Lowe's#Canada

Image:Loweswarehouse.jpg]]

The first Lowe's store, Mr. L.S. Lowe's North Wilkesboro Hardware, opened in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in 1921 by Lucius Smith Lowe.{{Cite book |last1=Crandall |first1=Richard E. |title=Principles of Supply Chain Management |last2=Crandall |first2=William R. |last3=Chen |first3=Charlie C. |publisher=CRC Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4200-9108-3 |location=Boca Raton, FL |pages=208 |language=en}} After Lowe died in 1940, the business was inherited by his daughter, Ruth Buchan, who sold the company to her brother, James Lowe, for $4,200,{{Cite book |last1=Bass |first1=Misty |title=Wilkes County |last2=Earp |first2=Christy |last3=Pena |first3=Jennifer L. |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7385-5308-5 |location=Charleston, SC |pages=92 |language=en}} that same year. James took on his brother-in-law H. Carl Buchan as a partner in 1943.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Shane |url=http://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/lowes-companies/ |title=Lowe's Companies |work=North Carolina History - |date=7 March 2016 |publisher=North Carolina History Project |access-date=August 25, 2019}}

Buchan anticipated the dramatic increase in construction after World War II, and under his management, the store focused on hardware and building materials.{{cite web |url=http://careers.lowes.com/media/39421/loweshistory.pdf |title=History |website=Lowe's}} Before then, the product mix had also included notions, dry goods, horse tack, snuff, produce, and groceries. Buchan and Lowe started the concept of procuring large quantities of products directly from manufacturers, which eliminated the wholesaler and allowed them to offer customers lower prices.{{Cite book |title=Alcorn County, Mississippi: 1870-2002 |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-56311-821-0 |pages=218 |language=en}} The company opened its second store in Sparta, North Carolina, in 1949.{{Cite web|url=https://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/business/chamber-means-business/article_84f78376-aa9e-5b50-b4ce-763c0a4c3a25.html|title=Chamber Means Business|website=Marshall News Messenger|date=19 January 2013 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-27}}

In 1952, Buchan became the sole owner of Lowe's, and the company was incorporated as Lowe's North Wilkesboro Hardware. In 1954, Jim Lowe started the Lowes Foods grocery store chain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lowesfoods.com/About-Us/Company-History|title=Company History|website=www.lowesfoods.com|access-date=2019-08-27}}

In 1960, Buchan died of a heart attack at age 44.{{cite journal |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2003/0120/052sidebar.html |title=Work and Buy and Hold |journal=Forbes |date=20 January 2003 |first=Bruce |last=Upbin}} His five-man executive team, which included Robert Strickland and Leonard Herring, took the company public in 1961 under the name Lowe's Companies Inc. By 1962, Lowe's operated 21 stores and reported annual revenues of $32 million."Carolinas FYI: About Lowe's and Lowes", The Charlotte Observer, March 16, 2003. Lowe's began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1979. By 1970s, Lowe's revenue reached more than $150 million and, in 1980, to nearly $900 million.{{Cite book |last=III |first=Edgar Wachenheim |title=Common Stocks and Common Sense: The Strategies, Analyses, Decisions, and Emotions of a Particularly Successful Value Investor |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-119-91325-2 |location=Hoboken, NJ |pages=101 |language=en}}

Lowe's has since grown nationally, as it was aided by the purchase of the Renton, Washington–based Eagle Hardware & Garden company in 1999.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iWNWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4704%2C3492712 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Staley |first=Oliver |title=Home products chain lands Eagle in $1 billion deal |date=November 24, 1998 |page=A1}}{{cite news |title=Company News; Lowe's to Acquire Eagle Hardware and Garden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/24/business/company-news-lowe-s-to-acquire-eagle-hardware-and-garden.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 24, 1998 |agency=Associated Press |page=C4}} The first store outside the United States was in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theladders.com/company/lowes-jobs|title=Jobs at|website=www.theladders.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-18}} According to its website, Lowe's has operated/serviced more than 2,355 locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico alone,{{cite web |url=http://media.lowes.com/about-lowes// |title=About Lowe's |work=Lowes Newsroom |publisher=Lowe's}} although the Mexican stores were closed in the late 2010s.{{cite news |title=Lowe's closing Mexico operations |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/lowes-closing-mexico-operations/542688/ |last=Howland |first=Daphne |date=November 20, 2018 |journal=Retail Dive}}

