Business View Magazine - May 2024

With this essential support, fueled by the enthusiasm of its employees, the company flourished with its new culture, experiencing 3X growth in 12 years. H&C has grown in multiple dimensions, in product offerings, services, and in geography. The company headquarters remain in Rochester, but its operations have expanded nationwide. This growth is partly due to customers’ requests, which have pulled the company into new regions, including Pennsylvania, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Michigan, and Arizona. EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGY, SECTORS, AND STRATEGIES H&C Tool Supply Corp. prides itself on being a niche distributor with two primary categories: metalworking tools and fasteners. However, these categories are evolving as the company responds to customer needs for shop supplies, corrugated products, safety supplies, and more. A key part of H&C’s success is its ability to adapt and fulfill customer requests. The company has embraced industrial vending, with more than 75 industrial vending machines across 40 or more customer locations, allowing customers easy access to essential tools. Moreover, H&C offers Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), which CEO Don Waltzer says is crucial to simplifying the customer experience, adding value, and strengthening relationships. “ According to company President Tony Mannillo: “All of our customers know they’re working with employee- owners who care about great outcomes.” “As a supplier, we take pains to be easy to do business with” Waltzer says, emphasizing the many steps required to manage the complex nature of the VMI strategy. However, despite the complexity, H&C keeps things simple by leveraging powerful platforms to supplement its operational strategies. H&C’s adoption of technology has played a crucial role in its growth and operational efficiency. The company transitioned to a new cloud-based system called NetSuite, an Oracle product, in two stages: in 2018 for the cutting tool division and in 2022 for the fastener division. This transition, while challenging, has provided the company with greater flexibility and accuracy, particularly in accounting and custom invoicing. 100 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 05