W. W. Grainger

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W. W. Grainger, Inc. is a Fortune 500 industrial supply company founded in 1927 in Chicago. Grainger serves over 3 million customers worldwide with offers such as motors, lighting, material handling, fasteners, plumbing, equipment, and safety equipment, along with inventory management services and technical support. Revenue is generally from business-to-business sales rather than retail sales. Grainger serves over 3 million subscribers through a network of about 598 branches, online channels (such as Grainger.com, KeepStock and eProcurement), and 33 distribution centers.

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Histori

The company was founded as a business supplier by William Wallace Grainger in 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, and was incorporated as W. W. Grainger, Inc. in 1928. Sales in the early days were generated mainly through postal orders via postcards and catalogs. The MotorBook, like the catalog originally called, is the basis for the Grainger catalog today. Grainger's headquarters is now in Lake Forest, Illinois. In 1936, Grainger had established 15 branches to improve customer service.

In 1967, Grainger became a public company. Grainger is a profitable company and has increased dividends to its shareholders for forty-five years in a row. The company has grown consistently since becoming public and passing US $ 10 billion in annual sales in 2016.

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Digital

In 1996 the grainger.com site was launched with an electronic catalog, then developed into an eCommerce platform. In 2016, Grainger was named the 11th largest eCommerce retailer in North America by Internet Retailers. As business continues to shift from ordering through traditional channels, such as using a phone or visiting a branch, to online channels and onsite including websites, eProcurement platforms and inventory management systems, Grainger evolves. By 2016, more than 65 percent of Grainger's orders come through digital channels (including Grainger.com, inventory management systems, and eProcurement) and over 85 percent of orders are delivered directly to customers or made available immediately through onsite services. In 2016, more than 50% of total company revenue comes from digital channels.

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Subsidiaries

Grainger's subsidiary, Zoro, Inc. and the zoro.com website was launched in 2011 to serve the US small business market through a web-based model only, while grainger.com serves mainly large and medium customers.

MonotaRO was established in 2000 as a joint venture between Grainger and Sumitomo. It has online operations serving only Japan and other Asian markets.

State revokes tax credits after W.W. Grainger cuts, outsources ...

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Acquisitions

September 1, 2015 - Cromwell Group Holdings (UK) Ltd The original aggregate purchase price for the acquisition under a definitive stock purchase agreement is Ãƒ, Ã‚ Â£ 310 million ($ 476 million), as customized.
December 3, 2013 - Security Solution Incorporated. The purchase price is $ 30 million, less money earned.
August 23, 2013 - E & amp; R Industrial Sales Inc. The purchase price is $ 116 million, less money earned.
December 31, 2012 - Techni-tool, Inc. from Worcester, Pennsylvania. The purchase price is $ 40 million, less money earned.
April 2, 2012 - Anfreixo
August 31, 2011 - Fabory Group The purchase price is $ 346 million, less money earned.
October 14, 2010 - SafetyCertified
November 18, 2009 - Energy Solutions Alliance
October 13, 2009 - Empire Supplies

W.W. Grainger Build-to-Suit | LEED-Gold Industrial Facility

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Awards and honor

Grainger was named by Fortune magazine as one of the top 100 companies working in 2013, citing a generous corporate profit sharing plan, where employees with five years of service have 20% of their pay added to the plan their retirement.