00:00Home Depot seals Walmart-style closure policy across 2,300 stores.
00:06Home Depot closes all U.S. stores only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, following Walmart's model.
00:13That means 363 open days a year, making these closures the only breaks in near-constant access.
00:20Home Depot closes on two slow holidays to cut high operating costs,
00:24as light traffic makes staffing and logistics inefficient, turning tradition into a smart strategy.
00:31For DIYers and contractors, the closures remove a safety net many rely on.
00:37While online ordering remains available, pickups and fulfillment resume only after the holiday.
00:43Walmart's nationwide Thanksgiving shutdown in 2020 changed the retail landscape.
00:48Two of the largest U.S. retailers now share identical holiday closure schedules, establishing an industry norm.
00:55On holidays, with minimal foot traffic, costs pile up fast.
00:59Closing just two days per year allows the company to avoid substantial expenses without meaningfully sacrificing annual revenue.
01:07Recent data from Placer.ai shows Home Depot's foot traffic dipped about 0.4% in its most recent fiscal quarter.
01:16In that environment, staying open during historically quiet holidays offers little upside.
01:22Roughly half a million Home Depot workers benefit directly from the policy.
01:27Thanksgiving and Christmas are guaranteed days off nationwide, something retail employees rarely enjoyed in the past.
01:34Holiday closures signal a broader recognition of work-life balance in big-box retail.
01:39Home Depot's policy places it firmly among retailers prioritizing employee well-being over non-stop access without abandoning its 363-day operating model.
01:50Home Depot stays highly accessible.
01:53Most stores run 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and shorter hours on Sundays.
01:58Closing only two days yearly makes it a rare calculated pause.
02:02Home Depot uses online orders, apps, delivery and lockers to save holiday sales, easing shopping friction, even though digital tools can't replace in-store access.
02:14While the two-day closure is predictable, it reshapes expectations for professionals accustomed to Home Depot functioning as an emergency supply hub.
02:25The policy covers all U.S. stores, with Canada adding provincial holidays.
02:30This consistency boosts planning, discipline and predictability across thousands of Home Depot locations.
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