What Vern Lewis Welding Supply does

Vern Lewis Welding Supply, Inc. is a second-generation, family-owned welding supply distributor headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, operating eight retail locations across the state plus a dedicated repair center. Founded in 1969 by Vern Lewis and now led by CEO Stacy Lewis Hayes, the company sells welding machines, consumables, filler metals, safety gear, industrial gases, and propane from major manufacturers including Lincoln Electric, Miller, Hypertherm, Fronius, DEWALT, and Harris, alongside a proprietary Vern Lewis Abrasives own-brand line and a co-branded CNC plasma cutting table (Vern Lewis by STV). It also offers custom cut steel at the Avondale and Wickenburg locations, equipment repairs and rentals out of the Phoenix repair center, and commercial gas cylinder delivery with same/next-day and regular-route options.

The company operates a hybrid business model combining walk-in retail, inside phone sales for commercial accounts, recurring gas delivery routes, and professional services revenue from welding instruction and custom steel cutting. Training is delivered at state-of-the-art welding labs in Phoenix and Peoria, ranging from $250 three-hour intro classes to $200+ custom Saturday sessions and multi-week AWS structural steel qualification courses, and is accessible to Arizona homeschool families through a ClassWallet ESA-approved vendor relationship. A separate workforce development partnership with Weldher Workshop extends the company's reach into women-in-trades programming. Distribution is entirely single-state (Arizona), and the company holds no disclosed patents, certifications, or institutional investment; brand and customer relationships accumulated over 55 years appear to be its primary intangible assets.

Name

Vern Lewis Welding Supply

Legal name

Vern Lewis Welding Supply, Inc.

Website

https://vernlewis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vern Lewis Welding Supply is a second-generation, family-owned Arizona welding supply distributor operating 8 retail locations plus a repair center, selling welding equipment, consumables, gases, and propane to professional welders, fabricators, hobbyists, and commercial accounts, and offering repairs, rentals, custom cut steel, commercial delivery, and welding classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Welding Supplies & Equipment Retail

NAICS

Construction and Mining (except Oil Well) Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423810), Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510), All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (332999)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Welding, Joining & Soldering Equipment (Arc, Resistance, Friction, Brazing) (IMAHADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Welding & Plasma Power Supplies (Industrial welders, cutting power sources) (IMAGADAI), Welding & Cutting Gases (IMAEACAH), Arc Welding (SMAW/GMAW/FCAW/GTAW) Training (EDAOADAA), Welding, Fabrication & Field Machining Services (On-site) (IMAIACAD)

Keywords

• Welding supplies retail
• Industrial gas distribution
• Welding equipment sales
• Custom steel cutting
• Welding training classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Welding Supplies and Equipment Sales: Sale of welding equipment, consumables, accessories, and branded merchandise through 8 retail locations and online presence.
2. Gas and Propane Sales: Commercial and retail sale of welding gases and propane with delivery services.
3. Welding Classes and Training: Revenue from introductory welding classes ($250), custom Saturday classes ($200+), 4-week night courses, and corporate partnership training programs.
4. Custom Steel Cutting Services: Custom cut steel services at Avondale and Wickenburg locations, including special orders.
5. Equipment Repairs and Rentals: Repair services and equipment rentals through dedicated repair center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vern Lewis Welding Supply distributes welding supplies, welding and cutting equipment, shielding gases, and propane through eight Arizona retail storefronts and a repair center. It supplements product sales with custom-cut steel services, equipment repair and rental, commercial gas delivery, and instructor-led welding training classes at its Phoenix and Peoria welding labs. The company also sells its own "Vern Lewis by STV" CNC plasma cutting table bundle and a proprietary "Vern Lewis Abrasives" product line.

