EXPRESS COMPANIES
Express Companies, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned safety products manufacturer and distributor founded in 1993, manufacturing and distributing first-aid kits, CPR/AED supplies, survival gear, and hygiene products across multiple sub-brands while delivering OSHA compliance programs and CPR/safety training to Fortune 500 enterprises, government agencies, healthcare, schools, and consumers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersOceanside, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What EXPRESS COMPANIES does
Express Companies, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned safety products and services group headquartered in Oceanside, California, operating since 1993. The company manufactures and distributes first-aid kits, CPR and AED supplies, emergency preparedness kits, hygiene and sanitization products, and pediatric wellness items through 14+ wholly owned sub-brands, including American CPR Training®, First Aid Product, First Aid Store, First Aid Mart, Guardian Survival Gear®, Quake Kits®, Wholesale Survival Kits®, HygieniSafe®, Me4Kidz®, Urgent First Aid®, and AEDGrant.com, with Sepiida™ in development. Its technology stack centers on multi-site ecommerce storefronts (100+ safety-related domains), a custom kitting, assembly, and distribution hub at the Oceanside facility, the proprietary SmartCompliance™ First Aid Cabinet with the SmartTab ezRefill System, and web-based training delivery via the American CPR Training® platform with 2,000+ instructors across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Express monetizes through five primary streams: (1) wholesale-direct and DTC product sales across its ecommerce portfolio, (2) recurring compliance revenue via the SmartCompliance™ registration and monitoring program backed by an OSHA-compliance guarantee, (3) live CPR/First Aid/AED training delivered through its instructor network and American Heart Association / Red Cross certifications, (4) custom kitting, assembly, and fulfillment services for Big Box retailers, subscription houses, and private-label customers, and (5) EHS consulting and on-site inspection services. Distribution is anchored by Master Distributor relationships with First Aid Only, Genuine First Aid, Prestan, CPR Prompt, Practi-Man, and Me4Kidz, alongside a network of sub-distributors and affiliate partners.
The customer base is horizontally segmented and reportedly spans nearly every Fortune 500 enterprise and the majority of Inc. 5000 firms, federal and state government agencies, healthcare organizations, schools, big-box retailers, distributors and resellers, subscription businesses, and individual consumers. Notable named customers include AT&T, Chevron, Coca-Cola, Costco, Disney, ExxonMobil, FedEx, General Electric, Hilton Hotels, Honeywell, Hewlett Packard, Johnson & Johnson, and 24 Hour Fitness. The company is BBB A+ rated, holds an Inc. Magazine fastest-growing-company designation for four consecutive years, and serves as an official licensee of the National Stop the Bleed® program co-developed with FEMA, the CDC, and the Department of Defense.
EXPRESS COMPANIES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EXPRESS COMPANIES
- Legal name
- Express Companies, Inc.
- Website
- https://expresscompaniesinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Express Companies, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned safety products manufacturer and distributor founded in 1993, manufacturing and distributing first-aid kits, CPR/AED supplies, survival gear, and hygiene products across multiple sub-brands while delivering OSHA compliance programs and CPR/safety training to Fortune 500 enterprises, government agencies, healthcare, schools, and consumers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EXPRESS COMPANIES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Safety Equipment & First Aid Supplies
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Services-Educational Services (8200), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- First Aid & Wound Care (Bandages, Dressings, Antiseptics, Burn Care) (CRADAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training (BPAKAOAJ), Safety, Security & Emergency Supplies/Equipment (First Aid, AEDs, PPE, Lockdown Kits) (EDAEAIAL)
Keywords
Where EXPRESS COMPANIES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oceanside
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
EXPRESS COMPANIES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales - E-commerce: Sale of first aid supplies, CPR equipment, AEDs, survival kits, safety compliance products, and medical supplies through owned ecommerce websites (First-Aid-Product.com, First-Aid-Store.com, FirstAidMart.com, etc.) and retail locations.
- Safety Training Services: CPR, First Aid, AED, and safety training classes delivered through a network of 2,000+ instructors globally. American CPR Training offers courses at half the time, half the price with entertaining delivery.
- Custom Kitting and Fulfillment Services: Manufacturing, assembly, kitting, and fulfillment services for Big Box retailers, fulfillment agencies, subscription houses, and private labelers. Includes branded drop-ship and bulk-ship fulfillment.
