Menards is a well-known, family-owned home improvement retail chain in the American Midwest. It is the third-largest home improvement retailer in the United States, after The Home Depot and Lowe's, and holds a leading position across the Midwest.
Company Overview
- Founded: 1958 by John Menard. It started as a shed-building business and later expanded into lumber sales under the original name Menard Cashway Lumber.
- Headquarters: Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
- Ownership: Privately owned family company, not publicly traded.
- Slogan: Save BIG Money! - focused on low pricing.
- Stores: Over 340 locations across 15 Midwestern states.
Product Range - One-Stop Shopping
Beyond core building materials and DIY supplies, Menards carries a wide variety of goods, including lumber, concrete, roofing, doors and windows, flooring, plumbing, electrical supplies, paint, hardware and cabinets, plus hand and power tools, gardening supplies, outdoor furniture, fencing and storage buildings.
A distinctive feature: most locations include a small grocery section and pet supplies, along with snacks and drinks - a mix of lumber yard and convenience store.
Private Brands
- Masterforce (tools)
- Midwest Manufacturing
- Mastercraft
- Grip Fast
- Tuscany
Services
Menards offers truck rental, propane exchange, a garden center and a lumber cutting service. Many stores open as early as 5 a.m. for contractors; typical hours for regular shoppers are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with shorter hours on Sundays.
Online shopping via menards.com offers around 400,000 items, while roughly 70,000 items are stocked in-store.
How It Differs from The Home Depot and Lowe's
- Ownership: Menards is family privately owned; the other two are publicly listed companies.
- Coverage: Menards concentrates almost entirely on the Midwest; The Home Depot and Lowe's operate nationwide.
- Vibe and pricing: Menards generally offers lower prices and has a small-town feel with grocery goods; The Home Depot and Lowe's follow a more standardized format with more professional contracting services.
- Reputation: Menards has repeatedly won J.D. Power awards for customer satisfaction, with a more local, neighborhood-hardware-store style of service.
