Lowe's Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States and Canada. The company offers a range of products for home decorating, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and property maintenance. It provides home improvement products in the categories of appliances, paint, lumber, flooring, building materials, millwork, lawn and landscape products, hardware, fashion plumbing, tools, lighting, seasonal living, rough plumbing, nursery, outdoor power equipment, cabinets and countertops, rough electrical, home environment, home organization, and windows and walls, as well as boards, panel products, irrigation pipes, vinyl sidings, and ladders. The company also offers installation services through independent contractors in various product categories. Lowe's Companies serves homeowners and renters primarily consisting of do-it-yourself customers and do-it-for-me customers, as well as others buying for personal and family use; and commercial business customers, who work in the construction, repair/remodel, commercial and residential property management, or business maintenance professions. As of January 29, 2010, it operated 1,710 stores, including 1,694 stores in the United States and 16 stores in Canada. The company also offers its products through electronic product catalogs and Lowes.com. Lowe's Companies, Inc. was founded in 1952 and is based in Mooresville, North Carolina.