Lowe’s is changing up its stores to gain a competitive edge

Why it matters: Professionals — like contractors and builders — spend roughly five times as much at Lowe’s stores than typical DIY customers do, the company has said. In an ongoing effort to catch up to rival Home Depot, Lowe’s for years has been working to ramp up its offerings for pro customers. [Go deeper]

• The pro product market is more than $400 billion, Lowe’s estimates. The company expects it to grow faster than the overall U.S. home improvement market in coming years.

Details: Lowe’s is adding a “pro zone” to all stores that it’s stocking with products that the company says are popular with pros, such as shims and caulk, a type of sealant. The zones will also have newly released products like Yeti coolers, Lowe’s says.

There will also be a grab-and-go portion of the pro zone stocked with products such as sunscreen, lip balm, Sharpies and super glue.

• These additions aim to make Lowe’s a one stop shop for pro customers who are there to shop for home improvement items like tools and flooring.
• “The upgrades will further enhance and expedite the pro shopping trip, and ultimately save them time and money,” a Lowe’s spokesperson said in a statement.

Lowe’s is also stocking pro zones with products it says it has never sold before, such as pain relievers, snacks and drinks. The new zones will have pro trailer parking spots, a dedicated pro checkout and free phone charging stations.

• Looking ahead, Lowe’s plans to add to these specialized zones further with amenities like free air stations and windshield cleaning stations, the company said.

Zoom out: These upgrades are among the latest Lowe’s has made specifically for pro customers over the last couple of years. In 2019, for instance, Lowe’s began redoing stores, starting with one in Ballantyne, to add pro customer parking and replace slow-moving inventory like carpet with popular product like hardwood, I wrote at the time.

• Last summer, Lowe’s launched a tool rental offering, debuting at its South End store, CBJ reported.