- OSHA Compliance Solutions: Safety compliance programs, on-site inspection/review services, and EHS consulting and management services for organizations of all sizes.
- Distributor/Wholesale Revenue: Wholesale-direct pricing and distributor programs for businesses, resellers, and partners seeking to purchase safety products for resale.
- SmartCompliance Program: Ongoing compliance monitoring and cabinet maintenance program with registration services, regulatory updates, and product change notifications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale-Direct pricing for consumers |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
EXPRESS COMPANIES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Express Companies manufactures, distributes, and sells first aid kits and supplies, CPR/AED training equipment, emergency and survival kits, sanitization products, and children's wellness items through owned e-commerce storefronts and dealer networks. The company provides custom manufacturing, kitting, assembly, and fulfillment services to Big Box retailers, subscription houses, and private labelers, and delivers OSHA/ANSI safety compliance solutions including certified CPR/First Aid/AED training through a network of 2,000+ instructors. Its flagship SKU is the SmartCompliance First Aid Cabinet paired with the SmartTab ezRefill System, backed by an OSHA compliance guarantee.
Product overview
Express Companies, Inc. operates as a diversified portfolio of safety companies offering a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services. The company maintains multiple e-commerce sub-brands including American CPR Training® (with 2,000+ global instructors), First Aid Product, First Aid Store, First Aid Mart, Urgent First Aid®, AEDGrant.com, Guardian Survival Gear®, Quake Kits®, Wholesale Survival Kits®, HygieniSafe®, and Me4Kidz®. The core product offering centers on the SmartCompliance™ First Aid Cabinet with its patented SmartTab ezRefill System, which guarantees OSHA compliance. The portfolio spans first aid kits and supplies, CPR/AED training, emergency survival gear, sanitization products, and children's wellness items. Services include live safety training, custom compliance programs, manufacturing/kitting/fulfillment for major retailers, and supply chain sourcing for healthcare and government clients. The company operates as a master distributor for First Aid Only, Genuine First Aid, Prestan, CPR Prompt, and Practi-Man brands, while also manufacturing proprietary lines including Urgent First Aid® and HygieniSafe®.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- First Aid Only: First aid kit and cabinet manufacturer with SmartTab ezRefill System and OSHA compliance guarantee.
- Genuine First Aid
- Prestan CPR & AED Manikins
- CPR Prompt
- Practi-Man
Products and services
- SmartCompliance First Aid Cabinet OSHA-compliant first aid cabinet solution featuring the SmartTab ezRefill System that identifies reorder needs, meets ANSI Z308.1 (ISEA) standards, and is backed by an OSHA Compliance Guarantee of up to $1,000 for fines or penalties related to first aid kit non-compliance. Sold to organizations of all sizes for workplace safety compliance.
- American CPR Training Safety Training Services Live and interactive CPR, First Aid, AED, and safety training classes delivered in person and via blended delivery. Courses are led by 2,000+ instructors globally certified by the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, and are offered at half the time and half the price of typical industry classes to corporate groups, schools, healthcare workers, government agencies, and individual students.
- First Aid Product (Wholesale-Direct First Aid E-Commerce) E-commerce storefront offering wholesale-direct first aid kits and supplies, disaster preparedness, and CPR products to consumers and small businesses, including the "Why Pay Retail?" wholesale pricing program.
- First Aid Store (First Aid Only Brand E-Commerce) E-commerce platform featuring First Aid Only products, SmartCompliance OSHA-guaranteed first aid cabinets, CPR manikins, and disaster survival gear for individual, family, and small business buyers.
- First Aid Mart (Quick-Order First Aid E-Commerce) First aid, safety, and disaster supplies e-commerce platform with quick-order functionality for desktop and mobile restocking; supports affiliate sales and distributor signup.
- Urgent First Aid Manufactured Products First aid manufacturer producing proprietary "Because Accidents Happen" branded first aid and safety products for home, road, school, and travel use, distributed through Express's e-commerce, retail, and wholesale channels.
- AEDGrant.com AED Funding Platform Online platform that helps organizations identify and access funding sources for AED (Automated External Defibrillator) deployment, supporting the goal of placing AEDs in every home, business, and public place.
