Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

 

 

Question	Answer
What Is The Home Depot Open to Buy Day?	An opportunity for non-incumbent vendors who wish to become suppliers to The Home Depot, to showcase their innovative products to the buyers and merchandisers. For information about the The Home Depot Holiday Gift Center OTB event please visit this website http://otb.thdsourcing.com/?event=9.
When Is the Next Event?	The next event has not yet been scheduled, but more than likely will be in the summer of 2009. However, you may still submit your product to be considered for the next event.
Where Is the Event?	The next event will more than likely be held in Atlanta, GA, USA.
When Is the Submission Deadline?	Because the next event has not yet been scheduled there is no submission deadline.
What Is the Process?	Vendors must go to Open to Buy Website to register. http://otb.thdsourcing.com/. After the terms are accepted by clicking "I Agree", vendors must then complete the appropriate information regarding their company and products. Please note that no more than 5 products can be entered. If the vendor is invited to the event they are to bring samples of the product(s) submitted online for review. Product samples must match those submitted online. Invited vendors will have a 20 minute face to face meeting with a merchant at the next event.
Will All Vendors Who Submit Products Be Invited to the Event?	Unfortunately not all vendors who submit products will be invited to attend The Open to Buy Day. However all product submissions are reviewed, and all vendors that apply will be notified if they have been selected to attend.
Are Vendors to Send The Home Depot Samples Prior to the Event?	No. Invited vendors should bring all samples to the event. Do not send any samples to The Home Depot prior to the event. Further logistical details will be provided to invited vendors.
How Will Invited Vendors Be Notified?	The contact person indicated by the vendor will be notified via email with all event details and requirements. Because of this it is imperative that the a valid email address is provided.
Is a Mutual Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Required to Attend the Event?	Yes. This is to protect both parties' intellectual property during any discussions a mutual NDA is a requirement to attend. Invited vendors will be provided with a copy of The Home Depot's mutual NDA in the invitation packet. The mutual NDA must be signed by the vendor and The Home Depot before any discussions can take place.
Is it a Requirement to Agree to the Terms Stated on the Open to Buy Website?	Yes. Data can not be submitted without agreeing to the terms by clicking on "I Agree".
Will Vendors that Are Not Invited be Notified?	All vendors that submit product information will be notified via the email address provided regardless if they are invited.
What Are the Next Steps after the Event?	After the face to face meeting during the Open To Buy event, Merchants that wish to have further discussions will contact the vendor to make appropriate arrangements for next steps.
Am I Getting a Message Stating That "Production Capacity Contains Invalid Characters". What Does That Mean?	Only enter numbers in this field. No commas, periods, letters, or any characters other than numbers will be accepted.
Is There a Web Browser Requirement?	Yes. You must use Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher in order to successfully use the Open to Buy application.
How Do I Compress My Product Photo to Meet the Size Requirements of 200kb?	Open the product photo using Microsoft Photo Editor. Click "Save As". When the "Save As" window appears click "More". Adjust the "JPEG quality factor" to a smaller number. Save the file using a new name so you won't replace your original file. Check the file properties, and if the file is less 200kb it can be attached. If the file is still greater than 200kb repeat the previous steps until it meets the requirements.
When I click "create/update" I receive an error that states "Page Can Not be Displayed". What can I do to fix this problem?	Please submit your product(s) using this link. http://otb.thdsourcing.com/. Some computers have settings that might not be compatible with the "https" website.
What Is the Contact Information for Further Questions?	Vendors must not directly contact anyone within The Home Depot. Please direct queries not covered in the Frequently Asked Questions to opentobuy@homedepot.com Appropriate contact information will be provided to invited vendors.
What is the Cost of the Event?	The Home Depot is pleased to announce that this event is being offered at no cost to the participants. However, the invited vendors must pay for any transportation, lodging, and other costs incurred in order to attend the event.
If I'm an organization or storage product supplier where do I submit my product?	On the "Add Product" page please select the "Flooring and Org/Storage" department and then select the appropriate product type alignment from the drop down menu (i.e. organization or storage).