Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4 or 5 years ago. They just closed it. It was a smaller, neighborhood version
of Lowes, similar to a big hardware store. It went into what used to be
a good size supermarket. They had paint, common lumber, electrical
stuff, garden supplies, barbecues, limited appliances, etc. Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 9:11:23 AM UTC-5, trader_4 wrote:
Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4 or 5 years ago. They just closed it. It was a smaller, neighborhood version
of Lowes, similar to a big hardware store. It went into what used to be
a good size supermarket. They had paint, common lumber, electrical
stuff, garden supplies, barbecues, limited appliances, etc. Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

Were there TV commercials and radio spots promoting the store? If you don't advertise, guess what happens? When I was still able to work, I wouldn't have minded have a smaller home improvement store to shop at. I shopped at my smaller neighborhood grocery store because I didn't have to walk for miles through the isles (I just made a rhyme!) to get what I needed. o_O

[8~{} Uncle Rhyming Monster

On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10:29:25 AM UTC-4, Uncle Monster wrote:

Were there TV commercials and radio spots promoting the store? If you don't advertise, guess what happens? When I was still able to work, I wouldn't have minded have a smaller home improvement store to shop at. I shopped at my smaller neighborhood grocery store because I didn't have to walk for miles through the isles (I just made a rhyme!) to get what I needed. o_O

[8~{} Uncle Rhyming Monster

I don't recall seeing any commercials, but then I have a Tivo and
skip through almost all commercials. Not sure how much difference
it would make, though. I'd bet 90%+ of the potential customers
knew it was there. But I even if you know it's there, commercials
could get you to think about actually going there.

One thing is for sure, the local hardware store that is about a mile
away on the same highway must be happy. I hate that store so much.
They pounce on you as soon as you walk in. Then they start asking
questions. So, you tell them what you want and it's obvious they
don't know much about anything, yet they persist in asking "what
are you going to use it for", etc. Pretty soon they are trying
to re-engineer what you're doing, instead of giving you the screw,
fastener, whatever you need. And then they proceed to demonstrate
even more ignorance. I went there to see if they had a water pressure
gauge for a well tank. They don't have one, but in the process the
buffoon explains to me that municipal water pressure is just 3 lbs.

One day I couldn't take it any more and ripped into one of them.
A nearby customer looked at me and said "Do you realize she's a
manager?" I guess he's very impressed that someone can be a
hardware store manager. Me, not so much. Yeah, I'm gonna miss
that Lowes Express.

On 8/23/2016 7:11 AM, trader_4 wrote:
Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4 or 5 years ago. They just closed it. It was a smaller, neighborhood version
of Lowes, similar to a big hardware store. It went into what used to be
a good size supermarket. They had paint, common lumber, electrical
stuff, garden supplies, barbecues, limited appliances, etc. Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

New Jersey, the swamp state.
LOL

On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 9:42:46 AM UTC-5, trader_4 wrote:
On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10:29:25 AM UTC-4, Uncle Monster wrote:

Were there TV commercials and radio spots promoting the store? If you don't advertise, guess what happens? When I was still able to work, I wouldn't have minded have a smaller home improvement store to shop at. I shopped at my smaller neighborhood grocery store because I didn't have to walk for miles through the isles (I just made a rhyme!) to get what I needed. o_O

[8~{} Uncle Rhyming Monster

I don't recall seeing any commercials, but then I have a Tivo and
skip through almost all commercials. Not sure how much difference
it would make, though. I'd bet 90%+ of the potential customers
knew it was there. But I even if you know it's there, commercials
could get you to think about actually going there.

One thing is for sure, the local hardware store that is about a mile
away on the same highway must be happy. I hate that store so much.
They pounce on you as soon as you walk in. Then they start asking
questions. So, you tell them what you want and it's obvious they
don't know much about anything, yet they persist in asking "what
are you going to use it for", etc. Pretty soon they are trying
to re-engineer what you're doing, instead of giving you the screw,
fastener, whatever you need. And then they proceed to demonstrate
even more ignorance. I went there to see if they had a water pressure
gauge for a well tank. They don't have one, but in the process the
buffoon explains to me that municipal water pressure is just 3 lbs.

