Price shopping: how it's done, why it works

Article Abstract:

Both small retailers and major home center chains routinely send employees into competitors' stores to record prices on selected items. The practice is not illegal, but such retail spies often dress as tradesmen or remodelers, and arrive during early morning hours when fewer store staffers are on duty. The information thus gathered gives the spying retailer the options of raising, lowering or advertising the differences between his prices and spying target. Some chains programmatically eject such price shoppers, or buy Internet-based price surveys though firms such as Cotter & Co.

Methods, Prices and rates, Cover Story, Pricing, Business intelligence, Competitive intelligence, Price cutting

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Newest boxes target women, pros

Article Abstract:

Hechinger, Home Depot, and Builders Square's new stores opened in Apr 1996 are targeting professional buyers and women by offering new merchandise mixes. Home Depot's new store in Buckhead, GA, has a building materials department with wider aisles and a drive-up station to facilitate merchandise loading. Hechinger's Home Project Center in Landover, MD, has expanded bath, kitchen, and lighting departments and a contractor desk near the lumber yard. Builders Square's store in Detroit, MI, offers kitchen and bath accessories, candles, dried flowers, and baskets.

Marketing, The Home Depot Inc., HD, Builders Square Inc., Hechinger Co., HECHA

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Boxes battle for position in fertile Columbus market

Article Abstract:

Home center and hardware stores are vying for market share in the demographically attractive Columbus, OH area. Lowe's, Builder's Square II, Contractors' Warehouse and Sears Hardware Stores are competing with each other in various parts of the region. Home Depot is due to arrive in the latter part of 1996. Independent hardware stores have suffered because of the number of large chain retailers moving in.

Market share, Columbus, Ohio

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