Lowe's Begins Westward Push

It's a long way from company headquarters in North Wilkesboro, N.C., nevertheless, Lowe's Cos. Inc. is betting heavily on the wisdom of following Horace Greeley's advice.

As part of its announced goal to open 100 new stores in Nevada, Arizona and Southern California in the next three years, the chain has opened six stores in Southern California and Nevada since midDecember.

In addition, the firm will expand into Northern California by opening several stores in the Sacramento and Bay areas.

Southern California's first Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse opened in Bakersfield in late December, followed by January openings in Palmdale, Long Beach and Temecula.

That same month, the chain debuted its first converted Eagle Hardware & Garden in Norwalk, Ca., as a Lowe's unit.

The former Eagle store features the identical configuration of Lowe's eastern stores and carries the same brands, according to spokeswoman Suzanne McCoy.

"We're continuing to evaluate opportunities for some of the brands that Eagle carries which Lowe's doesn't," she said, adding that currently Lowe's doesn't carry any Eagle brands.

As for Northern California, the firm has not determined how many stores it will open in the region, although spokesman Brian Peace said one day there will be "dozens" of Lowe's around Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland and elsewhere in the Bay area.

The 54-year-old company will open a huge store in Folsom later this year and reportedly plans additional storcs in Citrus Heights, North Natomas, Roseville and outside Elk Grove.

Plus, ground has been broken on an $80 million, 1.25 million sq. ft. distribution center in Perris, reportedly one of the largest single-story buildings ever constructed in California.

Elsewhere in the West. Lowe's opened a 140,000-sq. ft. store in Summerlin, Nv., about l5 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

According to Mccoy, the new location is the first of several Lowe's coming to the area.

"We haven't made any announcements for specific locations, but we do plan to have a major presence in Southern Nevada." she said.

In noting that the first New Mexico Lowe's is scheduled to open in midMarch, McCoy said the firm could open up to five stores in the Albuquerque area.

Albuquerque already is home to three Home Depots, two HomeBases, Hacienda Home Centers and several independents.

Slow Boat To China, Beware

New trade policies for exporting to China state that all U.S. goods must have proper packing material certification, or risk being destroyed.

However, recognizing the need for flexibility, China said non-compliant shipments will be quarantined at the exporter's expense for up to 60 days while awaiting proper certitication.

Local agencies have been given jurisdiction to assess fines for noncompliant companies that fail to present the proper ccrtification within a reasonable period of time.