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The 1960's |
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In 1962, Robert F. Burkhardt and the late James I. FitzGibbon pooled their
retail and turf management backgrounds to form the company that is now LESCO®,
Inc. LESCO, originally known as Lakeshore Equipment and Supply Co., began as a
local supplier of turf maintenance equipment to the markets surrounding its
Cleveland, Ohio headquarters. They began, as we have continued, listening to
customers' needs and going directly to them with the highest quality products
at competitive prices. |
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The 1970's |
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The company formulated the first LESCO fertilizer, opened the world's first
sulfur-coated urea plant, and began calling on customers with its
ground-breaking Stores-On-Wheels®. |
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The 1980's |
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The Company went public (NASDAQ: LSCO) and changed its name from Lakeshore
Equipment and Supply Co. to LESCO, Inc. During the 1980s LESCO manufactured its
first piece of equipment, a rotary spreader – now the industry standard – and
began manufacturing commercial lawn mowers for golf course fairways and greens.
LESCO's technical expertise led to the development of several proprietary
turfgrass seeds and the company's first patent for a Jet-Action Deflector.
Poised for growth, the Company opened it's first LESCO Service Center® in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida. and continued to grow. LESCO ended the decade with 42
Stores-On-Wheels and 39 LESCO Service Centers. |
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The 1990's |
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LESCO focused on production capacity and market expansion.
Production increased with the opening of three facilities – the world's largest
sulfur-coated fertilizer production plant, a 65,000-square-foot turfgrass
facility in Oregon, and a fertilizer blending plant in Florida. LESCO purchased
Pro-Lawn, Tri-Delta Fertilizer, Agriturf, and Cadwell & Jones,
strengthening LESCO service and distribution in the Northeastern and Western
U.S. markets. LESCO also joined with MTD Products to establish Commercial Turf
Products, Ltd., further expanding the Company’s equipment manufacturing
ability.
As the decade ended, LESCO ran nearly 200 Service Centers. The Company had
grown to be the leading U.S. manufacturer and distributor of turf and lawn care
products, operating facilities from coast-to-coast, and distributing products
in Europe, Australia and the Caribbean. |
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LESCO Today |
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With 40+ years of manufacturing and distribution expertise,
LESCO has earned the reputation as “The Professionals’ Choice.” More than
130,000 lawn care and golf course professionals depend on LESCO products and
services every day.
Plus, the company has resumed growing under the new management team that took
over in 2002. In 2004, LESCO opened its 250th Service Center, and the company
finished the year with 274 Service Centers in 39 states and 72
Stores-on-Wheels. The Company also finished the year with a record $563 million
in sales.
LESCO continues expanding its LESCO-branded family of products with industry
leaders such as Pre-M, Prosecutor, 18+, Spectator and CrossCheck.
Service innovations include LESCO’s new Web site.
LESCODirect™ makes it easy for you to order and receive products, like
fertilizer, insecticides or herbicides. Shop LESCODirect at your convenience,
receive your order via direct shipment or pick it up at a local LESCO Service
Center.
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Milestones |
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- 1962 |
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James I. FitzGibbon and Robert F. Burkhardt founded
Lakeshore Equipment and Supply Co. |
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- 1965 |
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Exhibited at the national GCSAA Show for the first time.
Published first issue of LESCO News. |
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- 1974 |
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Formulated the first LESCO-branded fertilizer at Wellington,
Ohio. |
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- 1976 |
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Began marketing to golf courses in Florida with the first
LESCO Store-On-Wheels |
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- 1978 |
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Opened the world’s first commercial plant to manufacture
sulfur-coated urea fertilizer. |
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- 1982 |
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Launched equipment manufacturing operations with the LESCO
spreader – now the industry standard. |
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- 1983 |
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Began manufacturing fairway and greens mowers. Company
headquarters relocated to Rocky River, OH, a Cleveland suburb. |
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- 1984 |
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Changed name officially to LESCO, Inc; Made first initial
public stock offering. |
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- 1985 |
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Opened the first drive-through LESCO Service Center in Ft.
Lauderdale, FL. Received our first patent, for a Jet-Action Deflector. |
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- 1986 |
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Formulated ELITE micro-particle fertilizer for greens and
tees. |
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- 1987 |
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Celebrated 25 years of growth and service in the
professional turf industry. |
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- 1988 |
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Passed the $100 million mark in annual sales. Grew
distribution to 42 Stores-On-Wheels and 39 LESCO Service Centers. |
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- 1989 |
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Began fertilizer production at Martins Ferry, OH plant, the
largest in the world for sulfur-coated urea. |
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- 1990 |
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Opened the 50th LESCO Service Center. |
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- 1993 |
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Passed the 100 store mark for LESCO Service Centers.
Completed secondary public offering. |
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- 1994 |
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Opened 35 more LESCO Service Centers, growing distribution
by one-third. Named first overseas distributor for LESCO to serve the European
markets. |
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- 1995 |
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Launched 35 new Service Centers. Entered the Australian and
Caribbean markets. |
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- 1996 |
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Built a 65,000 sq. ft. processing facility for turfgrass
seed in Silverton, OR. Acquired the assets of Pro-Lawn, a supplier of products
for the golf and professional turf care in the northeast. Launched Commercial
Turf Products, Ltd., specializing in commercial equipment production. |
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- 1997 |
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Entered the Western U.S. market with the acquisition of
Tri-Delta Fertilizer of Stockton, CA. Began equipment manufacturing at the
Commercial Turf Products plant. |
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- 1998 |
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Opened 20 additional LESCO Service Centers. Brought
fertilizer blending plant in Sebring, FL online. Acquired Agriturf, Inc. and
Cadwell & Jones, strengthening LESCO’s presence in the northeastern
markets. |
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- 1999 |
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Launched the Viper ZTR™ commercial mower. |
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- 2001 |
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Moved into new world headquarters in Strongsville, OH, a
suburb of Cleveland. |
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- 2002 |
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Michael DiMino was named the company’s President & Chief
Executive Officer. |
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- 2003 |
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LESCO opened 21 new Service Centers – its first new location
in nearly five years. |
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- 2004 |
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Opened 27 additional Service Centers, including the
company’s 250th such location. Moved the company into new headquarters facility
in Cleveland, Ohio. Introduced the company’s innovative Web site, LESCODirect.
Finished the year with a record $563 million in sales. |
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- 2005 |
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LESCO continues growing its national coverage of LESCO
Service Centers by opening 300th location. In addition, the company debuts a
new Store-on-Wheels model that allows it to increase the number of
Stores-on-Wheels on the road from 72 to more than 110 during the year. The
company also named Jeff Rutherford its new Chief Executive Officer.
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