Lowe's Buys Online Retailer ATG Stores

Lowe's rarely grows through acquisition, but the retailer made an exception with its recent purchase of ATG Stores, an online retailer that offers 3.5 million SKUs through 500-plus websites. In contrast, Lowe's e-commerce site currently offers approximately 220,000 SKUs. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. Allied Trade Group (ATG Stores) began as an online retailer in 1999 with the launch of its first website, LightingUniverse.com. Today, the retailer's 18 category divisions include appliances, home furnishings, cooking and dining, pet products, sporting goods, apparel, party supplies, luggage and automotive. In addition to its online sites, ATG operates two brick-and-mortar