Home Depot Likes What It Sees In Automotive DIY Retail

The Atlanta Business Chronicle is reporting that Atlanta-based The Home Depot is seeing success with its pilot program for the automotive Do-It-Yourself (DIY) market. The company currently is running the pilot program in about 50 stores. Home Depot originally launched the pilot program in 10 stores in 2006. The home improvement retailer has dedicated about 500-square-feet of floor space to auto products, including motor oil and fuel additives.

The Chronicle reported that Home Depot CFO Carol Tomé told attendees during a talk at the Rotary Club of Atlanta that the company likes what it sees in this retail segment, with customers purchasing and replacing such items as wiper blades and spark plugs. According to the report, Tomé noted that the stores with the pilot programs "make lots of money" but the decision to adopt automotive DIY across the entire corporation has not yet been made.

Federated Auto Parts Distributors announced it is entering into a collaboration with the Association of Independent Oil Distributors (AIOD) – one it said will focus on mutual benefits for the respective members.

“Federated is constantly looking at ways to improve value for all constituents and this agreement provides that,” said Sue Godschalk, president of Federated. “This collaboration provides added volume and opportunities for our suppliers, new partners for our members, and added supply points and products for shop customers. We have enjoyed working closely with several AIOD members in the past and this agreement will expand and create further opportunities for both Federated and AIOD.”