Lowe's formerly operated in Mexico with 14 locations: 8 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, 1 in Saltillo, Coahuila, 1 in Hermosillo, Sonora, 1 in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, 1 in Culiacán, Sinaloa, 1 in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes and 1 in León, Guanajuato. Lowe's Mexico closed all its stores on April 10, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/monterrey/cierra-lowes-en-mexico-y-despide-a-su-personal|title=Lowe's dice adiós a México|language=es|work=El Financiero|date=April 10, 2019|access-date=March 1, 2021|first=Sonia|last=Coronado}}

In 2023, Lowe's sold its Canadian retail business, based in Boucherville, Quebec, to Sycamore Partners for $400 million in cash. They will all be consolidated into Rona stores.{{Cite web|url=https://www.globest.com/2022/11/10/lowes-sells-canada-retail-business-to-sycamore-for-400m/|title=Lowe's Sells Canada Retail Business to Sycamore for $400M|first1=Jack Rogers |last1=November 10|first2=2022 at 05:17|last2=PM|website=GlobeSt}}

In 2020, for the May–July yearly quarter, the company reported sales of $27.3 billion; in 2019, for the same period, the firm had reported sales of $21 billion. The digital sales for the same period also were up to 135%. The sales surges were a result of consumers switching their buying habits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lowes-online-quarterly-sales-more-than-doubled-11597835418?mod=business_lead_pos4|title= Lowe's Online Quarterly Sales More Than Doubled |work=The Wall Street Journal|last=Grossman|first=Matt|date=2020-08-19|access-date=2020-08-19}}

Seventy five percent of the company's revenue comes from do it yourself consumers.{{cite web |last1=Coleman |first1=Kali |title=Shoppers Are Abandoning Lowe's, New Data Reveals—Here's Why |url=https://bestlifeonline.com/shoppers-abandoning-lowes-2023-news/ |website=Best Life |publisher=Galvanized Media |access-date=17 September 2023}}

For the fiscal year 2019 (2/1/2019-1/31/2020), Lowe's reported earnings of US$4.281 billion, with an annual revenue of US$72.148 billion, an increase of 1.17% over the previous fiscal cycle.{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.lowes.com/investors/financial-information/annual-reports-proxy-statements|title=Annual Reports & Proxy Statements|website=Lowe’s Corporate}} Lowe's shares traded at over $116 per share,{{Cite web|date=2020-01-31|title=Stock closing price, LOW|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/LOW/history}} and its market capitalization was valued at over US$90.32 billion in January 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/LOW/lowes/market-cap|title=Lowe's Market Cap 2010-2023 | LOW|website=www.macrotrends.net}} Lowe's ranked No. 42 on the 2019 [https://fortune.com/company/lowes/fortune500/ Fortune 500] list. Lowes announced a $10 billion stock buyback{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lowe-apos-shares-rise-retailer-164000844.html|title=Lowe's shares rise as retailer announces $10 billion stock buyback, 2019 forecast|website=finance.yahoo.com}} at the end of 2018 to begin in 2019, while trimming jobs.{{Cite web|title=Lowes layoffs|date=13 August 2019|url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/money/business/as-lowes-cuts-thousands-of-workers-it-buys-back-its-stock/67-29c6dc80-6aac-4fce-85fc-e17fd4c376dc}}

For the fiscal year 2018, Lowe's reported earnings of US$2.314 billion, with an annual revenue of US$71.309 billion, an increase of 3.92% over the previous fiscal cycle. Lowe's shares traded at over $96 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at over US$75.8 billion in October 2018.{{cite journal|title=Lowe's Revenue 2006-2018|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/LOW/lowes/revenue|journal=Macrotrends|access-date=2018-10-30}} Lowe's ranked No. 40 on the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.{{cite journal|title=Fortune 500 Companies 2018: Who Made the List|url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/list/|journal=Fortune|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-10}}

Image:2008-11-10 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse in Chapel Hill.jpg]]

File:Lowe's Global Technology Center January 2024.jpg

File:FEMA - 11011 - Photograph by Michael Rieger taken on 09-20-2004 in Florida.jpg

