How Home Depot Increased My Business

In addition to my publishing business, College Transition Publishing, my wife and I own a small retail art and craft supply/gift store in our home town, Bainbridge Island - located a short ferry ride from Seattle.  The business, Create Bainbridge, has seen its ups and downs, but over the years we have found our niche. However, like all retail businesses, a key to our long term success is getting our customers in the door on a regular basis.  

The Saturday before Veteran's day, I was tasked with entertaining my 3 year old for the day while my wife caught up on some work.  I had a few of my own tasks to accomplish, so I tried to accomplish those with my son in tow. My first visit, Home Depot for a couple supplies for a home repair.

Upon entering the store, the greeter (a friendly elderly gentlemen) squatted down and showed my son a wooden fighter jet and said "Would you like to make one of these?"  Of course, my son was all over the idea of having yet another toy. The gentlemen pointed us down to the lumber area where they were conducting one of their Kid Workshops.

I had time to kill and my son was already halfway down the lumber isle.  We were greeted by a women who had me fill out a quick contact form (name, address, phone, email and name of my son).  I completed a few of the items I was willing to share.  She then handed Joseph a plastic bag filled with various pieces of wood, plastic, stickers and directions and pointed us to a bench stacked with hammers and bottles of wood glue.

As my son and I were completing the project I looked up and noticed the dozens of other father's and mother's with their kids of all ages participating in this project.  

We completed the project in about 15 minutes and walked away from the Kid Workshop with a big smile on both of our faces.  "That was fun!" my son yelled as he swooped his jet around the air.  I agreed.  It was fun.  

As we continued our time at Home Depot, I noticed a lot of the parents that had taken their child to the Kid Workshop were also spending time around the store shopping.  Some of them had a specific list of items they had to gather, as I did. Others were just looking and picking up miscellaneous items of interest.  I thought to myself....this in ingenious!

My wife and I recently added Create Classes to our business model.  Free Saturday craft classes for children of all ages. They run from 10am-2pm.  Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and kids of every age are showing up to our store to create something special.  People are having fun, meeting regulars that return week after week, and walking out of the store not only with a smile and a fun craft...but often with a bag of items they purchased while in the store.  

And starting in the New Year...the introduction of fee-based adult craft classes. Think scissors, glue, paper, string, glitter, lots of smiles and laughter...and bottles of wine!  Good times, right?  Our customers think so and are already signing-up.

Thank you Home Depot for increasing our business!