One day I couldn't take it any more and ripped into one of them.
A nearby customer looked at me and said "Do you realize she's a
manager?" I guess he's very impressed that someone can be a
hardware store manager. Me, not so much. Yeah, I'm gonna miss
that Lowes Express.

I know where everything is in my little neighborhood grocery store. I say little because many years ago when it was built, it was called a "Supermarket". Now it's considered to be a small store. I could use a shopping cart to lean on for support because there were no electric carts at the low end store. I liked the layout because I could go in, turn right and all the produce was down that side of the store until at the end there is sandwich meats and cheese plus hot dogs. The back wall was all the dismembered dead animals and bulk stuff packaged by the butcher shop like the deli meat sliced and packaged there. When I hit the left side of the store, there was all the dairy and wine then frozen stuff along that wall until the end there were shelves of bread and other baked goods. All the other food and miscellaneous items were in the middle isles. The "little" store had everything I needed when I was able to stand at the stove and cook but then I fell and wound up in the hospital. I miss being able to cook because I'd do a lot of experimenting and it was fun for me. I'm glad that the food here at the center is very good, I'd go nuts otherwise. o_O

[8~{} Uncle Foodie Monster

trader_4 wrote:

Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

Sounds like Sears Hardware, also defunct.

On Tue, 23 Aug 2016 07:11:18 -0700 (PDT)
trader_4 wrote:

Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4
or 5 years ago. They just closed it.

What in the hell did they/you expect in NJ????

On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10:11:23 AM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4 or 5 years ago. They just closed it. It was a smaller, neighborhood version
of Lowes, similar to a big hardware store. It went into what used to be
a good size supermarket. They had paint, common lumber, electrical
stuff, garden supplies, barbecues, limited appliances, etc. Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

Do you agree with Ms. Kavtaradze that the selection of actual hardware
items was limited?

http://www.northjersey.com/news/busi...ears-1.1647599

On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 2:48:00 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10:11:23 AM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4 or 5 years ago. They just closed it. It was a smaller, neighborhood version
of Lowes, similar to a big hardware store. It went into what used to be
a good size supermarket. They had paint, common lumber, electrical
stuff, garden supplies, barbecues, limited appliances, etc. Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

Do you agree with Ms. Kavtaradze that the selection of actual hardware
items was limited?

http://www.northjersey.com/news/busi...ears-1.1647599

IDK, there was a reasonable amount of typical hardware stuff. For
example, they had a good assortment of screws and fasteners, including
the section with the gray slide out drawers with specialty fasteners and
individual metric bolts, nuts etc. They had PVC plumbing fittings for
example, toilet parts. They had common tools. They didn't have a
full garden center, but they did have fetilizer, pesticides, seed, that
kind of stuff.

I think she's right though that they did waste floor space on appliances.
It made no sense to me, because it was still a very limited selection.
If someone is going to buy a fridge or dishwasher, why would they
but it somewhere where you can only see a limited selection? The
real Lowes stores are about 12 miles away north or south. Plus HD
about the same distance. I thought maybe they figured that shore
rental property people and such might want a basic one, but I think
even they like to go somewhere where they can find a cheap one from
a bigger selection, etc. I think they also were selling kitchen
cabinets, same thing there, I'd just go to the real store, as driving
isn't an issue when it comes to that kind of purchase. I went to
this Express for paint, bolts, drywall compound, that kind of thing.
With something like lighting they had more than what you;d find in
the local hardware store, (which is close to zero), but nowhwere
near the selection of the full Lowes. If I needed a basic fixture
for a basement or some other common electrical item, eg a 3 way
switch, Romex, or a basic recessed LED, I'd go there. But if I
needed a fashionable fixture or a panel, then I go to the big store,
because of the choices for the former, and they didn't have the
latter at the Express.

On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 3:02:37 PM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 2:48:00 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10:11:23 AM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4 or 5 years ago. They just closed it. It was a smaller, neighborhood version
of Lowes, similar to a big hardware store. It went into what used to be
a good size supermarket. They had paint, common lumber, electrical
stuff, garden supplies, barbecues, limited appliances, etc. Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

Do you agree with Ms. Kavtaradze that the selection of actual hardware
items was limited?

http://www.northjersey.com/news/busi...ears-1.1647599

IDK, there was a reasonable amount of typical hardware stuff. For
example, they had a good assortment of screws and fasteners, including
the section with the gray slide out drawers with specialty fasteners and
individual metric bolts, nuts etc. They had PVC plumbing fittings for
example, toilet parts. They had common tools. They didn't have a
full garden center, but they did have fetilizer, pesticides, seed, that
kind of stuff.

