MOORESVILLE, N.C., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. announced today the addition of lumber to its line-up of items available for purchase online. Lowe's is the first and only home improvement retailer to offer lumber online so that customers - commercial or homeowner - may have the convenience to browse, purchase and arrange delivery of more than 2,000 wood products and related accessories by going to Lowes.com/lumber.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031205/LOWLOGO )

"This is one more way to make the shopping experience more convenient for our customers," said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "Lumber in particular is one item that can be difficult for people to transport to their homes. With Lowes.com/lumber, we're glad to do the heavy lifting. Customers can order the wood materials they need for a renovation or weekend project online, and have the assurance those products can be delivered to their door."

More than 2,000 lumber items are available at Lowes.com/lumber including everything from structural lumber and plywood to decking materials. Customers shop from their local store's inventory, conduct the transaction online and once a purchase is made, the local store arranges delivery.

The addition of lumber to Lowe's online product sales is part of the company's continued effort to make the Lowe's website more user friendly and offer inspirational solutions for do-it-yourself projects. In addition to the lumber offerings, Lowes.com offers over 20,000 products and over 1000 how-to projects online.

With fiscal year 2004 sales of $36.5 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 11 million customers a week at more than 1,100 home improvement stores in 48 states. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 59-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

CONTACT: Julie Yenichek, +1-704-758-2282, or Julie.v.yenichek@lowes.com,
or Chris Ahearn, +1-704-758-2304, or Chris.b.ahearn@lowes.com, both of Lowe's
Companies, Inc.

Web site: http://www.lowes.com/