Grainger (NYSE: GWW), the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, today welcomes more than 17,000 attendees to its annual Grainger Show in Orlando, Fla. Scheduled through February 17, the event brings together customers, suppliers and Grainger team members nationwide to demonstrate how Grainger is uniquely positioned to serve its customers.

“Grainger’s mission is to help our customers keep their operations running and their people safe,” said Deb Oler, vice president and general manager of Grainger. “These hard-working individuals trust Grainger to provide them with the right products, services and solutions. This show enables attendees to learn how Grainger partners with them to examine their challenges and MRO spend, and how we develop comprehensive and proven strategies to help them save time and money.”

In its 11th year, the 2015 Grainger Show is the largest to date. The event includes more than 750 exhibitors on a 367,000 square-foot trade show floor, along with several seminars, workshops and networking sessions. Show attendees are learning the latest solutions, services and best practices in areas such as inventory management, safety and eCommerce, with a focus on key industries, including manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality.

Products, solutions and best practices come to life in an interactive setting called Grainger Town. Through this 20,000 square-foot exhibit, customers are learning about inventory management options in the “General Store,” safety in the “Building Under Construction” and all things “e” in the “eCommerce Store.” The “Library” features solutions to reduce MRO costs and the “Theater” showcases experts highlighting the areas of safety, inventory management, eCommerce and much more.

In addition, show attendees are getting a first-hand look at Grainger’s latest solutions and services, including:

eCommerce

Location-Based Lists

Location-based lists allow customers to find specific products based on their smartphone’s current GPS location. Using the Grainger smartphone app, a customer standing in his or her facility can pull up a customized list of products needed to maintain that exact location. A customer then can buy the appropriate products, manage the product list and save time by having the shipping address automatically populate based on the specific location. This is especially useful for customers who manage multiple locations.

Enhanced Search on Grainger.com

Grainger is focused on enhancing the Grainger.com experience through improved search solutions. Customers typing in a search term on Grainger.com now will see keyword(s) display that match their previous search history. There also is a suggested list of relevant products and categories making it easier to quickly narrow a search and find what’s needed.

Self-Service on Grainger.com

Grainger now offers access to past invoices on Grainger.com. Customers can search and filter invoices in a variety of ways, including by invoice, purchase order number, order confirmation number, date and invoice amount. Invoices are available online for Grainger orders no matter how they are placed.

Inventory Management

KeepStock App

Customers can now manage their KeepStock inventory through the Grainger smartphone app. The KeepStock feature is in the menu section of the app, and users can click on the icon and log in with their KeepStock credentials to begin.

KeepStock Trailers

Customers with short-term planned projects can now have Grainger provide a trailer onsite that’s stocked with the right products to help keep their jobs on schedule. When the product list is determined and the job is ready to begin, Grainger delivers the stocked trailer ready to use and provides replenishments throughout the project. Grainger’s KeepStock reporting software also provides product use data by item and worker.

Safety

Safety Resource Center

Grainger recently launched its online Safety Resource Center giving customers access to the latest safety news, trends and regulatory issues. This all-access site is designed to help customers identify, control and prevent workplace hazards through quick tips, safety data sheets, newsletters and click-to-chat support.

Field Safety Specialists

Grainger continues to expand its Field Safety Specialist team nationwide. These experts are OSHA 30-Hour General Industry trained and certified as Qualified Safety Sales Professionals (QSSP) who help customers solve safety challenges, offer cost-saving proposals and recommend program standardization strategies. Grainger’s more than 600 safety suppliers are an additional source for customer support.

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2014 sales of $10.0 billion, is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, with operations also in Asia, Europe and Latin America.