Menards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Menards | |
 |
|
| Type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1962 Eau Claire, WI |
| Headquarters | Eau Claire, WI |
| Key people | John Menard, Jr., President, Charlie Menard, Chief Operating Officer, Larry Menard, Operations Manager |
| Industry | Retail (Home Improvement) |
| Products | Home improvement products such as building materials, tools, hardware, garden supplies, electrical supplies, ceiling fans, light fixtures, cabinets, appliances, doors, windows, paint, wood stain, wallpaper, plumbing supplies, carpet, vinyl and linoleum |
| Revenue | $5.5 billion (estimated) |
| Employees | 45,000 |
| Slogan | Save Big Money at Menards! |
| Website | Menards Corporate Site Menards eCommerce Site |
Menards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.
The privately held chain was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. As of January 2006, the chain has 205 stores in 11 states: (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).
While the privately held company does not release sales figures, it is believed to be the third largest home center chain in the United States behind The Home Depot and Lowe's.
Contents |
[edit] Company history
In 1959, John Menard, Jr. began building post-frame buildings to finance his college education. By 1959, Menard found it necessary to hire extra crews, and to purchase more equipment to keep up with demand. After graduating from college in 1962, Menard purchased land in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and built an office and shop. Menards was founded at this time.
When post-frame building customers often inquired about the possibility of purchasing lumber and other products, Menard opened the first Menards Cashway Lumber.
In 1969, Menard began adding manufacturing plants on the Eau Claire site, including trusses, treated lumber, boards, pre-hung doors, steel and nails. A distribution center was also added.
Menards headquarters in Eau Claire was seriously damaged by a windstorm on July 15, 1980.
In 1994, Menards sold the post-frame building division.
In 1998, another distribution center was opened in Plano, Illinois.
In 2005, Menards opened Menards Online Collections, an eCommerce website.
[edit] Industry ranking
Based on sales, Menards is the third-largest home improvement chain in the United States behind Home Depot and Lowe's. In 2004, Menard Inc. ranked 20th on Forbes' list of "America's Largest Private Companies."
[edit] Advertising
For many years, Menards' television commercials featured free-lance announcer Ray Szmanda, who became a cult figure as "the Menards Guy." In the late '90s, a young, hands-on woman temporarily took the role in Szmanda's absence. Recent commercials, however, feature a voice-over in his place; although, a cartoon version of "the Menards Guy" still appears in Menards' print ads and on some in-store signage. The commercials end with the well-known jingle, "Save big money at Menards." (During the Christmas shopping season the jingle changes to "Warm season's greetings to you all from Menards.")
Menards commercials are also accompanied with banjo music played by Gary Shaw of Wisconsin. In reference to creating the musical piece, Shaw said, "I just started playing on it and they said, 'That's perfect; that's exactly what we need.' Took me a half an hour. I got $50 for a one-time fee, and I've had to listen to that commercial every day for 20 years."
[edit] Store Structure
Every Menards store shares a common team structure. The store is primarily divided by departments: Building Materials, Hardware, Electrical, Millwork, Wall Coverings, Plumbing, Floor Coverings, and Cabinets and Appliances. Other areas of the store team include the Front End (cashiers, office functions, etcetera) and the Receiving crew (responsible for the outside yard, shipments between the store and the distributions centers, and other delivery and merchandise logistics). In a typical store, every department maintains a manager, two assistant managers, and a varying number of sales floor team members depending upon the volume of guests typical at that store. Depending on store volume, some departments are combined and/or have only one assistant manager.
Recently some of the Menards stores began selling groceries.
[edit] Racing interests
Founder John Menard, Jr. is also active in auto racing, having started Team Menard. Menards also sponsors drivers in many leagues, but has had its best success affiliated with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., since associating with Earnhardt in 2004. Since the affiliation with DEI, most of Earnhardt's Busch Series wins have been in Menards-liveried cars.
- NASCAR Busch Series
- Paul Menard #11
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. #8 (part-time)
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- Matt Crafton #88
- NASCAR Nextel Cup series
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. #8 (associate)
- Robby Gordon #7 (always associate, sometimes primary)
- Paul Menard #15 (primary)
- NASCAR Wisconsin Challenge Series
- Charlie Menard #13
- NHRA Top Fuel
- Jack Beckman
In addition, a go-kart race track is located on the corporate campus.
[edit] Family-run business
John Menard Jr.'s brother Larry serves as Menards Operations Manager. Larry's son Charlie (actually named Larry as well, born circa 1973) is the COO.
[edit] Sources
- Company history from Menard Team Member Handbook.
- Gary Shaw quote from an 10/15/06 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article by Rick Romell.