In 1998, Lowe's purchased the Wilkes Mall in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to serve as the company's headquarters. In 2002, Lowe's acquired full control over the {{convert|440,000|sqft|m2}} building after the 10 remaining mall tenants vacated the property. A year later, Lowe's constructed and relocated the corporate headquarters to a new, 350-acre campus in Mooresville, North Carolina. The new facility contains a five-story and two seven-story buildings. The building has a central atrium and two office wings; the atrium houses a food court, a five-story spiral staircase, and meeting and reception rooms. A {{convert|7|acre|ha|adj=on}} lake flows underneath the headquarters building.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Lowe's maintained its former headquarters in Wilkesboro, where it employed over 2,400 people until 2019. In 2011, Lowe's invested $10 million in improvements and renovations in the property, including a full-service food court, coffee shop, and health center, as well as gating the entire property with an addition of a guardhouse.{{cite news |url=http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/lowe-s-adding-jobs-in-wilkesboro/article_3ab26438-cb9e-11e7-a0f8-ab12ae7659ce.html |access-date=2018-06-17 |date=2017-11-17 |title=Lowe's adding 200 jobs in Wilkesboro |work=Wilkes Journal-Patriot}} All positions have since been relocated and the former Wilkes corporate office is vacant, although still owned by Lowe's.

In addition to Wilkesboro, Lowe's formerly operated a customer contact center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, both of which quietly closed in 2023. Currently, customer contact centers remain in Indianapolis, Indiana and India.

On June 27, 2019, Lowe's announced the construction of a $153 million, 23-story tower in Charlotte's fast-growing South End neighborhood, which will be completed by 2020 and eventually house 2000 employees, 400 of whom will move from the headquarters. The new tower will house a "global technology hub" for Lowe's. The state of North Carolina is providing $54 million in incentives provided Lowe's meets certain goals.{{cite news| url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article231952298.html| title=Lowe's picks South End for tech hub, 2,000 high-paying jobs and a new 23-story tower| last=Peralta| first=Katherine| work=The Charlotte Observer| date=2019-06-27| access-date=2019-06-30}}{{update inline|date=February 2022}}

Lowe's won eight consecutive Energy Star awards from 2003 to 2010, including four Energy Star Partner of the Year awards for educating consumers about the benefits of energy efficiency. On March 1, 2010, Lowe's also became the first winner of the Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award in Retail, to recognize its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting energy-efficient products and educating consumers and employees on the value of the Energy Star program.{{cite press release| url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100301006282/en/Lowe’s-Retailer-Win-Energy-Star®-Award-Sustained#.VaErwHhg6yM |title=Lowe's Becomes First Retailer to Win Energy Star Award for Sustained Excellence in Retail| date=2010-03-01| access-date=2010-03-14| publisher=Lowe's Companies| via=Business Wire}} In 2000, Lowe's released a policy promising that all wood products sold would not be sourced from rainforests.{{cite web |url=http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/335.html |title=Lowe's Launches Forest Protection Initiative |publisher=socialfunds.com |date=2000-08-11 |access-date=2008-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517084410/http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/335.html |archive-date=2008-05-17 |url-status=dead }} However, according to a 2006 report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency, wood used in flooring by Armstrong Flooring that Lowe's was selling had been coming from the forests of Indonesia’s remote Papua Province, where some logging was estimated to be illegal.{{cite news| url=http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0323-png.html| title=Home Depot, Lowe's selling illegal wood from Papua New Guinea-Report| journal=Mongabay| last=Butler| first=Rhett A. |date=2006-03-23 |access-date=2008-05-06}} According to the Telepak report, which was the sole basis of the EIA allegations, Armstrong commissioned an independent audit of Kreasi's merbau supplies over the last 18 month which found documentation relating to the source of the company's merbau logs in Papua, and based on this, Armstrong decided to continue to trade in merbau supplied by Kreasi. The cited report dates to 2006 and Lowe's continues to claim its wood products come from known sources; is legally harvested and traded, and more.https://content.eiaglobal.org/posts/documents/000/000/406/original/Trading_Merbau_Wood_Flooring_of_Dubious_Origin_.pdf?1468418717{{dead link|date=August 2019}}{{cite web| title=Lowe's Wood Policies| url=https://newsroom.lowes.com/policies/lowes-wood-policy/| website=Lowe's| access-date=August 25, 2019}}

