Top Five Things to Know about Home Outlet

You somehow stumbled across this brand you’ve never heard of called Home Outlet. Maybe you found us through an online search or social media and landed on our website. If you have never heard of Home Outlet, you may have questions about who we are, what we do, and where we are located. 

Continue reading to learn the top five things you should know about Home Outlet before visiting one of our stores.

Home Outlet is a 100% Employee-Owned Company

There are not many companies that can still say that they are 100% employee-owned; however, Home Outlet has operated under an employee-ownership model since the 1970s. This offers unique benefits to both employees and customers. Let’s talk about why.

You may wonder what this means to you, as our customer. First, our employee-ownership model allows us to hire and retain the best, most experienced professionals in our stores and behind the scenes in our company operations. All employees (we call them partners) have a vested interest in the success of our company. Many of our employees celebrate 20, 30, and even 40-year work milestones with us. This all translates to store representatives who are dedicated to providing excellent shopping experiences and unmatched customer service, and they have the experience to back it all up. Your home project success is a win for all of us.

You will notice other differences in how we operate because of our employee-ownership model. For example, our stores may close earlier than competitors, and we are also closed on Sundays. We believe it is important to allow our employees time with their families, something that is not common in the retail environment. To accommodate the times when a store may be closed, there have been many enhancements in our offering over the years to help customers shop with us. Our website now offers a full shopping experience for most of our in-store products with a buy-online, pick-up-in-store option, or a nationwide shipping option on select products. 

Home Outlet is Backed by More than 140 Years of Experience

The Home Outlet name has only been around since late 2019, but the humble beginnings of our company date back to November of 1885 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. What started as a local grocery store quickly evolved into a lumber and hardware store as the community around us grew. And we haven’t stopped evolving and growing with the needs of our customers and the communities we serve since that time.

Eventually, our parent company (named after the son of our original founder), E.C. Barton & Company, opened and operated different types of stores to keep up with the growing needs of the communities we serve. Today, the 100% employee-owned organization operates three brands in the home improvement space: Barton’s (our flagship lumber and hardware brand), Home Outlet (spanning 110+ locations across 22 states), and Seconds and Surplus (located exclusively in the DFW area). 

Home Outlet is the byproduct of two E.C. Barton brands that grew and evolved over time. The first was Surplus Warehouse, which originated in our hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Eventually this brand grew past the borders of our city into a multi-location brand spanning several states across the South. In 2006, E.C. Barton & Company acquired a similar brand in the northeast called Grossman's Bargain Outlet. The operations of the two brands eventually aligned, and it was time to bring them both under one name, Home Outlet. 

Home Outlet Sells High-Quality Cabinets, Floorings, Windows, Doors, and More

Now the important question: what does Home Outlet do? In short, we sell the major products needed for your home remodel or new build, like cabinetry, flooring, windows, doors, and bath fixtures. All of the merchandise that Home Outlet sells is high-quality and brand new. If you shopped with Surplus Warehouse or Bargain Outlet in the past, you know this is an evolution from our historic stance of offering seconds or lower-grade products for customers looking for a cheaper option. Today, everything you find in a Home Outlet store or on our website is new and high-quality merchandise.

We have learned over time that our customers are looking for new, quality products at an affordable price. Luckily, we have a great team at our headquarters in Jonesboro that sources these products to ensure our customers are satisfied with the result once the products are installed in their homes. 

In-store selection is a priority for us as well. We offer a large selection of in-store products so that if you are ready to start your project, you can come in, buy what you need, and leave with the products that day. While more customized products may require a special order, we work closely with our suppliers to ensure timely delivery to keep your project moving.

Home Outlet is a great place for homeowners and professionals to shop. Our experts in the stores are equipped to help every type of customer. Whether you are a DIYer, a property manager, a house flipper, a contractor, or somewhere in between, you will find the quality products you need for your projects. If you are a professional, check out our Pro Program.

Home Outlet is Committed to offering the Guaranteed Lowest Price

That leads us to an important benefit of shopping at Home Outlet: we are committed to offering the Guaranteed Lowest Price, or the best value for your home remodel. We get it, almost every home improvement store you find today is saying the same thing. How can you really know you have found the best deal? Because of our Guaranteed Lowest Price Commitment, if you find the same product at a better price somewhere else, we will meet and/or beat that price by up to 10%. Simply point us in the direction of that competitor’s price, and once we verify, we will ensure you are offered the best price at Home Outlet.

The Guaranteed Lowest Price is not only about matching our competitors' pricing; it means putting in the work before the products land in the store to ensure we are finding the best deals possible and passing on those savings to you, our customers. Part of the process our team goes through to source quality products is also finding and establishing relationships with suppliers that are also committed to providing us with quality craftsmanship and fair pricing. Because of our more narrow product focus, we can hone in on the details to ensure we are meeting this expectation. It’s all about smart buying so that we can provide the best value to you. There are often external factors that can impact pricing down the line; however, we are constantly reviewing market prices to ensure we remain competitive.

Last, we operate “no-frills” stores. We focus on offering a large in-stock selection and friendly store representatives, but never more than what is needed. When opening a new location, we revitalize existing buildings rather than building new spaces. We operate with lean store staffing, ensuring you will always be helped by a real person, but there are never an excessive number of employees standing around with nothing to do. All of these efforts create cost savings that are passed on to you.

Home Outlet offers a Personalized Experience to Home Remodeling

Last, we aim to take as much of the stress and hassle out of the home remodeling process as possible. We understand it’s a large investment to make improvements in your home, but we believe it’s worthwhile to come home to a place you love every day. There are important decisions to make in this process, and we hope to make that as easy as we can.

At Home Outlet, you will never find yourself at a self-checkout. When you come into a store in search of a specific item, our store representatives will know where to guide you. If you are ready to tackle that home project but aren’t sure where to start, we have your back. Our store representatives are ready and willing to take on the home improvement challenges with you, providing guidance and expert advice. Our free home remodeling services, like flooring estimates, kitchen planning, and bath designs, walk you through every step so that you can discover the products that fit both your style and your budget. 

When you design a kitchen or bathroom with us, there are no hidden fees and no limitations. The service is 100% free of charge, includes unlimited revisions until you are happy with the end result, and even includes 3D renderings so that you can envision the new products in your home. All you need to do is provide accurate measurements.

The service at Home Outlet is unmatched. If you are looking for a better experience in the home remodel or home improvement process, you’ve come to the right place. Because of our 100% employee-ownership model, each Home Outlet representative you meet is dedicated to making sure you have the best experience possible with us. This means finding the right products at the right price.

Now that you know who we are and what we offer, it’s time to experience the Home Outlet difference for yourself. Use our store locator to find the location nearest you today. We hear from many of our customers, ‘We wish we had found you sooner.’ We hope and are confident that you will agree. We look forward to helping you with your next home project.

About the Author

With over 15 years of experience in marketing and sales, Danial R. specializes in crafting strategic content for both online and offline audiences, driving internal communications, and staying ahead of industry trends. For the past six years, she's focused on the building materials industry, attending national design shows annually to bring fresh insights and inspiration to her work. Having recently built her own home, she brings a hands-on perspective to home improvement projects and shares practical advice based on real-world experience. She holds a degree in Marketing Management and a Master of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, blending academic expertise with industry know-how to help homeowners and professionals achieve their goals.