Home Depot bolsters spring mix

Cordless outdoor power tools and higher end outdoor furniture are two areas where Home Depot’s top merchant signaled out for special mention during the company’s fourth quarter earnings call.

Craig Menear, Home Depot executive VP of merchandise, said the company was loaded for the outdoor spring selling season, but also had a strong lineup of products for indoor projects.

Spring is the biggest selling season for home improvement retailers, especially Home Depot, where second quarter sales hit $22.5 billion last year, compared to $17.7 billion in the recent fourth quarter.

The retailer is planning for its fifth Spring Black Friday event this year. “Working with our vendors, we plan to bring in special buys and extraordinary values on popular spring items like patio furniture, grills, landscaping and live goods, to name a few,” Menear said. 

Outdoor living will be boosted by higher end patio furniture from Brown Jordan. Weber’s new exclusive Spirit series of grills with a Gourmet BBQ System will also factor into the mix, as will charcoal and gas grills from KitchenAid.

A line of cordless outdoor power equipment from Ego will be new in 2014. Menear said the 56-vold lithium-ion batter can go from dead to fully charged in 30 minutes.

Inside, Home Depot will be promoting Delta’s Activetouch H20 Handshower, allowing for one-handed operation. A Kohler toilet seat with an integrated LED light will be in the mix. He also pointed to energy efficient water heaters from Rheem. 

“Heading into the 2014 spring selling season, we believe we are well positioned and are excited about the opportunities that it brings,” said Menear.