On April 17, 2014, Lowe's paid a $500,000 penalty for violations of the federal Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, which require renovation contractors, such as window and carpet installers to manage the risk of lead dust when renovating customer homes.{{Cite web |date=2014-04-17 |title=Corporate-Wide Settlement with Lowe's Protects Public from Lead Pollution During Home Renovations |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/corporate-wide-settlement-lowe-s-protects-public-lead-pollution-during-home-renovations |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}} As of 2022, this is the largest RRP violation to ever occur. In the words of the EPA, "“This settlement will ensure that not only children in southern Illinois, but children throughout the United States will be better protected from the known hazards associated with lead exposure".

File:Lowes Interior 2348 Charlotte.jpg (2022)]]

On March 6, 2020, Lowe's paid a $1,600,000 fine for violating California's air quality regulations. This includes violations in NOx emissions from ovens and asbestos from demolition/renovation activities.{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2020 |title=Civil Filings and Civil Penalties Report |url=http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/Agendas/Governing-Board/2020/2020-mar6-014.pdf |website=aqmd.gov}}

Lowe's reported Total CO2e emissions (Direct + Indirect) for the 12 months ending 31 December 2020 at 1,971 Kt (-138 /-6.5% y-o-y).{{Cite web |title=Lowe's's Sustainability Report for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804110730/https://corporate.lowes.com/sites/lowes-corp/files/CSR-reports/Lowes_2020CSR__FINAL_ADA.pdf |url=https://corporate.lowes.com/sites/lowes-corp/files/CSR-reports/Lowes_2020CSR__FINAL_ADA.pdf|archive-date=August 4, 2021 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/Lowe's/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Location-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2020Q4/12 Alt URL] Lowe's plans to reduce emissions 40% by 2025 from a 2016 base year.{{Cite web |title=Lowe's's Sustainability Report for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804110730/https://corporate.lowes.com/sites/lowes-corp/files/CSR-reports/Lowes_2020CSR__FINAL_ADA.pdf |url=https://corporate.lowes.com/sites/lowes-corp/files/CSR-reports/Lowes_2020CSR__FINAL_ADA.pdf|archive-date=August 4, 2021 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/Lowe's/Climate%20Goal[Climate%20Goal,Total%20CO2e%20emissions%20(Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202)]/2020Q4 Alt URL]

In April 2019, a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge found that Lowe’s had violated the National Labor Relations Act by illegally forbidding workers from discussing their pay.{{Cite web |last1=Burden |first1=Lisa |last2=Tornone |first2=Kate |date=2018-04-25 |title=Lowe's policy forbidding workers from discussing pay is unlawful, NLRB judge says |url=https://www.hrdive.com/news/lowes-policy-forbidding-workers-from-discussing-pay-is-unlawful-nlrb-judg/522086/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206080804/https://www.hrdive.com/news/lowes-policy-forbidding-workers-from-discussing-pay-is-unlawful-nlrb-judg/522086/ |archive-date=2024-02-06 |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=HR Dive |language=en-US}}

In August 2022, Lowe's announced that it was awarding $55 million in bonus income to front-line workers, and that it was offering staff discounts on common household and cleaning items in light of recent inflationary pressures.{{Cite web |last=Wile |first=Rob |date=2022-08-17 |title=Lowe's is awarding $55 million in bonuses for hourly workers to fight inflation |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/lowes-employee-bonuses-and-bigger-discounts-fight-inflation-rcna43500 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701170434/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/lowes-employee-bonuses-and-bigger-discounts-fight-inflation-rcna43500 |archive-date=2024-07-01 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

