Crown Hardware
Crown Hardware & Plumbing Supply Inc. is a family-owned independent hardware and plumbing retailer founded in 1957 in Milwaukee, WI, serving homeowners, plumbers/contractors, and property managers in Southeastern Wisconsin through a single storefront, the DoItBest online marketplace, and installation services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Crown Hardware does
Crown Hardware & Plumbing Supply Inc. is a family-owned independent hardware and plumbing supply retailer founded in 1957 and headquartered at a single storefront at 2016 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company carries over 70,000 in-stock inventory items and access to more than 100,000 line items, spanning plumbing repair parts, water heaters (with Reliance as an exclusive brand), pest control supplies, keys and locks, electric and hand tools, and lighting fixtures. It also offers fee-based services including professional water heater installation, pipe cutting and threading, locksmith work, key duplication, automotive key programming, and lock rekeying. Headcount is 13 employees, and the company is led by the Relph family — Brian Relph as store manager, Dwaine Relph leading inventory modernization (with 43 years of prior experience at Caterpillar), and Tyler Relph overseeing strategic growth and finance while on active U.S. Air Force duty.
The business model is retail-first, with revenue generated through point-of-sale transactions at the Milwaukee store and online orders fulfilled via the DoItBest marketplace. As a member of the DoItBest $3 billion buying group, Crown can offer wholesale pricing on national brands including American Standard, Delta, Kohler, Moen, Milwaukee Tool, and Reliance. Customer segments are explicitly three: homeowners and DIY enthusiasts (primary), professional plumbers and contractors (primary), and property managers (secondary). Pricing is quote-based for most items with pay-as-you-go billing; key duplication is published at $3.50 per key and water heater installation is service-priced.
Distribution is single physical location plus DoItBest e-commerce and phone-based special orders. Marketing is primarily organic: Facebook, Instagram, Google Business Profile, and word-of-mouth. The company is privately held with no funding rounds, no disclosed revenue, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. The Relph family currently operates as the de facto leadership and ownership structure.
Crown Hardware firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crown Hardware
- Legal name
- Crown Hardware & Plumbing Supply Inc.
- Website
- https://crownhardwareandplumbing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Crown Hardware & Plumbing Supply Inc. is a family-owned independent hardware and plumbing retailer founded in 1957 in Milwaukee, WI, serving homeowners, plumbers/contractors, and property managers in Southeastern Wisconsin through a single storefront, the DoItBest online marketplace, and installation services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crown Hardware industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hardware and Plumbing Supply Retail
- NAICS
- Hardware Retailers (44414), Hardware Retailers (444140), Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4237)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plumbing Parts & Supplies Retail (Pipes, Valves, Fittings) (CRAIADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pipe Installation, Repair & Repiping (HSAOAAAB), Electrical Supplies Retail (Wiring, Switches, Breakers, Conduit) (CRAIADAE)
Keywords
Where Crown Hardware is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Crown Hardware business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hardware and Plumbing Product Sales: Retail sale of hardware, plumbing supplies, tools, water heaters, pest control products, locksmith services, and related merchandise to consumers and professionals. Revenue generated through point-of-sale transactions at physical store location and online orders fulfilled through DoItBest marketplace.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale pricing for members of buying group |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Crown Hardware product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crown Hardware & Plumbing Supply Inc. is a family-owned retail hardware and plumbing supply store operating since 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It sells plumbing repair parts, Reliance water heaters, pest control products, locks and keys, electric and hand tools, and lighting fixtures, and offers in-store services including key duplication, automotive key programming, water heater installation, pipe cutting/threading, and lock rekeying. The business serves homeowners, plumbers, contractors, and property managers via its walk-in storefront and online catalog through the DoItBest marketplace.
Product overview
Crown Hardware & Plumbing Supply Inc. is a family-owned hardware and plumbing supply retailer operating since 1957, offering a comprehensive range of products and services. The core product portfolio centers around Plumbing Repair Parts (with access to over 100,000 inventory items), Water Heaters (exclusively Reliance brand with gas, electric, tankless, hybrid, expansion, and solar models), Pest Control Supplies (professional-grade DIY products), Keys/Locks/Hardware (including locksmith services, key cutting, automotive keys, and master key systems), Electric & Hand Tools (power tools and hand tools from leading brands), and Lighting Fixtures. Services include pipe cutting and threading, water heater installation, and lock rekeying. The company serves both homeowners and professionals (plumbers, contractors, property managers) through their physical Milwaukee store and online via DoItBest platform. Their product mix is complemented by specialty and hard-to-find items that larger chains typically don't stock.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Access to over 100,000 inventory items including specialty and hard-to-find parts
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Crown Hardware
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Crown Hardware technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Crown Hardware partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- WattsminorManufacturer whose plumbing products are stocked and sold at Crown Hardware. Watts produces water heaters, valves, and other plumbing components available through Crown's retail operation.
