Today, Fastenal is many things to many different customers, an expert consultant, a logistics company, a technology provider, and more generally a distributor of wide-ranging industrial and construction products. These aspects of service share a common foundation: great people, close to our customers.
Our service model centers on approximately 3,200 in-market locations (a combination of public branches and customer-specific onsites), each providing custom inventory and a dedicated sales team to support local customers. These locations are supported by our global distribution network, a closely-aligned supplier network, robust sourcing, quality and manufacturing resources, and multiple teams of subject matter experts and support personnel – all working toward Fastenal’s common goal of Growth Through Customer Service®.
People
Like any organization, we succeed to the extent that we bring out and utilize the creativity of each team member. The key: a culture that challenges and empowers people rather than placing limits on them. Here are a few foundational principles:
Decentralization: relying on those closest to the customer (or the issue at hand) to think creatively, make decisions, and take effective action. The result is an environment where innovation flows from every direction, not just from the top down.
Opportunity: By rewarding success and developing leaders internally, we foster an exceptionally motivated and engaged team – entrepreneurial individuals who “think big” for our company and our customers.
Training: Each year, Fastenal employees complete roughly hundreds of thousands of courses via the Fastenal School of Business (our multi-platform corporate university), on average receiving 16 hours of FSB training during the year to enhance their skills and knowledge.
