John Kaul, Vice-President & General Manager, Western Canada, Acklands-Grainger, speaks about the company's KeepStock inventory management system and how to understand a manufacturing facility's needs.

Acklands-Grainger Inc., a Canadian distributor of industrial, safety and fastener products, has launched new and improved features to its website designed to help customers navigate to products and solutions more quickly and efficiently.
 
"Customers tell us they need a partner to help them increase productivity and profitability," said Mike Duggan, eCommerce director at Acklands-Grainger. "These enhancements make it easy for customers to find the products they need and consolidate their purchases on acklandsgrainger.com, increasing efficiency and helping to improve their bottom line.”

Specific features include:

• Improved ordering functionality: A customer utility toolbar was added to streamline how customers order through the website. This feature provides access to order history, personalizes order lists, details for products selected for purchase, and the ability to view locations for pick up convenience.
• Enhanced search: With product search generating 75 percent of website traffic, the goal was to make the search experience as seamless as possible. The product tab now includes 200+ subcategories to help customers narrow their search faster right from the home page. In addition, the company added a new product detail page that includes enhanced images and product specific information to help customers make more informed buying decisions.

“We continue to benchmark ourselves against world class industries to make sure we are delivering the best possible online experience,” Duggan said. “These enhancements are a foundational step in our ongoing commitment to evolve as the needs of our customers change.”
www.acklandsgrainger.com

Grainger Inc. has announced the opening of new distribution centres in Saskatoon and south of the border in Patterson, Calif. These investments in the company’s logistics network enable Grainger to put more products closer to its customers.

Acklands-Grainger Inc., a Canadian distributor of industrial, safety and fastener products, celebrated the grand opening of its new 122,000 square-foot facility in Saskatoon. The facility, which employs 90 team members, includes a 102,000 square-foot warehouse along with a branch showroom and regional support center to service its expanding product lines and customer base. Acklands-Grainger has served businesses in Saskatchewan for more than 70 years.

“Grainger is dedicated to providing customers the right products, at the right time and in the right place,” said D.G. Macpherson, senior vice-preisdent and president of Global Supply Chain and Corporate Strategy. “We’re continuing to invest in our distribution network so we can provide our customers quick, easy access to the products they need to keep their facilities running efficiently and their employees safe on the job.”

In total, Grainger’s supply chain network includes 28 distribution centers around the world. The company’s new Patterson, Calif., centre, located southeast of San Francisco, will stock up to 350,000 industrial products and provide next-day service to Grainger’s West Coast customers. The 820,000 square-foot LEED Gold certified building is designed for sustainable energy use and limited environmental impact. It employs about 200 team members.
www.acklandsgrainger.com

O.W. Eric Nowlin has been named to the position of president of Acklands-Grainger Inc., Grainger's Canadian subsidiary with 2011 revenues of Cdn$982 million. In this role, Nowlin will oversee the growth and performance of Acklands–Grainger and will report directly to Mike Pulick, senior vice-president and president of Grainger International.

"Eric brings an impressive track record of delivering results and developing talent that will benefit the Acklands–Grainger team and our customers," Pulick said. "The business is performing very well and I'm confident Eric will help Acklands–Grainger advance its goal of helping businesses be more efficient and keeping employees safe on the job."

Nowlin joined Grainger's U.S. business in 2006 as a regional branch services vice-president. He was later named vice-president of business development and most recently served as vice-president of customer service, where he led Grainger's multi-channel customer service network in the U.S. comprising 5,800 team members, 370 U.S. branches, eCommerce, phone centres, KeepStock customer engagements and Grainger's service offerings. As part of his new role, Nowlin will relocate to the Greater Toronto Area.

"Acklands–Grainger has a proud, 124-year history of serving Canadian businesses and I'm thrilled and humbled to be joining this team," said Nowlin.  "I look forward to building on our momentum in Canada and leveraging our scale in industrial, safety and fastener products to advance our lead in the MRO market and help businesses from coast to coast get the products they need while saving time and money."
www.acklandsgrainger.com

Acklands-Grainger Inc., Canada's largest distributor of industrial, safety and fastener supplies, has acquired the assets of Baie-Comeau industrial distributor Fercomat Inc., effective this month. Acklands-Grainger expects an incremental sales contribution of approximately $3 million from this acquisition over the next 12 months. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Fercomat has a strong track record of service and by working together, we will leverage our combined expertise to offer local customers — such as mining, hydroelectricity and aluminum industries — access to the broad array of products and services they need to help keep their facilities running and their employees safe," said Sean O'Brien, president of Acklands-Grainger. "We're committed to serving the needs of Quebec businesses and this acquisition helps ensure we're in the best position to do so."

"Fercomat has worked hard since 1957 to provide businesses and institutions in Quebec with quality products and strong technical expertise," said Pierre Dassylva, president of Fercomat. "We are thrilled to be joining Canada's leading industrial, safety and fastener distributor and know our customers will benefit from Acklands-Grainger's broad product offering, industry-leading supply chain and commitment to service."

Acklands-Grainger has served Quebec for more than 74 years through 14 branch locations, an award-winning French website and a French catalogue with more than 120,000 products. The acquisition of Fercomat is the company's third in Quebec in the past three years, continuing a focused investment strategy and strong commitment to the province.
www.acklandsgrainger.com