W. W. Grainger, Inc. is an American Fortune 500[5] industrial supply company founded in 1927 in Chicago by the company's namesake William W. (Bill) Grainger. He founded the company to provide consumers with access to a consistent supply of motors.[6] The company now serves more than 4.5 million customers worldwide[4] with offerings such as motors, lighting, material handling, fasteners, plumbing, tools, and safety supplies, along with inventory management services and technical support. Revenue is generally from business-to-business sales rather than retail sales. Grainger serves its customers through a network of approximately 331 branches, online channels (such as Grainger.com, KeepStock and eProcurement), and 34 distribution facilities.[7] Their motto is "for the ones who get it done".
History
The company was founded as a supplier for businesses by William Wallace Grainger (1895 - 1982) in 1927 in