In October 2022, a group of 172 workers at a Lowe's store in New Orleans, Louisiana, organizing under the banner of Lowe's Workers United and led by a worker at the store named Felix Allen, filed for a union election with the NLRB.{{Cite news |last=Sainato |first=Michael |date=2022-10-21 |title=Lowe's faces organization effort as US unionization movement spreads |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/21/lowes-organization-effort-unionization-movement-big-box-retail |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409020549/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/21/lowes-organization-effort-unionization-movement-big-box-retail |archive-date=2024-04-09 |access-date=2024-07-21 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}} In June 2023, Felix Allen was fired,{{Cite web |last=McAuley |first=Tony |date=2023-06-29 |title=Lowe's New Orleans worker claims he was fired for trying organize union |url=https://www.nola.com/news/business/lowes-worker-claims-he-was-fired-for-organizing-union/article_33bc6e0c-15ea-11ee-aef0-bf0fc1c66868.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509014344/https://www.nola.com/news/business/lowes-worker-claims-he-was-fired-for-organizing-union/article_33bc6e0c-15ea-11ee-aef0-bf0fc1c66868.html |archive-date=2024-05-09 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate |language=en}} leading to multiple unfair labor practice charges being filed with the NLRB against Lowe's, accusing the company of multiple violations of labor law in response to the unionization drive at the New Orleans store, including surveillance, interrogation of employees, and retaliating against union organizers.{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Michael Isaac |date=2023-08-22 |title=How Lowe's fought back unionization in New Orleans |url=https://www.wwno.org/business/2023-08-22/how-lowes-fought-back-unionization-in-new-orleans |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214193904/https://www.wwno.org/business/2023-08-22/how-lowes-fought-back-unionization-in-new-orleans |archive-date=2024-02-14 |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=WWNO |language=en}}

In January 2019, Lowes became the official home improvement sponsor of the National Football League.{{cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lowes-is-now-the-official-home-improvement-sponsor-of-the-nfl-2019-01-22 |last=Garcia |first=Tonya |date=January 22, 2019 |title=Lowe's is now the official home improvement sponsor of the NFL |work=MarketWatch |access-date=October 2, 2019}} In April 2024, Lowes launched a partnership with Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF, Lionel Messi, and the 2024 Copa América.{{Cite web| title=LOWE'S TEAMS UP WITH LIONEL MESSI, INTER MIAMI CF AND CONMEBOL COPA AMÉRICA 2024 USA™ TO WIN OVER SOCCER FANS| url=https://corporate.lowes.com/newsroom/press-releases/lowes-teams-lionel-messi-inter-miami-cf-and-conmebol-copa-america-2024-usatm-win-over-soccer-fans-04-18-24| access-date=2024-04-18 |website=corporate.lowes.com | date=18 April 2024|language=en}}

File:Jimmie_Johnson's_pit_box.jpg's pit box]]

Lowe's purchased naming rights to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1998, and the speedway changed names to Lowe's Motor Speedway. After the 10-year naming rights expired, Lowe's extended naming rights by one year.{{cite news| url=http://www.wbtv.com/story/10825179/lowes-negotiating-naming-rights-with-speedway| title=Lowe's negotiating naming rights with speedway| date=July 31, 2009| work=WBTV News| access-date=August 25, 2019| language=en}} After the one-year extension expired, Lowe's discontinued naming rights, and as of the 2010 racing season, the racetrack returned to its original name.

File:Jimmie Johnson Richmond 2018.jpg

The corporation was the primary sponsor for seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and it was a part-time sponsor of the former No. 5 Nationwide Series car; both teams are owned by Hendrick Motorsports. Prior to the current sponsorship deal with Hendrick Motorsports, Lowe's was the sponsor of the No. 31 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing driven by Mike Skinner and Robby Gordon from 1997 to 2001. Prior to the RCR deal, Lowe's was the primary sponsor of the No. 11 Ford driven by Brett Bodine for Junior Johnson & Associates and later his own team, Brett Bodine Racing (after Bodine bought the No. 11 from Johnson). One of the company's earliest forays into racing sponsorship was in 1979, when it sponsored the No. 2 Buick of the Rod Osterlund team in what was then known the Winston Cup Series, for the Talladega 500. The car was driven in that race by David Pearson, substituting for injured rookie Dale Earnhardt. Lowe's continued with sporadic car sponsorship throughout the next two decades until the aforementioned Bodine sponsorship in 1995. On March 14, 2018, Lowe's announced it would end sponsorship of the No. 48 car after the 2018 season, thereby ending all involvement in motorsports.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Lowe's also sponsored Fernandez Racing in the American Le Mans Series and previously sponsored the team in the Rolex Sports Car Series; in that series, Lowe's sponsored the No. 99 Gainsco Stallings Racing Pontiac in events where Johnson was driving.

