W.W. Grainger, Inc.

You know what's fascinating about Grainger? Most people have never heard of them, yet they're basically the Amazon of industrial supplies-except they've been doing it since 1927. W. W. Grainger, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 industrial supply company founded in 1927 in Chicago by William W. (Bill) Grainger. He founded the company to provide consumers with access to a consistent supply of motors.

But here's where it gets interesting. The company now 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. Think about that for a second-4.5 million customers. That's more than the population of most states.

Known for its commitment to service and award winning culture, the Company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models. Seventeen billion. That's not pocket change, and it shows just how massive the B2B industrial supply market really is.

What really sets them apart is their approach. Revenue is generally from business-to-business sales rather than retail sales. So while you might not shop there personally, chances are the hospital where you get treated, the school your kids attend, or the office where you work all rely on Grainger to keep their operations running smoothly.

And they've been surprisingly ahead of the digital curve. In 1995 the grainger.com website was launched with an electronic catalog, later evolving to an eCommerce platform. In 2019, more than 70 percent of Grainger orders in the U.S. originated via a digital channel (including Grainger.com, inventory management systems, and eProcurement) and more than 85 percent of orders were shipped directly to the customer or made immediately available through onsite services.

Their motto says it all: "for the ones who get it done". It's simple, but it captures exactly who they serve-the maintenance crews, facility managers, and operations teams who keep the world running behind the scenes.