- DeltaminorMajor faucet and plumbing fixture manufacturer whose products are available at Crown Hardware. Delta is known for residential and commercial plumbing solutions.
- SouthlandminorPlumbing supplies manufacturer whose products are distributed through Crown Hardware's retail location.
- SharkbiteminorPush-to-connect plumbing fittings manufacturer whose products are available at Crown Hardware for professional and DIY plumbing applications.
- OateyminorPlumbing chemical and supply manufacturer whose products including adhesives, sealants, and drainage solutions are sold at Crown Hardware.
- MoenminorPremier faucet and plumbing fixture brand whose products are carried by Crown Hardware for residential and commercial applications.
- Milwaukee ToolminorProfessional-grade power tools and hand tools manufacturer whose products are available at Crown Hardware for contractors and homeowners.
- DoItBestcoreHardware buying group and e-commerce marketplace. DoItBest is a $3 billion buying group that Crown Hardware belongs to, enabling access to national brands at wholesale pricing. Additionally provides online storefront integration for same-day pickup, ship-to-store, and ship-to-home fulfillment options.
- ReliancecoreExclusive water heater brand sold at Crown Hardware. Offers gas, electric, tankless, hybrid, expansion, and solar water heater models for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights10 records
Crown Hardware competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- PlumbersStock.com: PlumbersStock is an online-only plumbing supply retailer that competes with Crown's specialty plumbing assortment and DoItBest marketplace presence by offering broader SKU depth and direct shipping to plumbers nationwide.
Broad incumbents
- Lowe's: Lowe's is the second-largest U.S. home improvement retailer, operating stores and a strong online channel that compete with Crown across plumbing, tools, water heaters, and locksmith-adjacent categories.
- Ferguson Enterprises: Ferguson is the largest U.S. distributor of plumbing, heating, and waterworks supplies serving professional contractors; it competes with Crown for trade customers in the Milwaukee market and represents the scaled plumbing-specialist model Crown aspires to.
- Menards: Menards is a Midwest-headquartered big-box home improvement retailer with multiple Milwaukee-area locations; it competes directly with Crown on hardware, plumbing, tools, and water heaters but at vastly larger scale and assortment.
- Hajoca Corporation: Hajoca is a large privately held U.S. plumbing and heating wholesale distributor serving contractors and property managers; it competes with Crown's contractor and property manager segments through deeper trade-counter coverage.
- Home Depot: Home Depot is the largest U.S. home improvement retailer with national scale, deep plumbing and hardware assortments, and a dominant pro-contractor program that competes for the same DIY and trade customers as Crown.
Others
- Do It Best: Do It Best is the $3 billion hardware buying group and e-commerce marketplace of which Crown is a member; it provides wholesale pricing and the digital storefront infrastructure Crown depends on for online fulfillment.
- Reliance Water Heaters: Reliance is the manufacturer partner whose full water heater line Crown exclusively retails and installs; it is an upstream supplier relationship rather than a competitor but is materially relevant as a key partner.
Direct peers
- True Value: True Value is a hardware cooperative serving independent retailers with shared buying power and brand programs, structurally analogous to Crown's membership in the DoItBest buying group and serving similar homeowner and trade customers.
- Ace Hardware: Ace Hardware is a cooperative of independent hardware retailers selling hardware, plumbing, tools, and home improvement supplies through storefronts and digital channels — the closest direct operating model comparable to Crown's family-owned independent retail format.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Crown Hardware social profiles
Digital presenceCrown Hardware financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crown Hardware leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Crown Hardware funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crown Hardware 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 Crown Hardware
What does Crown Hardware do?
Crown Hardware & Plumbing Supply Inc. is a family-owned retail hardware and plumbing supply store operating since 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It sells plumbing repair parts, Reliance water heaters, pest control products, locks and keys, electric and hand tools, and lighting fixtures, and offers in-store services including key duplication, automotive key programming, water heater installation, pipe cutting/threading, and lock rekeying. The business serves homeowners, plumbers, contractors, and property managers via its walk-in storefront and online catalog through the DoItBest marketplace.
Is Crown Hardware a public or private company?
Crown Hardware is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Crown Hardware founded?
Crown Hardware was founded in 1957. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Crown Hardware based?
Crown Hardware is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Crown Hardware make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware and Plumbing Product Sales.
Who are Crown Hardware's main competitors?
PlumbersStock.com is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Lowe's, Ferguson Enterprises, Menards, Hajoca Corporation and Home Depot. Others are Do It Best and Reliance Water Heaters. Direct peers are True Value and Ace Hardware.
Does Crown Hardware have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crown Hardware.
What industry is Crown Hardware in?
Crown Hardware's product category is Hardware and Plumbing Supply Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIADAD, Plumbing Parts & Supplies Retail (Pipes, Valves, Fittings), with a secondary code of HSAOAAAB, Pipe Installation, Repair & Repiping. Its NAICS code is 44414 and its SIC code is 5070.