Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank founded The Home Depot in 1978. Their dream of one-stop shopping for the “do-it-yourselfer” was fulfilled when they opened the first two Home Depot stores on June 22, 1979, in Atlanta, Georgia. Use the links below to learn more about this retail giant's history and to see how the company advertises the do-it-yourself lifestyle.

Company Profile

The first stores were huge warehouses, bigger than the competition’s locations, and had much more stock than the average hardware store. Marcus' and Blank’s desire to offer the customer a one-stop-shop was partially inspired by their time as employees of California's Handy Dan’s Home Improvement Center.

Prior to the 1960s and 1970s, hardware stores were small businesses that sold specialized products and customers could typically not get all of the materials for a project at one store. Also, people commonly hired professionals to complete home improvements tasks instead of doing the work themselves. Marcus and Blank hoped to change that.

One of the trademarks of The Home Depot has always been its knowledgeable staff. The associates at the store can offer advice and guidance for a number of projects, such as laying tile or operating a power tool. The company also offers clinics so customers can learn how to do their projects themselves. The Home Depot revolutionized the home improvement industry by providing consumers everything they need to complete home repair and improvement projects without hiring a professional. The emphasis on the DIY consumer is clear in the famous slogan “You can do it. We can help.”

By 1981, The Home Depot was a public company, which created massive growth throughout the 1990s. In 1989, The Home Depot celebrated the opening of the 100th store. The Home Depot went global. The company first opened in Canada in 1994, then moved to Mexico in 2001. Finally, in 2006, The Home Depot made its way into the Chinese market.

The Home Depot is now known as the fastest growing retailer in the country, and is the fourth largest retailer in the United States. Advertising for the store focuses on the “do-it-yourself” values of The Home Depot. What started as a solution to the public’s desire to do home projects themselves as a warehouse business in Atlanta, Georgia has grown to be a global company with over 2,270 locations.

Historical Advertisements

The Home Depot Television Commercial, Youtube.com
Advertising for The Home Depot targets “Do-it-Yourself” homeowners.

The Home Depot Television Commercial, Youtube.com
The Home Depot is known for providing advice for customers starting home improvement projects.