Inside an expansive and noisy distribution center just east of Atlanta, Home Depot Inc. is trying to solve a problem that’s plaguing its stores: large orders from pro shoppers.
Contractors’ needs are very different than the average customer’s, and while they make up only 5% of Home Depot’s shoppers, they account for 45% of its $132 billion in annual sales. They often buy bulky items in vast quantities and want -- or rather demand -- to receive the orders on a stringent timeline. That’s become an especially intense problem for Home Depot, as with other retailers, amid the supply-chain crunch that’s upended stocking and transport around the country and the world.