Product overview

Vern Lewis Welding Supply operates as a multi-location welding equipment and supplies retailer in Arizona, offering a comprehensive portfolio of welding products, gases, and related services. Their core offerings include welding supplies and equipment from major manufacturers (Lincoln Electric, Miller, Hypertherm, DEWALT), industrial gases, CNC plasma cutting tables, and their own proprietary line of abrasives. The company provides associated services including repairs, rentals, commercial deliveries, custom steel cutting, and professional welding training through their state-of-the-art welding labs in Phoenix and Peoria. They also offer various promotional deals and rebates on equipment from manufacturer partners. The business serves both individual hobbyists and commercial customers through 8 retail locations across Arizona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Welding Supplies and Equipment Welding machines, electrodes, filler metals, safety gear, and accessories from major brands such as Lincoln Electric, Miller, Hypertherm, Fronius, and DEWALT, sold through the company's eight Arizona retail locations for professional welders, fabricators, and hobbyists.
• Gas and Propane Industrial and commercial welding gases including shielding gases, argon, CO2, and propane for welding and cutting applications, sold across all locations with commercial cylinder delivery service.
• CNC Plasma Table (Vern Lewis by STV Plasma Cutting Table) Turnkey plasma cutting table solution including cart, PC, 21-inch screen, wireless mouse/keyboard set, and HDMI cable, starting at $15,499, sold to metal fabrication shops and manufacturers seeking in-house CNC plasma cutting capability.
• Used Equipment Pre-owned welding equipment and machinery available for purchase at reduced prices through Vern Lewis retail locations.
• Vern Lewis Abrasives (Own Brand)
• Welding Classes
• Custom Cut Steel
• Repairs and Rentals
• Commercial Gas Deliveries
• Equipment Training and Demos

Quantifiable outcome

• $1,200 in manufacturer rebates available on select Lincoln Electric products
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Doniphan West High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Vern Lewis Welding Supply established the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School in Highland, KS in honor of company founder Vern Lewis. The project included $175,000 worth of equipment donations and renovations from the company and 10 vendor partners.
• Lincoln ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School. Contributed welding equipment as part of the $175,000 total donation.
• Miller ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• HyperthermminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• FlexovitminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• Harris Products GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• JPW IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• MetabominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• Metal Man Work GearminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• NortonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• ProfaxminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• Washington AlloyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021One of ten vendors that donated equipment for the Vernon F. Lewis Welding Lab at Doniphan West High School.
• Weldher WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Organization founded by 2 Arizona welders Rachel and Letty in 2021. They teach intro welding classes to women at the Peoria welding lab and hold an annual event in March to celebrate Women's History Month and promote women in the trades.
• ClassWalletminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVern Lewis Welding Supply is an approved ESA vendor on ClassWallet, allowing Arizona homeschooled students to enroll in welding classes through ClassWallet Marketplace.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Norco: Regional industrial and welding gas supplier in the Western U.S. with multiple retail locations, comparable multi-state footprint, and similar mix of gas, equipment, and consumables distribution to Vern Lewis.
• Linde (formerly Praxair): Global industrial gas major with a major U.S. welding gas and equipment distribution network after the Praxair–Linde merger; competes head-on in welding shielding gases, propane, and bulk gas supply across Arizona.
• Matheson Tri-Gas (Nippon Sanso Holdings): Industrial and specialty gas distributor with substantial U.S. welding-gas share; competes directly with Vern Lewis on shielding gases, bulk delivery, and welding supply accounts in the Southwest.
• Air Products and Chemicals: Major industrial gas supplier serving welding and metalworking end markets with merchant gas, on-site supply, and welding-related equipment, overlapping with Vern Lewis's gas and propane distribution business.
• Airgas (Air Liquide): Largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases plus welding supplies and equipment, with national and Phoenix-area locations that directly compete with Vern Lewis for both walk-in retail and commercial gas delivery customers.

Broad incumbents

• Miller Electric (ITW): Major welding equipment manufacturer and Vern Lewis vendor; competes at the OEM level and through its own distributor and direct channels in the same MIG/TIG/stick equipment categories Vern Lewis sells.
• ESAB: Global welding and cutting equipment manufacturer with a broad distributor network; directly comparable in product categories (welders, plasma cutters, consumables) that Vern Lewis distributes and resells.
• Lincoln Electric: Largest welding equipment and consumables manufacturer globally; Vern Lewis is an authorized distributor of Lincoln Electric products, so the relationship is partly partner and partly competitor as Lincoln Electric continues to expand direct and digital channels.

Emerging players

• Weldfabulous: Online-focused welding equipment and supplies retailer; represents the e-commerce channel pressure on regional brick-and-mortar welding supply stores like Vern Lewis.
• Blue Demon Welding Products: Manufacturer of entry-level welders and welding consumables (the Blue Demon Genesis 200A is sold by Vern Lewis); competes as a low-cost own-label alternative and a complementary emerging brand in the same channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vernlewis.weldingsupply
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vernlewis-weldingsupply

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Vern Lewis Welding Supply