Hardware

Orchard Supply Hardware Corporate Office

Orchard Supply Hardware, often referred to as OSH, is a chain of home improvement, gardening, and hardware stores in the US. Founded in 1931 as Orchard Supply Farmers Co-Op, the company originally was made up of a group of 30 fruit tree farmers who put up $30 to purchase much-needed supplies during the Great Depression.

Today, Orchard Supply Hardware is a subsidiary of Lowe’s, and has more than 91 locations in the US, along with approximately 5,400 full-time employees.

The company has launched a new program called OSHbots, which are robot employees. These moving robots have LCD screens, 3D cameras, and speak both English and Spanish. The OSHbots can identify items brought in by customers and take them to where replacement items are or customers can research more products or similar products directly on the robot itself. This is a pilot program originally introduced in Lowe’s stores in 2014.

Parent company Lowe’s closed out all Orchard Hardware Supply stores at the end of 2018.

TigerDirect Corporate Office

TigerDirect was founded in 1987 and has headquarters in El Segundo, California. Originally founded as Tiger Software, it was a direct subsidiary of BLOC Development. The company began publishing software and tools known as “FormTool”. BLOC Development changed its name to TigerDirect. The company was eventually purchased by Systemax and changed its format from software tools to the refurbishing of computers and other electronics, then reselling them via catalog or online sales.

Systemax acquired CompUSA stores and Circuit City stores in 2008/2009. All products were rebranded to the TigerDirect name. All brick-and-mortar stores were closed as of January 2015 and TigerDirect once again became an online store only.

TigerDirect sells desktop computers, laptops, tablets, software, hardware, computer components, and other types of electronic and office equipment.

In January 2023, TigerDirect became the first major internet retailer to accept Bitcoin.

TigerDirect maintains a corporate office in El Segundo, California.

True Value Corporate Office

True Value hardware stores got its start in 1948 when John Cotter and 12 other stores began a cooperative under the name Cotter & Company. Over the years, acquisitions and sales were made, including American Hardware & Supply, Coast to Coast Corporation, and Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Company.

Today, True Value is still a cooperative of hardware stores and has more than 5,000 participating members. The company focuses on home improvement products, tools, and general hardware items such as screws, nails, lumber, and locks. This co-op supports its vast network of retailers through 12 regional warehouses and more than 3,000 associates.

The company also uses other names as a part of their co-op including Party Central, Grand Rental Station, Taylor Rental, Induserve Supply, and their largest, Home and Garden Showplace.

Bi-Mart Corporate Office

Bi-Mart was founded in Yakima, Washington, in 1955. The company is an employee owned chain of department stores across the north west U.S. Bi-Mart has changed hands several times over the years with Pay ‘N Save buying the company in 1976, Thrifty Corporation in 1984, PayLess Drugs in 1990, and Rite Aid in 1996. Endeavour Capital purchased the company in 1997 and sold it to employees in 2004 for $94 million.

Bi-Mart stores are quite diversified in their product line. A typical store offers a pharmacy, power tools, sporting goods, canned and packaged foods, clothing, shoes, housewares, small appliances, and personal care products.

Today, the company has 75 locations in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Like Costco and Sams, Bi-Mart is a membership store, however, unlike the former, Bi-Mart membership fees are a mere $5 per family and there are no annual renewal fees.

Ace Hardware Corporate Office

Ace Hardware was founded in 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. The company was named after the ace fighter pilots in World War I. The company incorporated in 1927 and by 1949, had expanded to hundreds of locations. After the last founding partner retired in 1973, the company was sold to its retailers, making it one of the largest cooperatives of its time. Since Ace Hardware stores are not a franchise, every store looks a bit different.

Today, Ace Hardware has 4,700 stores and has moved their headquarters to Oak Brook, Illinois. The company sells the usual hardware, paint, and home repair items including hand tools, key duplication, and tool blade sharpening. Ace Hardware had $4.7 billion in sales in 2014 and ranked #1 for the 9th consecutive year in customer satisfaction on the J.D. Powers Index.