I had the pleasure of attending the Grainger Show this year, and it was great to see how much energy and growth there is in the industrial sector. The event, which takes place every other year, boasted an attendance of over 10,000 customers, suppliers, and Grainger Subject Matter Experts and staff in February at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. It was my first time attending the massive industrial distributor’s show.

The trade show floor offered customers the change to experience various aspects of the business, including hands-on demonstrations, expert talks and visiting the hundreds of booths showcasing supplier products and services.

Earlier this year, the company launched a partnership with global nonprofit Youth Build USA. Part of the proceeds at Grainger’s trade floor merch shop went to the organization. YouthBuild programs offer those ages 16 to 24 who are not engaged in formal education or employment to pursue academic endeavors, chart pathways to prospective careers, and emerge as influential figures within their communities. I was told Grainger wanted to align themselves with a worthy cause to promote work in the skilled trades as well as give back to the communities they serve.

I was particularly interested in their sustainability initiatives as that’s been a hot topic in recent years. I attended a Trade Show Talk on the topic.

Grainger has demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by implementing environmentally friendly practices across its operations. From reducing energy consumption in distribution centers to offering eco-friendly product options, the company has aligned its growth strategy with responsible environmental stewardship.

It’s interesting to see how much Grainger has grown, with the most recent numbers showing net sales rose by 5% in its latest quarter and more than 8% annually to nearly $16.5 billion in 2023.

Our latest poll results

In March, we asked our website readers to vote on the safety measures they believe holds the highest priority in an industrial workplace. We got some interesting results:

• The overwhelming majority of voters (76 percent) said strengthening employee training and awareness programs is most important.
• Only 5 percent were most concerned with implementing rigorous machinery maintenance schedules.
• And 8 percent said enhanced PPE protocols should be at the top.

Investing in advanced safety technologies and automation only captured 11 percent of the vote.