Global Industrial

What Global Industrial does

Global Industrial is a B2B industrial and commercial supplies distributor operating across North America (US and Canada), offering hundreds of thousands of SKUs across more than 20 product categories that include storage & shelving, safety & security, material handling, HVAC & fans, janitorial & facility maintenance, packaging & shipping, foodservice, and lighting & electrical. The company serves a diverse customer base spanning warehouses, manufacturing, construction, retail, education, public sector, healthcare, hospitality, and foodservice end-markets, ranging from SMBs to large enterprise accounts. Headquartered in Port Washington, NY and operating for over 75 years, Global Industrial generates revenue through a multi-channel model that combines its own e-commerce storefront (GlobalIndustrial.com), printed catalog, inside phone sales, and an outside sales force realigned by industry vertical, with the company's own branding positioning it as a customer-centric specialist in MRO consumables and facility supplies.

The business model is anchored in a lower-capital, centralized, digitally-enabled distribution architecture that the company argues supports operational efficiency relative to larger peers such as Grainger and Fastenal. The product mix is increasingly weighted toward private-label offerings (including a newly expanded Cat-licensed material handling line), and recurring revenue is supported by the Restock Station auto-reorder subscription program offering a 15% discount on essential supplies. Strategic accounts, sales-force verticalization, and digital channel investment are the principal levers for growth, with FY2025 sales of $1.38 billion (+4.8% YoY) generated on a 35.5% gross margin and 20.7% ROIC, producing $74.7M in free cash flow and an 11th consecutive year of dividend increases.

Name

Global Industrial

Legal name

Global Equipment Company Inc.

Website

https://globalindustrial.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Global Industrial is a publicly-traded (NYSE: GIC) B2B industrial and commercial supplies distributor serving North American businesses via e-commerce, catalog, and outside sales across 20+ product categories including material handling, storage, safety, and janitorial supplies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Metals, Plastics & Fabrication Materials Marketplaces (CRAFAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Fulfillment, Forwarding & Consolidation Services (CRAFAJAE), Automotive, Tools & Industrial Supplies (B2B) (CRAEAEAH)

Keywords

• Industrial equipment distribution
• Material handling supplies
• Warehouse storage shelving
• Facility maintenance supplies
• Safety security products

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Equipment and Supplies Sales: B2B industrial distribution of hundreds of thousands of industrial-strength products including material handling, storage & shelving, safety & security, janitorial & facility maintenance, and HVAC & fans. Revenue generated through direct product sales via e-commerce, catalog, and outside sales.
2. Private Label Products: Strategic shift to private-label products supporting margin expansion and differentiation in the industrial distribution market.
3. Strategic Accounts: Growth among largest strategic accounts driving better-than-expected Q2 results with revenue of $358.9 million and 3.2% YoY growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Global Industrial is a B2B industrial and commercial supplies distributor offering hundreds of thousands of products across categories such as storage and shelving, safety and security, material handling, HVAC and fans, janitorial and facility maintenance, workbenches, tools, plumbing, packaging, and foodservice. The company sells its own Global Industrial-branded and licensed lines (including Cat material handling) through a multi-channel model spanning an e-commerce storefront at GlobalIndustrial.com, a printed catalog, an outside sales force, and phone sales, serving businesses and public-sector buyers across North America.

Product overview

Global Industrial is a B2B industrial equipment and supplies e-commerce platform offering over 20 distinct product categories spanning Storage & Shelving, Safety & Security, Material Handling, HVAC & Fans, Janitorial & Facility Maintenance, and more. The company operates as a single unified e-commerce platform with physical products sold through multiple channels including website, catalog, and outside sales. The portfolio includes both proprietary Global Industrial branded products and licensed lines such as Cat Material Handling Solutions. Recent new product launches include the Auto Ride-On Floor Sweeper Scrubber combining sweeper and scrubber functionality, and expanded Cat-branded material handling equipment including lift tables and pallet positioners. The platform serves diverse industries including warehouse, manufacturing, construction, retail, education, public sector, healthcare, and hospitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Storage & Shelving

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 2026 sales increased 9.2% to $350.4 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Caterpillar (Cat)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 7 April 2026Global Industrial expanded its licensing agreement with Caterpillar through the launch of a new Cat material handling product line featuring heavy-duty lift tables, pallet positioners, and mobile scissor lift tables. The partnership began in 2021 when Global Industrial first started offering Cat-licensed cleaning equipment. New products incorporate Caterpillar's signature yellow finishes and are backed by a five-year warranty.
• PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 February 2026Multi-year partnership making Global Industrial the official industrial supplies partner of the PWHL. This is the company's first sponsorship agreement with a sports league. Staff maintaining ice surfaces at five of the PWHL's eight franchises will be branded as the 'Global Industrial Ice Crew' and receive Global Industrial-branded products including ice shovels, waste bins, and carts. Partnership facilitated through Oak View Group's sponsorship sales agreement.
• Oak View GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 February 2026Sponsorship sales partner for PWHL facilitating Global Industrial's partnership with the Professional Women's Hockey League.
• Indoff Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Acquired for approximately $69.2 million in cash funded from the company's credit facility and cash on hand. Indoff operates as a subsidiary under its current brand and leadership. The acquisition aims to expand Global Industrial's sales reach through Indoff's network of over 350 sales partners.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Zoro Tools: E-commerce-focused industrial supplies retailer owned by W.W. Grainger serving SMB and individual business buyers. Comparable to Global Industrial's digital-first customer acquisition motion and product breadth, though operating as a pure-play online channel.

Direct peers

• Fastenal Company: Industrial supply distributor specializing in fasteners, safety products, and MRO supplies with deep presence in onsite vending and FMI (Fastenal Managed Inventory). Direct competitor to Global Industrial in MRO supplies with a differentiated branch-based service model.
• DXP Enterprises: Industrial distributor focused on rotating equipment, bearing, power transmission, and MRO products. Comparable to Global Industrial in B2B industrial distribution with overlapping product categories and similar customer verticals including manufacturing and MRO.
• Kaman Distribution Group: Industrial distributor specializing in bearings, power transmission, electrical, and fluid power products. Comparable to Global Industrial as a value-added B2B industrial distributor with technical product expertise and similar customer base.
• MSC Industrial Direct: Direct marketing and distributor of metalworking and MRO products to industrial customers across North America. Comparable to Global Industrial in B2B industrial distribution with strong e-commerce, catalog, and field sales presence.
• W.W. Grainger: Largest broad-line industrial distributor in North America with extensive product catalog, KeepStock inventory management, and digital platform. Direct competitor to Global Industrial across virtually every product category and customer segment, serving as the primary benchmark for valuation multiples.
• HD Supply Holdings (now White Cap): Industrial distribution focused on construction, infrastructure, and maintenance/repair customers. Comparable to Global Industrial in serving construction and infrastructure end-markets with overlapping product categories in safety, material handling, and supplies.
• McMaster-Carr: Privately held industrial supplier offering more than 555,000 products via e-commerce and catalog with same-day shipping. Comparable to Global Industrial in broad-line industrial supplies distribution, particularly through its catalog-and-web-driven model.
• Applied Industrial Technologies: Distributor of bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and industrial MRO products across North America. Comparable to Global Industrial as a multi-channel B2B industrial distributor with field sales and digital channels serving similar customer verticals.

Broad incumbents

• WESCO International: Global provider of electrical, communications, and utility distribution solutions with broader industrial MRO exposure. Adjacent comparable to Global Industrial given overlap in MRO supplies and B2B distribution, though with greater scale and broader category mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Global_Indust
• Facebookfacebook.com/globalindustrial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Industrial