The Knowledge Project Bernie Marcus: The Home Depot Story [Outliers]
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Dec 16, 2025 Discover the incredible journey of Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot. From overcoming early struggles to crafting a customer-obsessed culture, his story is filled with resilience. Hear how a pivotal firing turned into a golden opportunity for new beginnings. Learn about the strategic choices made in naming the company and designing the warehouse experience. The importance of authenticity in advertising and a strong commitment to employee recognition shine through. Marcus’ lessons on trust and service remain vital to this day.
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Fired Into Opportunity
- Bernie Marcus got fired at 49 and called it a 'golden horseshoe' opportunity.
- Eighteen months later Home Depot opened and changed his life and retail forever.
Learning From Two Guys
- Bernie studied Two Guys and used its volume-driven, department model to learn retail.
- By 28 he ran nearly a billion dollars of merchandise and dominated appliance sales on the East Coast.
The Handy Dan Fallout
- Bernie and Arthur were fired from Handy Dan after a control fight with the parent company.
- Ken Langone bought the public stake, warned them, and later called the firing the best thing that happened.
