Metal Supermarkets
Metal Supermarkets is a Canadian franchise that primarily focuses on selling small quantity metals, cut to the customer's desired size. Metal Supermarkets is the largest franchise in the small quantity metals industry and the only one with international reach. Metal Supermarkets’ main headquarters are located in Mississauga, Ontario.[3] The company's franchise locations spread across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Currently, Metal Supermarkets operates 88 locations worldwide.[1][2][4]
Privately held company | |
Industry | Metalworking |
Genre | Retail |
Founded | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (1985)[1] |
Founder | William "Bill" Mair |
Headquarters | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
Number of locations | 86 locations in 4 countries[2] |
Products | Metals Stainless Steel Other Metals |
Website | metalsupermarkets |
History
Metal Supermarkets was established in 1985 as a single location in Mississauga, Ontario. Its founder, William "Bill" Mair, wanted to address the demand for small quantities of metal that large metal warehouses could not satisfy, while providing efficient and reliable service.[5] Therefore, Metal Supermarkets adopted a business model based on cut-to-size metals and no minimum order size.[6] Metal Supermarkets began franchising in 1987 as the company did not have enough funds at the time to finance an expansion. Due to the franchise's success in Canada, stores were opened for the first time in the United Kingdom and in the United States in 1994 and 1995 respectively. In 2007, Metal Supermarkets acquired Metal Express, a metal distributor based in the United States.[7] The company recently celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015, and it continues to expand its operations.[8] Metal Supermarkets currently operates 86 stores worldwide and also operates its own online store.[9][10][11]
Metal Products
Metal Supermarkets sources many different kinds of metal including Alloy Bar, Aluminum, Cold Rolled Steel, Hot Rolled Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass, Copper, Tool Steel. Additionally, they source hard to find metals for customers with specific requests.
Metal Supermarkets offers over 8,000 metal products, shapes and grades through physical locations and its online store. The requested metal can then be cut to size and delivered.[12]
References
- "Metal Supermarkets - The convenience store for metal". Look for a Franchise. Canadian Franchise Association. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- "Store Finder". metalsupermarkets.com. Metal Supermarkets. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- "Metal Supermarkets". franchising.org. Franchise Update Media Group. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- "Metal Supermarkets Revamps Strategy for Growth". Alliance Communications, Inc. Fabricating and Metalworking. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- "Member Media Release: Metal Supermarkets Celebrates 30th Anniversary | Canadian Franchise Association". www.cfa.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- Wood, Robin (14 October 2002). "Metal Supermarkets finds a niche to shine in". American City Business Journals. Albany Business Review. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- "Metal Supermarkets acquires Metal Express". Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. TorontoStar Business. 3 October 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- "Member Media Release: Metal Supermarkets Celebrates 30th Anniversary | Canadian Franchise Association". www.cfa.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- Saunders, Peter. "A Convenience Store for Metals". Canada Business Franchise. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- "About Us". metalsupermarkets.com. Metal Supermarkets. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- "Metal Supermarkets Franchise Information". franchise.org. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- "Metals". Metal Supermarkets Website. Metal Supermarkets. Retrieved 2 July 2014.