In 2006, Lowe's contracted designer Marianne Cusato to develop and offer affordable house plans for the hurricane-affected Gulf region. Lowe's is the exclusive retailer for both the plans and building materials for the Lowe's Katrina Cottage. They offer easy construction and affordability, as well as the possibility of expansion. Moreover, they meet all international building codes and exceed hurricane codes. Lowe's discontinued the Katrina Cottage line in 2011.

Lowe's has a wide variety of television and radio commercials. A significant number of different racing-inspired commercials can be seen and are often played outside of television race coverage. Before 2010, when he was replaced by Ben Yannette, Gene Hackman's voice could be heard on many commercial advertisements for Lowe's.{{cite news| last=Elliott| first=Stuart| title=Lowe's Puts Its Focus on Knowing the Customer's Wants| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/business/media/01adcol.html?pagewanted=all| access-date=13 December 2011| newspaper=The New York Times| date=28 February 2010}}

Lowe's withdrew its advertising from the TLC reality television show All-American Muslim in December 2011.{{cite news| last=Sacirbey| first=Omar| title=Companies pull ads from Muslim reality TV show| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/09/companies-ads-all-american-muslim_n_1140066.html| newspaper=Huffington Post| date=December 9, 2011}} A spokesperson for Lowe's said, "we understand the program raised concerns, complaints, or issues from multiple sides of the viewer spectrum, which we found after doing research of news articles and blogs covering the show".

Lowe's faced a backlash from several quarters, including Muslim-American and Arab-American organizations. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee called upon members to contact Lowe's to urge it to reverse its position. The Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations met to consider possible actions, including boycotts and protests. Several celebrities also called for a boycott. California State Senator Ted Lieu called Lowe's decision "naked religious bigotry" and said he would consider legislative action if Lowe's did not apologize to Muslim Americans and reinstate the ads.{{cite news| title=Lawmakers Slam Lowe's For Pulling Ads from Muslim-American Reality Show| work=Fox News| date=11 December 2011| access-date=August 23, 2019| url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lawmakers-slam-lowes-for-pulling-ads-from-muslim-american-reality-show}} Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League expressed similar views.{{cite news| title=Jewish Groups Rip Lowe's For Pulling Ads| first=Jackie| last=Headapohl| url=https://thejewishnews.com/2011/12/19/jewish-groups-rip-lowe%E2%80%99s-for-pulling-ads/| date=December 19, 2011| newspaper=The Jewish News| location=Detroit}} Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, criticized Lowe's decision to "uphold the beliefs of a fringe hate group and not the creed of the First Amendment".{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lowes-muslim-20111213,0,5909694.story| title=Lowe's faces backlash over pulling ads from 'All-American Muslim'| work=Los Angeles Times| access-date=4 December 2014}} Representative John Conyers of Michigan called on Lowe's to apologize. Michigan state representative Rashida Tlaib contacted the company's corporate headquarters, reporting that Lowe's declined to change its decision.{{cite news| url=http://www.detnews.com/article/20111213/METRO01/112130344/| title=Muslims consider Lowe's boycott| newspaper=The Detroit News| access-date=6 June 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20111216021039/http://www.detnews.com/article/20111213/METRO01/112130344/| archive-date=16 December 2011| url-status=dead}}

• Kobalt tools{{Cite news |last=Kass |first=Arielle |date=10 June 2012 |title=Private brands an edge for stores |edition=Final |volume=64 |pages=D1, D5 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |issue=162 |department=Business |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115631724/private-retail-brands/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• allen+roth

File:RONA+ - Windsor, ON.jpg

Lowe's opened its first three stores in Canada on December 10, 2007, in Hamilton, Brampton, and Brantford. On February 1, 2008, they opened three more stores in Toronto, East Gwillimbury, and a second store in Brampton, as well as a new location in Maple (Vaughan).{{cite web| url=http://www.lowes.ca/store_locator.aspx| title=Lowe's Canada Store Locator| website=Lowe's Canada| access-date=6 June 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201084922/http://www.lowes.ca/store_locator.aspx| archive-date=1 December 2007| url-status=dead}} Lowe's also expanded into western Canada, starting with three new stores in Calgary, Alberta. One of the three locations opened in late September 2010. The other two opened in early 2011.

