The Home Depot Merchandising Services: Smart Labels Externship

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Strategy & Consulting

Work with The Home Depot's Merchandising Execution Team to build a labor-focused business case for when and where electronic shelf labels make sense in a warehouse retail environment.

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Overview

In this externship program, students will learn strategic consulting skills to analyze and evaluate challenges from non-profit organizations using consulting frameworks, in an overall effort to help them solve their important problems. Selected individuals will be paired with a specific non-profit organization and dive into their strategic problems, such as development, impact assessment, process improvements, talent engagement, communication, and strategic positioning. Throughout this externship program, professionals from PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) will provide mentorship and coaching.

The Experience

Learn about the strategy consulting process and how to help create value for a non-profit client based on their vision and mission
Research and develop an understanding of a given field
Analyze complex problems ranging from fundraising and development, stakeholder management, impact measurement, as well as use consulting frameworks to help identify problem areas and propose solutions
Learn to gather, analyze, and visualize data to inform problem areas and possible solutions
Create and deliver a compelling presentation to a non-profit client that incorporates valuable insights, trends, and recommendations

Qualifications

Ambitious undergraduate students with an interest in consulting, strategy, and non-profits. This program is for students who would like to understand the consulting profession while generating ideas to help impact non-profit organizations.

Program Overview

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In this remote 8-week externship, you will work alongside The Home Depot's Merchandising Execution Team (MET) to understand how a warehouse-format retailer evaluates emerging technology like electronic shelf labels (ESL). You will build a criteria-based decision matrix that identifies when and where digital labels generate real operational savings.

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You will develop a labor-focused business case for optimizing ESL deployment — conducting competitive research, analyzing Home Depot's current state of ESL usage, and building breakeven models that account for damage risk, price change frequency, and labor intensity.

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Working with real operational data, you will build a decision matrix framework and financial model that culminate in an executive business case recommending selective deployment rather than a store-wide rollout — the same way a production team would evaluate the tradeoff.

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Who Should Apply

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This externship is a strong fit for students interested in business strategy, operations, or retail analytics, particularly those curious about how a large retailer weighs the tradeoffs of adopting new technology. You do not need a background in retail or supply chain. Students from any field who are comfortable working with data, building financial models, and want hands-on experience developing a consulting-style business case are encouraged to apply.

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What You'll Deliver

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A one-page memo articulating MET's operational priorities and the constraints that make Home Depot's warehouse environment different from traditional retail ESL deployments
A Technology Assessment Report comparing ESL vendors against damage resistance, durability, and total cost of ownership
A breakeven financial model and 2-page summary of labor savings under different damage-rate scenarios
A Decision Matrix Framework and Risk Assessment Matrix for scoring when and where to deploy ESL
A Final Presentation Deck and live business case presentation to Home Depot leadership

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Skills You'll Gain

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Business and competitive literacy at the retail operations level
Technology assessment fundamentals, comparing vendors against real-world operational requirements
Breakeven analysis and financial modeling with replacement-cost scenarios
Decision matrix frameworks for criteria-based deployment recommendations
Risk assessment in warehouse environments, including damage rates and mitigation strategies
Executive communication and consulting-style business case presentation

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Why This Externship?

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Work directly with The Home Depot's Merchandising Execution Team on a live operational and financial question
Build a business case using real store, labor, and competitive data
Practice distinguishing when a technology solution creates value versus added complexity
Develop a consulting-style pitch reviewed by Extern program managers, with top presentations delivered live to THD leadership
Gain exposure to one of the largest home improvement brands in the world

Externship Currently Closed
New applications are not currently being accepted.

Apply by August 31, 2026

The application process includes written and interview segments. Spots are limited and students are admitted on a rolling basis. Apply as soon as possible.

Part-time and fully remote

This externship is a 10-hour-per-week fully remote experience.

Starts September 14, 2026

This remote externship will last 8 weeks.

$1000 Stipend

Students who successfully complete their required deliverables will receive their stipends at the end of the program.

Eligibility

Must be undergraduate sophomore, junior or senior attending college or university in the United States.

About

The Home Depot

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Founded in 1978, The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer, with 2,300 stores across North America and nearly 500,000 associates. Guided by eight core principles, including taking care of people, doing the right thing, giving back, and delivering excellent service, The Home Depot strives to put customers and associates first, believing that everything else will follow. To learn more about The Home Depot, please visit our about page.

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