Penny Camparone
Talent Acquisition Partner
District 846 Region 4
penny.camparone@lowes.com
574.274.8559
https://www.linkedin.com/in/penny-camparone-306523114/
Lowe's has been helping our customers improve the places they call home for more than 60 years. Founded in 1946, Lowe's has grown from a small hardware store to the second-largest home improvement retailer worldwide.
Our story began in North Carolina, when Carl Buchan, part owner of the North Wilkesboro Hardware Company, envisioned creating a chain of hardware stores. He purchased the company from his brother-in-law and partner and had the foresight to anticipate a post-World War II building boom. By eliminating wholesalers and dealing directly with manufacturers, Lowe's established a lasting reputation for low prices.
Sales grew over time and we expanded all across the country and now operate stores not only in the United States, but also in Canada and Mexico. Although times have changed since Lowe's first opened its doors in 1946, Lowe's values have not. The company remains committed to offering high-quality home improvement products at everyday low prices, while delivering superior customer service.
Lowe's exists to help customers improve and maintain their biggest asset- their home. We do this by meeting the changing needs of our customers by providing inspiration and support whenever and wherever they shop. Whether our customers shop in store, online, by phone, or if we're meeting them at their home or place of business, Lowe's is ready to help. In our more than 1,830 stores, we have implemented multiple systems to improve the customer experience, including an upgraded store information technology infrastructure that allows customers and employees to access richer product information, enjoy an endless aisle of product choices and manage their projects from inspiration to enjoyment.
Online, we are rapidly expanding our assortments to offer customers a broader range of products that can be researched and purchased online, in store or via our mobile app. MyLowe's makes it easy for our customers to automatically track and store all purchases on their online customer profile. We've vowed to "Never Stop Improving" so we can satisfy the ever-changing needs of our customers.
Lowe's operates more than 1,830 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. We serve approximately 15 million customers each week and employ more than 260,000 people.
Our stores stock 12 product categories ranging from appliances and tools, to paint, lumber and nursery products. Inside our facilities, you will find cleaner, wider, brighter aisles offering a more pleasant shopping experience. We carry the world's leading brands such as Kichler lighting, Porter-Cable tools, John Deere lawn tractors, Whirlpool and Samsung appliances and Valspar paint. In fact, we have 40,000 products in stock, 500,000 items available online at Lowes.com and more than 500,000 more products available by Special Order.
Our stores are only the start of the Lowe's experience. Whether you choose to interact with us in one of our state-of-the-art facilities, online or on your mobile device, Lowe's stands ready to help.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 100 company that was incorporated in North Carolina in 1952 and has been publicly held since 1961. Lowe's shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol LOW. With fiscal year 2013 sales of $53.4 billion and net earnings of $2.3 billion, Lowe's has recorded profits every year since becoming public.
Lowe's generated operating cash flows of $3.8 billion in 2012. Cash is being invested in the business and returned to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. In fact, dividends increased from a penny a share in 2001 to 16 cents a share in 2012, and Lowe's has declared a cash dividend every quarter since becoming a public company.