In February 2013, Lowe's Canada hired former Walmart Canada and Loblaw Companies executive Sylvain Prud'homme as CEO.{{cite news| title=Lowe's taps ex-Loblaws exec Sylvain Prud'homme to head Canadian unit| url=http://business.financialpost.com/executive/lowes-taps-ex-loblaws-exec-to-head-canadian-unit| access-date=3 February 2016| work=Financial Post| location=Toronto}}

On May 11, 2015, Lowe's Canada announced that it would acquire the leases of 13 former Target Canada stores, as well as an Ontario distribution centre, for $151 million.{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2015/05/11/lowes-to-buy-13-target-stores.html| title=Lowe's to buy 13 Target stores| last=Carville| first=Olivia| date=11 May 2015| newspaper=Toronto Star}}

In 2012, Lowe's attempted to buy Rona, Inc., a Quebec-based hardware chain. However, the deal was met with objections from RONA shareholders (particularly the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec) and operators of its franchised locations over concerns that the company could centralize its supply operations in the United States, and was eventually called off. On February 3, 2016, Rona announced that it had accepted an offer to be acquired by Lowe's for CDN$3.2 billion, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. The division would remain under the leadership of Sylvain Prud'homme, but would be operated out of Rona's headquarters in Boucherville. Lowe's maintained Rona's retail banners, "key" executives, and the "vast majority of its current employees" after the acquisition.{{cite news| title=Lowe's offers $3.2B to take over Canadian rival Rona| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/lowe-s-rona-takeover-1.3431463| work=CBC News| access-date=3 February 2016}}

In February 2020, Lowe's closed 34 low-performance stores, 26 that were under the Rona brand, six Lowe's stores, and two Réno-Dépôt stores.{{Cite web|title=Here are the stores Lowe's is closing in Canada in the new year|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6192682/lowes-rona-stores-closing-canada-list/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=Global News|language=en-US}}

In November 2022, Lowe's agreed to sell its Canadian operations to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $400 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.globest.com/sbm-gbst/2022/11/10/lowes-sells-canada-retail-business-to-sycamore-for-400m/?slreturn=20221122170321|title=Lowe's Sells Canada Retail Business to Sycamore for $400M|last=Rogers|first=Jack|newspaper=Gloebest.com|date=10 November 2022|access-date=22 December 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-lowes-rona-sycamore-canadian-hardware/|title=Lowe's exit from Canadian market signals hardware-sector shakeup|last=van Praet|first=Nicolas|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=November 7, 2022|access-date=November 8, 2022}} with the Lowe's stores expected to be rebranded under the Rona brand in the future.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-hardware-giant-lowes-selling-canadian-retail-operations-including-rona/|title=Hardware giant Lowe's selling Canadian retail operations, including RONA, to private-equity firm|last=van Praet|first=Nicolas|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=3 November 2022|access-date=4 November 2022}} The sale was completed on February 3, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.mdm.com/news/operations/mergers-acquisitions/lowes-completes-400m-sale-of-canada-retail-unit-to-sycamore/|title=Lowe's Completes $400M Sale of Canada Retail Unit to Sycamore|first=Mark|last=Powell|work=MDM|date=February 6, 2023|access-date=February 7, 2023}} In July 2023, Rona announced that it would begin to replace Lowe's with the new banner Rona+, beginning with 10 locations in Ontario.{{Cite web |last=Toneguzzi |first=Mario |date=2023-06-22 |title=RONA to Convert 10 Lowe's Stores in Ontario to New RONA+ Banner |url=https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2023/06/rona-to-convert-10-lowes-stores-in-ontario-to-new-rona-banner/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-US}}

{{main article|Masters Home Improvement}}

Trading as Masters Home Improvement, the first store opened in Braybrook, Victoria, to tradesmen on August 31, 2011, and later to the general public. Masters was a joint venture between Lowe's and Woolworths to compete against Bunnings, which operates in the large bigbox format similar to Lowe's and Home Depot.