I think she's right though that they did waste floor space on appliances.
It made no sense to me, because it was still a very limited selection.
If someone is going to buy a fridge or dishwasher, why would they
but it somewhere where you can only see a limited selection? The
real Lowes stores are about 12 miles away north or south. Plus HD
about the same distance. I thought maybe they figured that shore
rental property people and such might want a basic one, but I think
even they like to go somewhere where they can find a cheap one from
a bigger selection, etc. I think they also were selling kitchen
cabinets, same thing there, I'd just go to the real store, as driving
isn't an issue when it comes to that kind of purchase. I went to
this Express for paint, bolts, drywall compound, that kind of thing.
With something like lighting they had more than what you;d find in
the local hardware store, (which is close to zero), but nowhwere
near the selection of the full Lowes. If I needed a basic fixture
for a basement or some other common electrical item, eg a 3 way
switch, Romex, or a basic recessed LED, I'd go there. But if I
needed a fashionable fixture or a panel, then I go to the big store,
because of the choices for the former, and they didn't have the
latter at the Express.

I thought I read someplace that the store was set up sort of in response
to Sandy. If that's the case, then maybe "the basics" were good enough
for someone just trying to get their house back together ASAP.

Dunno...just schpeculatin'

On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 3:30:42 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 3:02:37 PM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 2:48:00 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10:11:23 AM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
Lowes opened their Lowes Express here in NJ as an experiment about 4 or 5 years ago. They just closed it. It was a smaller, neighborhood version
of Lowes, similar to a big hardware store. It went into what used to be
a good size supermarket. They had paint, common lumber, electrical
stuff, garden supplies, barbecues, limited appliances, etc. Sadly it
didn't do enough business. I was always surprised at how few people
there were in it. Basically one checkout open and hardly anyone ahead
of you there. So, I guess they won't be opening any more of them.
Unfortunate because it was convenient and you could also get stuff
shipped for store pickup to there, return stuff from other Lowes, etc.

Do you agree with Ms. Kavtaradze that the selection of actual hardware
items was limited?

http://www.northjersey.com/news/busi...ears-1.1647599

IDK, there was a reasonable amount of typical hardware stuff. For
example, they had a good assortment of screws and fasteners, including
the section with the gray slide out drawers with specialty fasteners and
individual metric bolts, nuts etc. They had PVC plumbing fittings for
example, toilet parts. They had common tools. They didn't have a
full garden center, but they did have fetilizer, pesticides, seed, that
kind of stuff.

I think she's right though that they did waste floor space on appliances.
It made no sense to me, because it was still a very limited selection.
If someone is going to buy a fridge or dishwasher, why would they
but it somewhere where you can only see a limited selection? The
real Lowes stores are about 12 miles away north or south. Plus HD
about the same distance. I thought maybe they figured that shore
rental property people and such might want a basic one, but I think
even they like to go somewhere where they can find a cheap one from
a bigger selection, etc. I think they also were selling kitchen
cabinets, same thing there, I'd just go to the real store, as driving
isn't an issue when it comes to that kind of purchase. I went to
this Express for paint, bolts, drywall compound, that kind of thing.
With something like lighting they had more than what you;d find in
the local hardware store, (which is close to zero), but nowhwere
near the selection of the full Lowes. If I needed a basic fixture
for a basement or some other common electrical item, eg a 3 way
switch, Romex, or a basic recessed LED, I'd go there. But if I
needed a fashionable fixture or a panel, then I go to the big store,
because of the choices for the former, and they didn't have the
latter at the Express.

I thought I read someplace that the store was set up sort of in response
to Sandy. If that's the case, then maybe "the basics" were good enough
for someone just trying to get their house back together ASAP.

Dunno...just schpeculatin'

It opened about 9 months after Sandy. I think that angle is some marketing
BS. If you needed tarps and cleaning supplies, it was way too late. If
you needed real building repair stuff, eg shingles, siding, 2x8's
they didn't have it.