- Guardian Survival Gear Emergency Preparedness Kits Wholesale and direct-to-consumer provider of affordable, high-quality emergency preparedness kits for families, offices, cars, and classrooms. Operates as one of the largest wholesale survival gear providers worldwide.
- Quake Kits Survival Kits Specialized survival kit manufacturer with over 20 years of experience in the disaster preparedness industry. Has shipped millions of survival kits to over 500,000 people, focused on earthquake, disaster, and emergency response kits for consumers, schools, businesses, and emergency agencies.
- Wholesale Survival Kits Custom Branded Kits & Fulfillment Comprehensive survival kit provider offering direct-to-consumer sales, custom branded kits for businesses, and drop-ship and bulk-ship fulfillment services for retailers, subscription boxes, private labelers, and emergency preparedness resellers.
- HygieniSafe Sanitization and Hygiene Products EPA-listed antiseptics, disinfectants, sanitizers, virucidals, germicides, bactericides, and fungicides manufactured and distributed for sanitary environments in homes, workplaces, schools, and healthcare settings.
- Me4Kidz Children's First Aid & Wellness Products Children's first aid and wellness product line offering innovative, fun, and playful designs to help parents treat minor injuries and manage common children's health and wellness needs.
- Custom Manufacturing, Kitting, Assembly & Fulfillment Services Outsourced manufacturing, custom kitting, assembly, drop-ship, and bulk-ship fulfillment service for Big Box retailers, fulfillment agencies, subscription houses, and private labelers across Made-in-USA first aid, survival, hygiene, and OTC product lines. Backed by a dedicated production and assembly facility, distribution center, and support hub in Oceanside, CA.
- Sourcing & Supply Chain Services One-stop sourcing solution for CPR, First Aid, Survival, Durable and Disposable Medical, OTC Medications, Hygiene, and related products used by hospitals, government agencies, and multinational corporations seeking consolidated, reliable, and affordable supply chain resources.
- OSHA Compliance Solutions & EHS Consulting Live and interactive safety training combined with custom compliance programs and industry-specific product bundles that help organizations of all sizes maintain compliance with OSHA, ANSI, state, and federal safety regulations, including on-site inspection/review services and EHS management consulting.
Quantifiable outcome
- Quake Kits has shipped millions of survival kits to over 500,000 people over 20+ years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use EXPRESS COMPANIES
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
EXPRESS COMPANIES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EXPRESS COMPANIES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- First Aid OnlycoreExpress Companies is the Master Distributor for First Aid Only products. First Aid Only provides SmartCompliance™ first aid kits that meet OSHA and ISEA ANSI Z308.1 standards. This partnership enables the SmartCompliance program with OSHA compliance guarantees.
- Genuine First AidcoreExpress Companies is the Master Distributor for Genuine First Aid products, expanding their product portfolio and distribution capabilities.
- Prestan ProductscoreExpress Companies is the Master Distributor for Prestan CPR & AED Manikins, supporting their training division with quality training equipment.
- CPR PromptcoreExpress Companies is the Master Distributor for CPR Prompt training products, complementing their American CPR Training division.
- Practi-MancoreExpress Companies is the Master Distributor for Practi-Man training manikins, supporting their extensive instructor network.
- Me4KidzcoreExpress Companies is the Master Distributor for Me4Kidz children's wellness products, expanding into pediatric first aid market.
- FEMA, CDC, Department of DefenseflagshipExpress Companies executives were part of the advisory committee that developed and launched the National Stop the Bleed® program with FEMA, CDC, Department of Defense, and others at the White House. Express is now an official licensee of the National Stop the Bleed program.
- Standard-Setting Bodies WorldwideflagshipExpress Companies is an integral part of standard-setting bodies worldwide, contributing to safety standards development and compliance frameworks.
- American Heart AssociationcoreTrainers and personnel include American Heart Association Instructor certificates. AHA materials and certification support training operations.
- American Red CrosscoreTraining staff hold Red Cross Instructor certificates, enabling delivery of Red Cross certified safety courses.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EXPRESS COMPANIES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Acme United Corporation: Acme United owns First Aid Only, the brand Express Companies distributes as a Master Distributor. They are the upstream OEM in the SmartCompliance supply chain and the most directly comparable first-aid kit manufacturer competing in the same OSHA-compliance cabinet market.
