W. W. Grainger

About W.W. Grainger

Few names carry as much weight in the world of industrial supply as W.W. Grainger. Founded in 1927 by William Wallace Grainger — a motor designer, salesman, and electrical engineer — the company began as a wholesale electric motor distributor operating out of Chicago, Illinois. What started as a mail-order catalog for motors and electrical equipment has grown into one of North America's most recognized broad-line distributors of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies.

Today, W.W. Grainger is a broad-line distributor of MRO supplies headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, serving more than 4.5 million customers across commercial, manufacturing, healthcare, and public sector markets. The company's reach spans hundreds of branch locations, a robust digital presence, and an extensive distribution network that puts critical supplies in customers' hands when they need them most.

A Legacy Built on Reliability

William Wallace Grainger founded the business in 1927 as a wholesale electric motor distributor. Over the following decades, the company steadily broadened its catalog and geographic footprint. Over the course of the 20th century, the firm expanded into new industrial product categories and launched its first digital catalog in 1995. That spirit of constant evolution continues today through Grainger's investment in e-commerce, inventory management technology, and customer-facing digital tools.

Grainger listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1967 under the ticker GWW and has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years as of 2024 — a testament to the financial discipline and consistent demand that has defined the company across nearly a century of operation.

What Grainger Offers

The company serves more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with offerings such as motors, lighting, material handling, fasteners, plumbing, tools, and safety supplies, along with inventory management services and technical support. Across facilities, job sites, and workshops, Grainger's catalog covers virtually every operational need:

• Safety & PPE: From gloves and hard hats to fall protection and respiratory equipment, Grainger's safety category is one of its most trusted — built to help facilities maintain OSHA compliance and protect workers.
• HVAC & Facilities: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning supplies for facilities of all sizes, ranging from filters and belts to motors and control components.
• Electrical Supplies: Switches, conduit, wire, and related components for maintenance electricians and facility managers.
• Tools & Power Tools: Professional-grade hand tools and power tools suitable for industrial and commercial environments.
• Material Handling: Carts, conveyors, hoists, and storage equipment that keep operations moving efficiently.
• Lighting: Industrial and commercial lighting solutions for warehouses, factories, and outdoor worksites.
• MRO Consumables: Abrasives, adhesives, sealants, fasteners, pumps, valves, and more — the everyday supplies that keep machinery and facilities running.

How Grainger Serves Customers

Today Grainger operates through two segments: High-Touch Solutions, which serves larger customers with account support and inventory management, and Endless Assortment, which runs the Zoro.com and MonotaRO.com online platforms. This dual approach means that whether you're a large manufacturer with complex procurement needs or a small business shopping online for a single part, Grainger has a channel designed for you.

Grainger serves its customers through a network of approximately 331 branches, online channels such as Grainger.com, KeepStock and eProcurement, and 34 distribution facilities. The KeepStock inventory management program is particularly valuable for high-volume operations, automating replenishment so teams never run short on critical supplies.

For professionals who depend on having the right part at the right moment, W.W. Grainger represents nearly a century of operational know-how packed into one of the most comprehensive industrial catalogs ever assembled.