paula Smith, spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Home Depot.

"Entering this market fits well with our strategy to grow the company by enhancing and extending our offerings to customers," Ms. Smith said.

"Market-backed research continues to show us that customers are time-starved and want efficient and affordable solutions."

Home Depot's convenience stores will offer "competitively priced fuel and quality merchandise and services," she said.

Some locations will also have a car wash.

"The convenience store industry is a $268 billion market. We see great potential in adding to our top-line growth while also driving incremental traffic to our retail stores," Ms. Smith said.

The No. 1 home improvement chain said there are no plans to go beyond the test. An in-house team is developing the concept, and construction will begin in September.

No. 1 convenience store chain 7-Eleven Inc. doesn't have stores in Tennessee, but the company will probably check out the new competition.

Margaret Chabris, spokeswoman for Dallas-based 7-Eleven, said that she can't respond without seeing the stores but that 7-Eleven has a unique infrastructure, which stocks and develops products that "convenience-oriented customers want."

Hey why not? Wal-Mart has paint and hardware supplies, Home Depot should be able to sell milk It is all about one stop shopping now days... What's next? Laser levels at Victoria Secret's?

The Wal-Mart by my house has got those things, but the also have a grocery store, scooter store, haircutting place, eyeglass place, garden department, and a deli. Oh yeah, they also have a subway sandwich shop.

added>> They also have a gas station called Murphy's

I saw this thread and kept meaning to reply. It is nice when a store you frequent stocks other items you are out of - bread, milk, etc. Of course Target does this, at a premium though but when you're there picking up a poster board for your kid's school project, a toy for someone's birthday invite, sox someone needs, the milk sitting nearby is very tempting!

That said, there have been plenty of nights I've stood in line at Blockbuster, of all places, thinking - I shouldn't even be here, I should be at Kroger's, we're out of milk, low on bread, etc. I've even said these things to my kids and they think I'm from Mars - Mom, it's a video store...get it?

I just know if they saw Home Depot selling milk, they'd think it was very wacky! Then again they have lots of energy and don't understand parents who want one stop shopping, not a zillion errands to run. Teenagers are only too happy to stop one more place....

Mary