Broad incumbents
- Cintas Corporation: Cintas is a large publicly traded provider of first aid and safety services, uniform rentals, and compliance solutions to enterprise customers. It overlaps directly with Express's OSHA-compliance and managed first-aid cabinet programs but as part of a much broader facility services portfolio.
- Honeywell Safety Products: Honeywell's Personal Protective Equipment and safety products division sells first aid, eye protection, and hearing protection to industrial and enterprise customers. Named as a direct customer of Express, it competes on the same workplace-safety RFPs at much larger scale.
- 3M Safety & Industrial: 3M sells a broad portfolio of safety products including first aid kits, PPE, and workplace safety solutions through industrial distribution. It competes with Express on enterprise and government safety contracts as part of a much larger product catalog.
- Brady Corporation: Brady manufactures and supplies workplace safety, identification, and compliance products, including first aid and lockout/tagout solutions. Its direct sales and distribution reach to industrial enterprises overlaps with Express's compliance-focused customer base.
- ZOLL Medical Corporation: ZOLL is a major manufacturer of AEDs and resuscitation devices sold to workplaces, schools, and government agencies. Express distributes and funds AEDs through AEDGrant.com, putting both companies in the same AED deployment value chain.
- Philips HeartStart: Philips HeartStart is one of the leading AED brands in the US workplace and public-access market. As Express sells AEDs alongside first-aid cabinets and training, it competes in the same AED category where Philips has dominant share.
Emerging players
- Cardiac Science (Defibtech parent): Cardiac Science manufactures Powerheart AEDs sold into workplaces, schools, and fitness facilities. It is a competing AED brand that Express resellers may carry alongside or instead of other AED lines, making it a relevant emerging peer in the AED category.
- American Red Cross Training Services: The American Red Cross offers CPR, AED, and first aid training across the US and supplies branded training materials. Express instructors carry Red Cross certifications, making the Red Cross both a partner and a competing training brand in the same end market.
Others
- Stericycle (now WM Healthcare Solutions): Stericycle provides regulated waste and compliance services to healthcare and industrial customers. It is adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in the same OSHA/compliance procurement conversations with enterprise customers as Express.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EXPRESS COMPANIES social profiles
Digital presenceEXPRESS COMPANIES compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
EXPRESS COMPANIES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EXPRESS COMPANIES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
EXPRESS COMPANIES subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries14 records
EXPRESS COMPANIES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EXPRESS COMPANIES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EXPRESS COMPANIES
What does EXPRESS COMPANIES do?
Express Companies manufactures, distributes, and sells first aid kits and supplies, CPR/AED training equipment, emergency and survival kits, sanitization products, and children's wellness items through owned e-commerce storefronts and dealer networks. The company provides custom manufacturing, kitting, assembly, and fulfillment services to Big Box retailers, subscription houses, and private labelers, and delivers OSHA/ANSI safety compliance solutions including certified CPR/First Aid/AED training through a network of 2,000+ instructors. Its flagship SKU is the SmartCompliance First Aid Cabinet paired with the SmartTab ezRefill System, backed by an OSHA compliance guarantee.
Is EXPRESS COMPANIES a public or private company?
EXPRESS COMPANIES is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was EXPRESS COMPANIES founded?
EXPRESS COMPANIES was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EXPRESS COMPANIES based?
EXPRESS COMPANIES is headquartered in Oceanside, United States, in the North America region.
How does EXPRESS COMPANIES make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are safety Training Services, custom Kitting and Fulfillment Services, OSHA Compliance Solutions, distributor/Wholesale Revenue and smartCompliance Program.
Who are EXPRESS COMPANIES's main competitors?
Acme United Corporation is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Cintas Corporation, Honeywell Safety Products, 3M Safety & Industrial, Brady Corporation, ZOLL Medical Corporation and Philips HeartStart. Emerging players are Cardiac Science (Defibtech parent) and American Red Cross Training Services. Stericycle (now WM Healthcare Solutions) is listed as an others.
Does EXPRESS COMPANIES have an API?
No public API is recorded for EXPRESS COMPANIES.
What industry is EXPRESS COMPANIES in?
EXPRESS COMPANIES's product category is Safety Equipment & First Aid Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAMAB, First Aid & Wound Care (Bandages, Dressings, Antiseptics, Burn Care), with a secondary code of BPAKAOAJ, Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training. Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 5047.