As far as the Redbeacon / Home Depot situation goes, don't forget that the big-picture missions of both organizations aren't so different (help you maintain and

As far as the Redbeacon / Home Depot situation goes, don't forget that the big-picture missions of both organizations aren't so different (help you maintain and improve your home), and there's a strategic advantage for both partners. Redbeacon presumably gets free in-store promotion to homeowners doing home improvement, and Home Depot gets a bigger slice in the lifecycle for home improvement projects that aren't their typical homeowner-DIY market. Whether a nimble entrepreneurial / internet-based group can survive within the corporate structure of a retail giant is still an open question.