Home Depot has always made something of itself as a large retailer.
While other retailers may hire any senior person to stock shelves or do shopping, Home Depot tends to hire knowledgeable sales associates who are trained in specific trades.
If you need help finding the right bedroom paint, for example, there’s a person for that. If you’re being brave and tackling a bathroom remodel on your own, there are store associates who can guide you to the right materials.
In addition, the very nature of Home Depot is that it is a store that customers tend to need all year round. That’s why Home Depot keeps long hours year-round, opening as late as 6 am and closing as late as 10 pm
It is that very consistency that customers have come to depend on.
Many retailers close their doors to shoppers several times throughout the year. It is quite common, in fact, for stores to be closed on holidays including Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.
Home Depot, however, remains open almost every day of the year. And part of the reason is that the company prides itself on being always available to customers.
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Still, Home Depot draws the line with two major holidays – Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Those are the only two days during the entire calendar year that Home Depot will not welcome shoppers.
It’s the same store closing schedule that Walmart adheres to, and it’s one that consumers may find frustrating, since they’re used to Home Depot being open all the time. But while some customers may not like it, there is a reason behind it.
Closing twice a year makes sense for Home Depot for a few reasons.
First, the company maintains large stores, similar in size to Costco stores many customers find impressive but large.
It costs money to keep such a large warehouse running for a day. And since Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t really big home improvement days, foot traffic is likely to be minimal during those times.
It’s just not worth the cost to remain open to what may be only a small number of customers.
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But Home Depot also needs to keep its sales associates happy. These are not old retail workers — they are people who know how to make home improvements and specific products.
Giving workers time off for these major holidays is essential to retaining good employees.
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