In January 2016, Woolworths announced that it intended to either sell or wind up all its home improvement areas, including the Masters hardware chain. Chairman Gordon Cairns said that it would take years to become profitable and that the ongoing losses could not be sustained. The windup involved Woolworths buying back a 33.3 per cent interest in the venture, held by the Lowe's subsidiary WDR Delaware Corporation. The last stores closed in December 2016.[https://web.archive.org/web/20171012212027/http://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/masters-cancels-orders-and-cuts-phones-amid-fire-sale-fail-20161006-grw4fo.html Masters cancels orders and cuts phones amid fire sale fail] Sydney Morning Herald October 7, 2016

Lowe's was involved in a small cluster of class action lawsuits that revolved around the employee payment system. The cases focused on a pay practice known as "variable rate overtime". Variable-rate overtime has the effect of paying a decreasing overtime rate the more hours a person works in a week. The suits alleged that salaried managers who worked 40 to 50 hours per week were improperly compensated for that time. The variable rate overtime ended in the first quarter of 2006.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

The first case was filed in October 2002 by employees of the Lowe's store in Shawnee, Kansas. In September 2005, the cases were certified as a class action. Four similar briefs were filed in New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The lawsuits for New York, Indiana, and Kansas resulted in an out-of-court settlement on September 22, 2006.{{cite news |title=Overtime cases against Lowe's have local roots |url=https://rbj.net/2005/09/30/overtime-cases-against-lowes-have-local-roots/ |first=Will |last=Astor |date=September 30, 2005 |newspaper=Rochester Business Journal}} The lawsuit in Pennsylvania became a class-action lawsuit in June 2004, with 550 employees.{{cite news| url=http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14048254&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6| title=Scranton news, sports, obituaries, and shopping - thetimes-tribune.com| newspaper=Scranton Times-Tribune| access-date=4 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922064016/https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14048254&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6| archive-date=22 September 2018| url-status=dead}} The case in Ohio was filed by ten former Lowe's employees in August 2004.[http://www.lawsuitsearch.com/companies/lowes.aspx Liability For Back Pay Looms at Lowe's Stores], LawsuitSearch.com, retrieved March 27, 2008

Lowe's faced multiple lawsuits from its Loss Prevention Managers citing that they were classified as exempt employees and therefore denied overtime pay. The managers asserted that they were forced to work a minimum of 48 hours per week which saved Lowe's and its investors millions of dollars every year. Lawsuits have been settled for $2.95 million in [https://archive.today/20130129080112/http://www.mybackwages.com/verdicts-settlements/lowes-loss-prevention-managers.aspx California] and $6.2 million in Texas.{{cite web| url=http://www.law360.com/employment/articles/303674/lowe-s-hammers-out-6-2m-deal-in-managers-ot-case| title=Lowe's Hammers Out $6.2M Deal In Managers' OT Case| work=law360.com| access-date=4 December 2014}}

In 2014, Lowe's faced a class-action lawsuit from former and current Human Resource Managers. Similarly to the lawsuit regarding its Loss Prevention Managers, the lawsuit stated that the HR Managers were improperly, and illegally, classified as exempt employees and were, therefore, denied overtime even though they were required to work 48-hour weeks.{{cite web| url=http://www.loweshrmanagerflsaclaim.com/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425002145/http://www.loweshrmanagerflsaclaim.com/| url-status=usurped| archive-date=April 25, 2013| title=Lowe's HR Manager Overtime Wage Claim Website - Feldman Morgado, PA| publisher=loweshrmanagerflsaclaim.com| access-date=4 December 2014}}

• {{Portal-inline|United States}}
• {{Portal-inline|Companies}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website|https://www.lowes.com}}

{{Finance links

| name = Lowe's

| symbol = LOW

| sec_cik = LOW

| yahoo = LOW

| google = LOW:NYSE

}}

{{Major retail companies}}

{{Tool manufacturers}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange

Category:Companies in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats

Category:Companies based in Charlotte, North Carolina

Category:Iredell County, North Carolina

Category:American companies established in 1921

Category:Retail companies established in 1921

Category:Hardware stores of the United States

Category:Hardware stores of Canada

Category:Home improvement retailers of the United States

Category:1921 establishments in North Carolina

Category:Hardware stores of Mexico

Category:1970s initial public offerings

Category:Garden centres