Northern Tool + Equipment (commonly referred to as Northern Tool) is a manufacturer and retailer of light industrial equipment and do-it-yourself supplies. Founded in 1981 as Northern Hydraulics, the company was officially renamed to Northern Tool + Equipment and is the owner of several private label brands including NorthStar, Powerhorse, Klutch, Strongway, Ultra-Tow, Roughneck, Gravel Gear, Bannon and Ironton which make up a portion of its product line. The company purchased The Golf Warehouse and The Sportsman's Guide in 2012 and sold both in August 2021.
Northern Tool was founded by Don Kotula when he began selling log splitters out of his garage.[1] He originally worked in heavy equipment sales at Ziegler, but left when the business began slumping during the 1981-82 recession. In addition to log splitters, Kotula sold cylinders, valves, and hydraulics with his family members assisting in the sales and order fulfillment.[1] The company's first brick and mortar store was opened in Burnsville, Minnesota in 1981.[2] The company also mailed its first catalog in 1981. The company launched its website, northerntool.com in 1999.
Northern Tool began its own manufacturing business in 1991 with the launch of its NorthStar brand. Northern manufactures tools such as log splitters, generators, pressure washers, sprayers, pumps, and air compressors.[1] Northern Tool operates (2) manufacturing facilities along with (4) distribution centers. Northern Tool + Equipment's private (9) private label brands make up 40 percent of sales. The company launched a website and mail order catalogue in 2008 called Kotula's, named after the founder.[3]
Subsidiariesedit
Northern Tool purchased both The Golf Warehouse and The Sportsman's Guide from Redcats in 2012. The operation of both companies were combined, but operated as standalone online retailers.[4] Both subsidiaries were sold to BHG Ventures in 2021.[5]
Northern Tool was the sponsor of the NorthernTool.com 250, a NASCAR series race held at the Milwaukee Mile. The race was held in both 1984 and 1985, but then discontinued until 1993 when it resumed through the 2009 season.
Referencesedit
^ abcSt. Anthony, Neal (19 December 2017). "Privately held Northern Tool, with $1 billion in sales, opens 100th store". Star Tribune. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
^Renalls, Candace (30 January 2012). "Iron Range native with junkyard roots built business into national chain". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
^Vomhof J.r, John (14 December 2008). "Northern Tool and Equipment launches quirky Kotula's brand". Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
^Vomhof Jr., John (8 November 2012). "Northern Tool buys two sporting-goods retailers for $215M". Minneaapolis St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
^Crosby, Jackie (August 27, 202). "South St. Paul-based Sportsman's Guide sold to Michigan investment firm". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
External linksedit
Northern Tool website
April 05, 2024
northern, tool, equipment, commonly, referred, manufacturer, retailer, light, industrial, equipment, yourself, supplies, founded, 1981, northern, hydraulics, company, officially, renamed, equipment, owner, several, private, label, brands, including, northstar,. Northern Tool Equipment commonly referred to as Northern Tool is a manufacturer and retailer of light industrial equipment and do it yourself supplies Founded in 1981 as Northern Hydraulics the company was officially renamed to Northern Tool Equipment and is the owner of several private label brands including NorthStar Powerhorse Klutch Strongway Ultra Tow Roughneck Gravel Gear Bannon and Ironton which make up a portion of its product line The company purchased The Golf Warehouse and The Sportsman s Guide in 2012 and sold both in August 2021 Northern ToolFormerlyNorthern Hydraulics 1981 1998 Company typePrivateIndustryIndustrial tools retail and manufacturingFounded1981FounderDon KotulaHeadquartersBurnsville MinnesotaNumber of locations130 stores 2022 Key peopleCEO Suresh KrishnaBrandsNorthStar Powerhorse Klutch Strongway Roughneck Bannon Ironton Ultra Tow Gravel GearNumber of employees2 500 2022 SubsidiariesJack s Small EnginesWebsitewww wbr northerntool wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Subsidiaries 3 Sponsorship 4 References 5 External linksHistory editNorthern Tool was founded by Don Kotula when he began selling log splitters out of his garage 1 He originally worked in heavy equipment sales at Ziegler but left when the business began slumping during the 1981 82 recession In addition to log splitters Kotula sold cylinders valves and hydraulics with his family members assisting in the sales and order fulfillment 1 The company s first brick and mortar store was opened in Burnsville Minnesota in 1981 2 The company also mailed its first catalog in 1981 The company launched its website northerntool com in 1999 Northern Tool began its own manufacturing business in 1991 with the launch of its NorthStar brand Northern manufactures tools such as log splitters generators pressure washers sprayers pumps and air compressors 1 Northern Tool operates 2 manufacturing facilities along with 4 distribution centers Northern Tool Equipment s private 9 private label brands make up 40 percent of sales The company launched a website and mail order catalogue in 2008 called Kotula s named after the founder 3 Subsidiaries editNorthern Tool purchased both The Golf Warehouse and The Sportsman s Guide from Redcats in 2012 The operation of both companies were combined but operated as standalone online retailers 4 Both subsidiaries were sold to BHG Ventures in 2021 5 Sponsorship editMain article NorthernTool com 250 Northern Tool was the sponsor of the NorthernTool com 250 a NASCAR series race held at the Milwaukee Mile The race was held in both 1984 and 1985 but then discontinued until 1993 when it resumed through the 2009 season References edit a b c St Anthony Neal 19 December 2017 Privately held Northern Tool with 1 billion in sales opens 100th store Star Tribune Retrieved 4 October 2018 Renalls Candace 30 January 2012 Iron Range native with junkyard roots built business into national chain Duluth News Tribune Retrieved 4 October 2018 Vomhof J r John 14 December 2008 Northern Tool and Equipment launches quirky Kotula s brand Minneapolis St Paul Business Journal Retrieved 4 October 2018 Vomhof Jr John 8 November 2012 Northern Tool buys two sporting goods retailers for 215M Minneaapolis St Paul Business Journal Retrieved 4 October 2018 Crosby Jackie August 27 202 South St Paul based Sportsman s Guide sold to Michigan investment firm Star Tribune Retrieved 2 October 2022 External links editNorthern Tool website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Northern Tool amp oldid 1207662622, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
