Big box goes local?

Posted by Kristian Buschmann on October 07, 2008

Ok, so Home Depot isn't suddenly swapping out inventory for locally produced products, but it would seem that their centralized purchasing model isn't cutting it.  WSJ article here.  A glut of mowers in the desert and a shortage of power tools where they are needed most was enough to get their purchasers thinking more about what local markets demand.  We are already seeing a lot of localization activity in cities, from demand for original products to a backlash at far-flung bottled water.  I find it interesting that this trend is affecting even the most un-local of things.