Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to register?
In preparation for the opening of Lowe’s stores in Canada, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has developed a streamlined process for creating/reformatting and producing all signage, POP and collateral materials for use in Lowe’s Canada, ULC.

This program requires that all vendors who have been awarded business with Lowe’s Canada:

Submit working files for all approved signage, POP and collateral materials that are currently present in Lowe’s stores.

Or, if the vendor does not have materials in the Lowe’s U.S. stores:

Submit working files for all signage, POP and collateral materials proposed for use in Lowe’s Canada.

This website provides an efficient and secure way for authorized vendors to submit their files for processing.

What information do I need to register?
You need your business name, corporate and billing addresses, your Lowe’s Vendor Number, and your contact information.

What information do I need to upload a project?
For each project, you will need:

Working files for all approved signage, POP and collateral materials that are currently present in Lowe’s stores.

Or, if you do not have materials in the Lowe’s U.S. stores:

Working files for all signage, POP and collateral materials proposed for use in Lowe’s Canada.
Set Diagram(s): a rendering or in-store photo that is keyed to identify the location of all graphics, hardware and product samples (see Lowe’s Canada File Upload Structure).
If you have approved, bilingual materials in U.S. Lowe’s stores, provide the following Planogram Information for these materials:

Planogram Name
Planogram Index Number
Planogram Bay Number(s)

Project name
Project description
Lowe's Product Division and Department, in which your materials will appear.
Primary vendor contact for this project (default to the person who registered the project). Including, name, title, address, phone, and email.
Whether this is a “shared cost” project (“Are two or more vendors sharing the cost of this project?”)

If yes, who are the other vendors?

File format (Mac/PC)
A completed Lowe’s Canada Production Specification Form

I don't want to compress my files, can I upload them individually?
No. The upload process requires that all project files be bundled into one compressed archive. This conserves bandwidth and makes sure the files are associated with the right project.

My files are way too big to upload, can't I just send them to you?
After you have completed the on-line form required for log-in, you will be given an opportunity to either upload your project electronically by selecting “Upload Archive” or, if your bandwidth prohibits you from electronically uploading your project files, you may select “Print”. Selecting “Print” will create a printer-ready image with all of the upload data you just completed. Send this document, along with the media on which your project archive has been saved (CD, DVD or hard drive) and ship the materials to:

Pratt Corporation
Attn: Lowe's Canada Project
3035 N. Shadeland
Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46226

Note: choosing this method to submit your project files may delay your project, due to additional processing required by Pratt.

What is a “project?” How is it different from a sign?
A project is one or more graphic components and other items (hardware, product samples, etc.) needed to complete your product’s POP set. A project is referred to by the vendor name and the project name.

What are project versions and how do I handle them?
Occasionally, vendors require different versions for the same POP set, most often due to planogram variations in different stores. When you have more than one version of the same project, all components for all versions should be included in the same compressed project archive for upload – along with Set Diagram(s) to identify and describe each version. See the Lowe’s Canada File Upload Structure for details.

What is a “set diagram?”
A Set Diagram is a rendering or in-store photo that is keyed to identify the location of all graphics, hardware and product samples. The vendor is responsible for providing a Set Diagram(s) for each display version in their Upload Archive. (See Lowe’s Canada File Upload Structure.)

What is a “shared project?”
A shared project is a project of which the cost will be shared by more than one vendor. Lowe's will determine which projects are shared and how the costs will be allocated between vendors.

If I have approved, bilingual materials in U.S. Lowe’s stores, how do I find my Planogram Information for these materials?
Get this information from your Lowe's Planogram Specialist or Merchant

What are Working Files and what are the file format requirements?
Working Files is a term that refers to the group of artwork files necessary to produce your project’s graphics. Each project’s Working Files must include a production-ready Layout File, Fonts, and all production-ready Support Art. Working Files have the following characteristics:

Layout Files:

Must be either 100% of the final output size or proportionate to the final output size
Must include a minimum of 3/8” bleed where required
Must have colors appropriately assigned within the file (e.g. spot colors must be assigned the appropriate PMS color) and these specifications must correspond to the information provided on your Lowe’s Canada Production Specification Form.
Layout files must be in one of the following formats:

Adobe Illustrator CS2 or lower (preferred format for single-page layouts)
Adobe InDesign CS2 or lower (preferred format for multi-page layouts)
QuarkXPress 7 or lower

All Fonts used in the layout file:

Fonts must be any of the following formats:

OpenType
Macintosh Postscript Type 1 (note: No Windows format PS Type 1 acceptable)
TrueType
Converted fonts to outlines are not acceptable

Support Art (linked to Layout File):

Logos accepted in the following formats:

Vector format Adobe Illustrator-compatible EPS
Bitmap format high-resolution EPS or TIFF files with clipping paths, where appropriate

Image files acceptable:

EPS with the following options:

Preview: 8-bit/JPEG Macintosh preview or 8-bit TIFF preview
Encoding: ASCII, Binary, or Maximum-Quality JPEG
Do not include Halftone Screen, Transfer Function, or PS Color Management option
Clipping Paths are acceptable

TIFF with the following options:Macintosh or IBM PC Byte Order

LZW or No-Compression
Clipping Paths are acceptable

Image resolutions acceptable:

Digital or Screen-Printed output: 170dpi at final output size
Litho output: 300dpi at final output size

Proofs acceptable:

Include a PDF proof of every layout in the project
Proof should have the same name as the layout file, from which it was created
Proofs should be no more than 2mb in size, where possible

Dielines:

All dielines within the layout files should be placed in their own layers, so that they don’t interfere with the rest of the artwork

How high resolution do my images have to be?
Digital or Screen-Printed output: 170dpi
Litho output: 300dpi

How do you want me to organize my files prior to submission?
See Lowe’s Canada File Upload Structure and the Lowe’s Production Specification Form