Lowe’s plans for metropolitan areas

Approximately two thirds of the 130 new stores that Lowe’s plans to open in the current financial year are scheduled for metropolitan markets with populations greater than 500 000. Currently slightly over half of Lowe’s total store base is to be found in such locations. Lowe’s operates only 22 per cent of its outlets in the 25 top sales markets, where almost half of the home improvement market potential resides. The prototype of the new home improvement stores for such locations is just under 11 000 m² in size. The company has also developed a second prototype of over 8 000 m² to serve less well populated areas. Both prototypes include a lawn and garden centre averaging an additional 2 300 m².