Lawson Products
Lawson Products is a Chicago-based industrial MRO distributor serving construction, transportation, government, mining, utilities, and equipment rental customers across the US and Canada with 500,000+ SKUs via ecommerce and field sales, operating as a brand of Distribution Solutions Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lawson Products does
Lawson Products is a Chicago-based industrial distributor of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies founded in 1952, operating as a brand and subsidiary of Distribution Solutions Group (DSG), a publicly traded holding company (NASDAQ: DSG). The company sells a catalog of more than 500,000 industrial SKUs across ten major categories—chemicals, electrical, fasteners, hardware, hydraulics, material handling, safety/PPE, storage equipment, tools, and welding—distributed to commercial and industrial customers in construction, transportation/fleet, equipment rental, government, mining, utilities, and waste management across the United States and Canada.
Its core technology stack centers on a unified ecommerce platform (lawsonproducts.com) with AI-assisted merchandising, supplemented by route optimization tools for field sales teams, robotic automation at Gexpro Services operations, and ERP consolidation across DSG brands. Technology differentiators include ease-of-use implementation for ecommerce, operational performance improvements through route optimization, and scale/reliability through robotic automation. The company also publishes a content-marketing blog, maintains active social media presence, and participates in industry events such as MINExpo 2024.
Lawson Products generates revenue through one-time product sales of MRO supplies, ecommerce transactions, and managed inventory services billed on a pay-as-you-go basis with account-specific pricing. It operates a dual go-to-market: a field sales force calling on enterprise accounts with route-optimized delivery, and a direct-to-consumer ecommerce channel that delivers double-digit revenue growth and over 30% new customer acquisition. Brand partnerships with Gates, 3M, Loctite, Milwaukee Tool, Danfoss, and Sqwincher anchor the catalog, and a history of bolt-on acquisitions (most recently Source Atlantic in 2024) supports geographic and product expansion.
Lawson Products firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lawson Products
- Legal name
- Lawson Products, Inc.
- Website
- https://lawsonproducts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Lawson Products is a Chicago-based industrial MRO distributor serving construction, transportation, government, mining, utilities, and equipment rental customers across the US and Canada with 500,000+ SKUs via ecommerce and field sales, operating as a brand of Distribution Solutions Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lawson Products industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial MRO Distribution
- NAICS
- Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42384), Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42383), Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423610)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners) (TLAKAOAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Supplies & MRO Marketplaces (CRAFAHAA), Material Handling Equipment MRO (Forklifts, Reach Trucks, Pallet Jacks) (TLAKAHAC), Workshop Services & Support (Tool Calibration/Repair, Equipment Installation/Maintenance, Training) (TLAKAOAN), Maintenance, Repair & Rebuild (MRO), Parts Distribution & Field Service (IMAKANAL)
Keywords
Where Lawson Products is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lawson Products business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- MRO Product Sales: Sale of industrial maintenance, repair and operations supplies including chemicals, fasteners, electrical, hardware, hydraulics, material handling, safety equipment, tools, and welding products to commercial and industrial customers.
- Ecommerce Revenue: Online sales through lawsonproducts.com with over 30% new customer acquisition through digital channel and approximately 18% revenue growth through ecommerce in Q4 2025.
- Managed Inventory Services: Managed inventory services program ensuring customers always have the right parts when needed, reducing downtime and streamlining operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Account-based pricing with customer-specific rates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift with Purchase promotional tiers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Lawson Products product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lawson Products distributes industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies through a unified ecommerce storefront and field sales force, offering a catalog of more than 500,000 products across categories such as chemicals, fasteners, electrical, hardware, hydraulics, material handling, safety/PPE, storage, tools, and welding. The company also provides vendor-managed inventory services that ensure customers always have the right parts available to reduce downtime.
Product overview
Lawson Products is a distributor of industrial supplies and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products serving construction, manufacturing, mining, transportation, utilities, and government sectors. The company offers a single unified ecommerce platform (lawsonproducts.com) alongside its traditional sales channels. Its product portfolio spans ten major categories: Chemicals (adhesives, brake cleaners, coatings, lubricants, welding chemicals), Electrical (batteries, cable management, conduit, fuses, lighting, wire), Fasteners (anchors, bolts, nuts, rivets, screws, washers), Hardware (automotive hardware, keys), Hydraulics (fittings, hose, adapters), Material Handling (casters, chain, hoists, slings), Safety/PPE (facility safety, eye protection, respiratory, hearing protection, fall protection), Storage Equipment (cabinets, racks, bins), Tools (cutting tools, hand tools, power tools), and Welding (alloys, machines, accessories). The company also provides value-added services including Managed Inventory Services (vendor-managed inventory program), SDS Search, Quick Order functionality, and dedicated solutions for government customers. Lawson Products carries branded products from suppliers including Gates, Sqwincher, Loctite, 3M, Danfoss, Milwaukee Tools, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Industrial Chemicals Industrial chemical products including adhesives, brake cleaners, coatings, lubricants, parts washing solutions, and welding chemicals for maintenance and manufacturing applications.
- Electrical Supplies Electrical supplies including batteries, cable ties, conduit, electrical wire, fuses, lighting, terminals, wire connectors, and wiring devices for industrial and commercial applications.
- Industrial Fasteners Industrial fasteners including anchors, bolts, nuts, pins, retaining rings, rivets, screws, socket screws, threaded inserts, and washers for assembly and construction applications.
