Survey of pros shows big-box prominence

According to a quarterly survey of tens of thousands of home improvement professionals, more than 60% of pros shop at big boxes.

The survey, the TraQline PRO report from The Stevenson Co., also found pros -- including general contractors, painters, plumbers and landscapers -- are motivated by competitive prices when buying home improvement materials.

The TraQline PRO findings include:

• Competitive prices drive the majority (40%) of home improvement professionals’ buying habits, while 33% are influenced by product quality;

• Only 7% of home improvement professionals shop online, with the majority visiting the Web to compare prices, conduct basic product research and compare product features; 

• Fourteen percent of landscapers choose Stihl outdoor products; and

• Among general contractors, DeWalt remains the No. 1 brand in portable power tools with 29% market share.

“Big-box retailers fare well among home improvement professionals, with more than 60% shopping there,” said Eric Voyer, VP of The Stevenson Co. “As professionals look for lowest cost and convenient options, we’ll continue to track specialty retailers, lumberyards and supply stores to see if they are able to compete on price while focusing on product quality and service.”