CHICAGO, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Grainger today announced that it has
named Elizabeth Olig president of its latest Internet venture. Olig's team is
engaging major MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operating) product distributors
and other key technology partners to provide customers with more choice in
their MRO needs, supporting the newly evolving market exchanges and a wide
variety of other electronic procurement solutions. Grainger plans to launch
the business in the coming months.
"We are taking part in the evolution from individual transactions to a
large, one-stop MRO marketplace where many buyers and sellers interact. Our
business expansion stems from Grainger's rich domain expertise in the MRO
industry, as well as its leadership in B2B eCommerce," said Grainger Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Keyser.
Grainger Group President Donald E. Bielinski added, "This is an expansion
of Grainger's current eCommerce offering. Beginning with Grainger.com in
1995, the company has continually developed innovative solutions for
customers' MRO needs. This initiative provides a solution which allows
customers to select the products and suppliers best able to solve their
business problem." Initially, customers will be able to access this
marketplace through a major B2B eCommerce platform provider. The company
expects to announce specifics in the near future.
Olig joined Grainger in 1987 as a Product Manager, responsible for
industrial storage and material handling equipment. She was promoted to
Catalog Preparation Manager, where she successfully led the transition to
in-house desktop publishing. In 1997 she moved to Grainger Internet Commerce
as director, business development. Olig most recently was a senior member of
the OrderZone.com management team.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), with 1999 sales of $4.5 billion, is the
leading North American provider of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO)
supplies, services, and related information to businesses and institutions.
GWW shares are traded on the New York and Chicago stock exchanges. For more
information, visit Grainger on-line at http://www.grainger.com .
This document contains statements that are not historical facts and are
forward-looking. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company's
current expectations and some of them are subject to risks and uncertainties
the outcome of which could result in actual future performance being
materially different from the performance indicated. They should be read in
conjunction with the Company's most recent annual report, as well as the
Company's Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, containing a discussion of the Company's business and of various
factors that may affect it.
SOURCE W.W. Grainger Inc.
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CONTACT:
Janis K. Tratnik of W.W. Grainger Inc.,
847-535-4339
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