Grainger history

William W. Grainger, an engineering graduate from the University of Illinois, started an electric motor wholesaling business on West Cermak Avenue in Chicago in 1927.

In 1929 he borrowed $6,000 from his wife to found the company that he named for himself, and it has never had a losing year.

Sales in 1932 fell below the previous year's, to $163,000--the first of only four years where sales would not increase.

Grainger established its first branch in Philadelphia in 1933.

Atlanta, Dallas, and San Francisco branches opened in 1934.

By 1936, Grainger had established 15 branches to improve customer service.

By 1937, when annual sales hit $1 million, the company had sales offices around the country.

In order to stimulate summer business, a line of air circulators and ventilating fans was designed, assembled, and offered for sale by the company in 1938.

The complexity of the industry allowed Grainger to decentralize marketing efforts and strengthen its regional presence by adding an outside sales force in 1939, but the company limited it to one sales representative for every branch for the first ten years.

Branches opened around the country at a brisk pace, with 24 operating by 1942.

A single sales representative could no longer serve an entire branch, and in 1948 Grainger expanded the sales force for the first time.

The postwar transition also required renewed efficiency, and in 1949 Grainger had a branch office built to its own specifications for the first time.

David joined the company in 1952 and became a director of it the next year.

1953: The company creates a regional warehousing system that replenishes branch stock and fills larger orders.

In 1962 sales were $43.5 million.

In 1966 sales nearly doubled to $80.2 million.