But, a businessman has to trust his gut. You can't learn retailing solely out of a book, you have to make common sense judgments. Marcus, who received his B.S. degree in pharmacy from Rutgers University, describes himself as a frustrated doctor. Yet he has no regrets about his diversion into retailing. Retail is a wonderful career path and it will always be there.
Entrepreneurial instincts are more important in retailing than a degree.
Veteran Home Depot associates, whose efforts have been partially compensated in stock options, would probably back him up on that. Marcus estimates that offering stock options to every employee, regardless of rank or title, has spawned as many as 1,000 millionaires at the company. Marcus takes great pride in the changes Home Depot has brought about throughout the industry, particularly in making available to the general public products once sold exclusively to professionals through plumbing or electrical supply stores. In the process, Home Depot drove prices downward, enabling shoppers to pay about a third less than they would have years ago. In November 1998, he was recognized by the National Society of Fundraising Executives as Georgia Philanthropist of the Year.