International News - Lowe's is luring frequent visitors

US home improvement giant Lowe's has been busily building the number of shoppers frequenting its stores.

The proportion of primary shoppers visiting the retailer at least once a month rose 3 percentage points to 13.6 per cent last year, according to a survey commissioned by US consultancy Retail Forward. During the same period, the number of shoppers frequently visiting rival Home Depot rose 1 percentage point to 19.6 per cent.

The proportion of primary shoppers buying goods at a US home improvement store other than one owned by the two leaders fell between 1997 and 2002, from 34.7 per cent to 12.2 per cent.