- Hardware Supplies Hardware supplies including automotive hardware, fleet/truck hardware, and keys for vehicle and equipment maintenance.
- Hydraulics Supplies Hydraulic and pneumatic supplies including fittings, hose, tubing, adapters, O-rings, and quick disconnect components for fluid power systems.
- Material Handling Equipment Material handling equipment including casters, chain, dollies, hoists, ladders, roller chain, slings, storage bins, and wire rope for lifting and transport.
- Safety Equipment and PPE Safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) including facility/site safety products, eye wash stations, fire protection, first aid, lockout/tagout, PPE (boots, clothing, gloves, head protection, hearing protection, respiratory), and welding safety.
- Storage Equipment Storage solutions including bins, boxes, cabinets, canisters, carts, dispensers, drawers, locks, pouches, racks, and stands for workshop and facility organization.
- Industrial Tools Industrial tools including cutting tools (abrasives, drill bits, saw blades, taps), hand tools (hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches), power tools (air tools, electrical tools, pneumatic tools), and welding tools.
- Welding Supplies Welding supplies including brazing alloys, hardfacing alloys, soldering products, welding alloys, welding accessories, welding consumables, and welding machines.
- Managed Inventory Services Vendor-managed inventory program that ensures customers always have the right parts when needed, reducing downtime and streamlining operations.
- Ecommerce Ordering Platform Online ordering platform enabling customers to browse, search, and purchase industrial supplies and MRO products via lawsonproducts.com, featuring Quick Order functionality and account management.
Quantifiable outcome
- 18% revenue growth through ecommerce channel in Q4 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lawson Products
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lawson Products technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Lawson Products partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- GatesminorFeatured brand partner. Gates branded products available through Lawson Products catalog.
- SqwincherminorFeatured brand partner. Sqwincher electrolyte beverages and hydration products available through Lawson Products.
- LoctiteminorFeatured brand partner. Loctite adhesives and sealants available through Lawson Products catalog.
- 3MminorFeatured brand partner. 3M branded safety and industrial products available through Lawson Products.
- DanfossminorFeatured brand partner. Danfoss hydraulic and fluid power components available through Lawson Products.
- Milwaukee ToolminorFeatured brand partner. Milwaukee power tools available through Lawson Products with dedicated shop page.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lawson Products competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fastenal: Largest US fastener and industrial supply distributor with a strong vending and onsite location model. Overlaps significantly with Lawson in fasteners, tools, and MRO supplies.
- McMaster-Carr: Direct-to-customer industrial supplier known for an extensive catalog and best-in-class ecommerce experience. Competes with Lawson in tools, fasteners, raw materials, and maintenance supplies.
- MSC Industrial Direct: Major US MRO distributor serving metalworking, maintenance, and industrial customers with a similar catalog breadth and field sales plus ecommerce model comparable to Lawson.
- W.W. Grainger: Largest US MRO industrial distributor with a broad product catalog and strong digital platform (KeepStock). Directly competes with Lawson across industrial supplies, fasteners, tools, and safety.
- Kaman Industrial Technologies: Distributor of bearings, power transmission, electrical, and fluid power products serving industrial customers. Overlaps with Lawson's electrical, hydraulics, and material handling lines.
- Applied Industrial Technologies: Industrial distributor of bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and MRO supplies. Closely matches Lawson's hydraulics, fasteners, and motion control offerings.
- Motion Industries: Industrial parts distributor (a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company) covering bearings, power transmission, hydraulics, and material handling. Strongly comparable to Lawson's industrial MRO product mix.
- Würth Industry: Global industrial fastener and MRO supply distributor with strong vendor-managed inventory and C-Parts management offerings, directly comparable to Lawson's managed inventory services.
Emerging players
- HD Supply (White Cap): Distributor serving construction and infrastructure contractors with tools, fasteners, and safety supplies. Overlaps with Lawson in construction vertical but is a White Cap-focused White Cap business post-HD Supply spin-off.
Others
- Gexpro Services: Sister brand under DSG providing electrical and supply chain solutions to industrial customers. Related as a sibling within DSG rather than a direct competitor, but shares end markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lawson Products social profiles
Digital presenceLawson Products financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lawson Products leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lawson Products funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lawson Products M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A7 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lawson Products
What does Lawson Products do?
Lawson Products distributes industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies through a unified ecommerce storefront and field sales force, offering a catalog of more than 500,000 products across categories such as chemicals, fasteners, electrical, hardware, hydraulics, material handling, safety/PPE, storage, tools, and welding. The company also provides vendor-managed inventory services that ensure customers always have the right parts available to reduce downtime.
Is Lawson Products a public or private company?
Lawson Products is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Lawson Products founded?
Lawson Products was founded in 1952. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Lawson Products based?
Lawson Products is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lawson Products make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. MRO Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are ecommerce Revenue and managed Inventory Services.
Who are Lawson Products's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fastenal, McMaster-Carr, MSC Industrial Direct, W.W. Grainger, Kaman Industrial Technologies, Applied Industrial Technologies, Motion Industries and Würth Industry. HD Supply (White Cap) is listed as an emerging player. Gexpro Services is listed as an others.
Does Lawson Products have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lawson Products.
What industry is Lawson Products in?
Lawson Products's product category is Industrial MRO Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAOAK, Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners), with a secondary code of CRAFAHAA, Industrial Supplies & MRO Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 42384 and its SIC code is 5080.