The Wall Street Journal made an interesting observation over the weekend: there are two retail chains that appear to be immune from Amazon: The Home Depot and Lowe’s.
The article cites several trends that account for the two stores’ stronger growth rates compared to other retailers, trends that spur homeowners to make trips to large chains “to pick out appliances and paint colors, and plan projects around the home.”
“Only drugstores and restaurants this year among brick-and-mortar locations are outrunning the home improvement stores,” according to the newspaper.
But while Amazon “doesn’t have a toehold in large parts of the home improvement space, like lumber, paint and gardening supplies,” the Journal said, it is putting pressure on DYI chains. It cited a state from The Home Depot that 25% of its business faces tough online competition – products that are smaller and easier to ship.
Could consumers one day find themselves ordering lumber from Amazon? It might not be the strangest category the company would have successfully conquered.
