Home depot aims to boost online business

New York: Top home improvement chain Home Depot Inc has outlined the steps it was taking to boost its online business and improve customer service in a lacklustre economy.

Home Depot also said it will step up its online business and provide store associates with devices that let them answer in-store customer queries faster.

The retailer will launch a service next year that allows shoppers to buy online and pick up purchased products in store, chief financial officer Carol Tome said in an interview.

"The customer is changing... customers are shopping with their phones," Tome said.

Rival expansion

Last week, smaller rival Lowe's Cos announced plans to expand its product assortment online, launch a mobile shopping site next month and start an "ask and answer" service in early 2011 to better serve its online shoppers. While most retailers for years have relied heavily on their websites for sales, home improvement chains have seen their customers mostly using the sites to learn more about products.