Legacy of Innovation

Then Now

The Fastenal story began in 1967 with the opening of the first store in Winona, Minnesota, by company founder, Bob Kierlin. The concept for Fastenal Company originated from Bob's idea to produce a vending machine that would provide nuts and bolts to customers. After surviving the typical struggles of a startup business during the first few years, Fastenal found its niche and took off. Since going public in 1987 with 50 stores and $30 million in sales, Fastenal has grown to over 2,500 stores and $1.9 billion in annual sales.

Fastenal Company has become one of the fastest growing full-line industrial distributors, and is the largest fastener distributor in the nation. Our service-oriented business currently includes:

  • An in-house Manufacturing Division
  • A product Quality Assurance and Engineering department
  • A strategic network of Distribution Centers in the US, Canada, and Mexico
  • A fleet of over 200 company-operated semi-trucks and trailers
  • Over 2,500 store sites with local inventory, outside sales people, and on-site delivery vehicles to help save time and money
  • Locations in all 50 states, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Guam, Hungary, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom

"Growth through customer service" is the principle that drives all employees at Fastenal. This fosters an atmosphere that is exciting and fast-paced, where decentralized decision-making and open communications are critical to achieving our mission. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at Fastenal. We encourage innovation, and ideas for new products and services usually come directly from our employees - the people who know our customers best.

Fastenal employees are invested in the business and have a direct impact on our customers every day. This promotes pride and ownership and empowers employees to strive for leadership roles. With continued growth in mind, we are actively recruiting people who understand that motivation and hard work are the keys to success.