Lowe’s Launches National Tool Rental Department Program with Charlotte Store
Lowe’s announced this week that it will begin rolling out tool rental departments nationwide, creating a one-stop shop for the tools and equipment Pros and DIY customers need to complete home improvement projects. Lowe's Tool Rental will begin a multi-year national rollout with its first space opening in Charlotte, N.C. on Aug. 20.
In addition to competing with dedicated tool and equipment rental centers, Lowe’s will compete with Home Depot, which has about 1,445 tool and equipment rental departments in North America.
The tool rental department will feature:
· A brand-new fleet of commercial-grade equipment, including trusted brands like Husqvarna, Bosch and Metabo HPT
· A broad assortment of drain cleaning, restoration, sanitation and concrete tools, in addition to merchandise to accompany rental tools, such as protective equipment and cleaning solutions, for purchase
· Technology that enables an easy and convenient check-in and check-out process with an online reservation option, in-store self-service kiosks and digital documents that can be signed and viewed from a mobile device
· A dedicated team of knowledgeable associates who can provide hands-on product demonstrations
· Approximately 4,000 square feet of space with a fully equipped mechanic shop to service tools, space for on-site cleaning and product demo areas
"For all of our customers, having the right tool is key to every project, but they may not always want to purchase a new tool or piece of equipment,” said Fred Stokes, senior vice president of Pro Sales and Services for Lowe's. “Lowe's Tool Rental helps customers save on the cost of owning, maintaining and storing the tools they need. As the new home for Pros, offering tool rental is just another way we are committed to keeping them working. Whether a Pro's tool fails on the job, needs a repair or they're looking to try something new, tool rental will allow them to get back to the jobsite faster, saving them time and money."
Lowe's Tool Rental departments will be newly constructed spaces that either expand the Lowe's store or are located on Lowe's property next to an existing store. For more information on Lowe's Tool Rental, please visit www.Lowes.com/Rental.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.