Do it Best Corp.

What Do it Best Corp. does

Do it Best Corp. is a member-owned cooperative headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded in 1945, that supplies independent home improvement retailers across the United States and more than 50 international markets. The company distributes hardware, lumber and building materials, and industrial/MRO supplies through four membership verticals — Hardware, LBM (Lumber and Building Materials), INCOM (industrial/commercial), and International — complemented by consumer e-commerce at DoitBest.com and the INCOM Supply B2B ordering platform. With roughly 1,001–5,000 employees and a member network that is expected to exceed 8,000 locations following the announced True Value asset acquisition, the cooperative functions as a wholesale distribution and buying alliance rather than a consumer-facing retailer.

The business model is subscription/cooperative in nature: independent retailers pay membership fees and purchase products at wholesale through the cooperative, which aggregates demand across thousands of members to negotiate supplier terms, maintain comprehensive product catalogs, and operate distribution logistics. Revenue is generated through recurring membership relationships and wholesale product sales, with pricing not publicly disclosed. In 2024, Do it Best completed a merger with United Hardware (closed April 5, 2024, combining roughly 700+ stores and nearly $5 billion in annual sales) and announced a bid to acquire substantially all assets of True Value Company out of Chapter 11, positioning the cooperative as one of the largest in the home improvement industry. A long-term strategic partnership with The Sherwin-Williams Company further deepens the paint category for member stores. The company is private, has no public ticker, and reports no external funding rounds, consistent with member-owned cooperative governance.

Name

Do it Best Corp.

Legal name

Do it Best Corp.

Website

https://doitbestcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Do it Best Corp. is a member-owned hardware and building materials cooperative founded in 1945 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that supplies independent home improvement retailers across the US and 50+ countries through wholesale distribution and recurring membership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hardware Distribution

NAICS

Other Building Material Dealers (44418), Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers (42331)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware (5072), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Improvement & DIY (Tools, Hardware, Paint) Distribution (CRAOAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction, Hardware & MRO Supply Clubs (Trades/Contractors) (CRAEAEAG)

Keywords

• Hardware distribution
• Building materials supply
• Cooperative buying group
• Lumber dealer services
• MRO industrial supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cooperative Membership Revenue: Do it Best operates as a member-owned cooperative. Independent retailers pay membership fees to access the cooperative's buying power, product catalog, and distribution network. Revenue is generated through product sales to member stores at wholesale prices with cooperative margins.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Do it Best is a member-owned hardware and building materials cooperative that supplies independent home improvement retailers with collective buying power, comprehensive product catalogs, and distribution services across hardware, lumber and building materials, industrial/MRO supplies, and international markets. Member retailers access these offerings through four membership programs (Hardware, LBM, INCOM, and International) supported by e-commerce platforms DoitBest.com and INCOM Supply.

Product overview

Do it Best is a hardware and building materials cooperative offering a multi-platform portfolio of membership programs. The core offerings include Hardware Membership (comprehensive hardware products), LBM Membership (lumber and building materials solutions), INCOM Membership (industrial/commercial MRO supplies), and International Membership (serving stores in 50+ countries). These are complemented by e-commerce platforms including DoitBest.com for consumer shopping and INCOM Supply for commercial/industrial ordering. The company operates as a member-owned cooperative supporting independent home improvement retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INCOM Supply: Industrial/commercial distributor supplying MRO needs to the marketplace

Products and services

• Hardware Membership Cooperative membership program that gives independent home improvement retailers access to Do it Best's most complete hardware product catalog and wholesale distribution services. Designed for owners and operators of independent hardware and home improvement stores competing against national chains.
• LBM Membership (Lumber and Building Materials) Cooperative membership program that delivers total-solution lumber and building materials supply to independent lumber dealers and building materials retailers. Includes access to a comprehensive LBM catalog and supply chain support unavailable to standalone dealers.
• INCOM Membership Cooperative membership program that supplies industrial and commercial distributors with MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) products through the INCOM distribution network. Designed for commercial/industrial distributors serving MRO end-markets.
• International Membership Cooperative membership program that extends Do it Best's product catalog and distribution services to affiliated independent retailers and stores in more than 50 countries, supporting global product access and international distribution.
• DoitBest.com Consumer-facing e-commerce shopping platform that allows customers to browse and purchase Do it Best hardware, tools, and home improvement products online. Operated as the cooperative's direct-to-consumer online storefront.
• INCOM Supply Commercial and industrial supply ordering platform operating under the INCOM Supply sub-brand, serving MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) distribution needs for industrial and commercial customers.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• True ValueflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2024Do it Best announced a bid to acquire substantially all assets from True Value, a Chicago-based wholesaler filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The acquisition aims to create a global store network exceeding 8,000 locations in the US and over 50 countries, expanding Do it Best's market presence and member support. Transaction expected to close by year-end pending regulatory and court approval.
• United HardwareflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2024United Hardware and Do it Best completed an approved merger, with shareholders approving the deal on April 5, 2024. The merger strengthens support for independent home improvement retailers by enhancing efficiency, increasing buying power, and supporting store growth while maintaining existing store identities.
• Sherwin-WilliamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDo it Best Group and The Sherwin-Williams Company entered into a long-term strategic partnership designed to strengthen the future of paint for independent retailers. This partnership aims to enhance the paint category offering for Do it Best member stores.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Fastenal Company: Fastenal is a leading industrial and construction supply distributor with a deep U.S. branch network, comparable to Do it Best's INCOM commercial/industrial distributor program in the MRO and contractor supply space.
• Grainger: Grainger is the largest U.S. industrial MRO distributor, directly comparable to Do it Best's INCOM membership vertical. Comparable as an adjacent/emerging competitor for industrial and commercial MRO supply contracts.

Direct peers

• United Hardware Distributing Company: United Hardware was a Midwest-based hardware cooperative that merged with Do it Best in April 2024. It is a directly comparable former cooperative peer with similar member-owned distribution model serving independent hardware retailers.
• Ace Hardware: Ace Hardware is the largest U.S. hardware retailer cooperative, operating as a member-owned wholesale distributor serving independent hardware retailers with similar buying power, store-brand support, and category coverage as Do it Best. Direct competitor for member recruitment and vendor relationships.
• True Value Company: True Value is a hardware cooperative that Do it Best is actively acquiring out of Chapter 11. It operates the same member-owned wholesale model serving independent hardware retailers, making it the most directly comparable cooperative peer prior to the merger.
• Orgill: Orgill is one of the largest independent hardware distributors in North America, supplying hardware, lumber, and building materials to thousands of independent retailers. It competes with Do it Best on vendor terms, assortment, and member/store recruitment.
• House-Hasson Hardware: House-Hasson is a regional hardware wholesaler serving independent retailers across the Southeast U.S. It is directly comparable as a competing distributor channel for independent hardware stores not affiliated with a cooperative.

Broad incumbents

• The Home Depot: The Home Depot is the largest U.S. home improvement retailer and the dominant competitive force that Do it Best's independent members must compete against. Comparable as a broad incumbent shaping consumer expectations on assortment and price.
• Lowe's Companies: Lowe's is the second-largest U.S. home improvement retailer, competing directly with the same DIY and pro contractor customers that Do it Best's member stores serve. A broad incumbent in the same overall category.
• Menard Inc. Menards is a large privately held home improvement chain concentrated in the Midwest, overlapping with Do it Best's Fort Wayne base. It is a broad incumbent competitor shaping the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/doitbestcorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/doitbest
• Facebookfacebook.com/doitbestcorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/do-it-best-corp.
• Instagraminstagram.com/doitbestcorp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Do it Best Corp.