00.00.1948
Acme Electric Motor founded
https://www.acmetools.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-RefArchSharedLibrary/default/dwea85593c/aboutus_timeline/1948-George-In-Garage.jpg
Founder George Kuhlman starts Acme Electric Motor out of a garage, repairing electric motors.
00.00.1951
New Acme Electric Motor location
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New location at 402 South 3rd Street in downtown Grand Forks, ND.
00.00.1955
Motor repair business expands
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Purchases new building at 218 South 3rd Street to expand motor repair business and starts carrying corded power tools.
00.00.1962
Dan Kuhlman joins company
Dan Kuhlman, now president, joins company.
00.00.1967
New retail location
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Builds new retail location at 1705 13th Ave. North in Grand Forks, adding additional retail and warehouse space.
00.00.1970
Slogan incorporated
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Incorporates "The Tool Crib of the North" as slogan with the Acme Electric business name.
00.00.1974
First traveling outside salesman
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First outside salesman starts traveling the state of North Dakota.
00.00.1976
Bismarck store opens
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Second location emerges in the state capital of Bismarck, ND.
00.00.1976
First print catalog
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First print catalog circulated.
00.00.1981
Fargo store opens
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Third location opens up in the state's largest city of Fargo, ND.
00.00.1984
Minot store opens
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Fourth location opens in Minot, ND and Acme now covers the four major cities in the state.
00.00.1985
Mail order business begins
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Starts mail order business by advertising Acme's first print ad in national trade magazines for woodworking machinery.
00.00.1988
Call center expands
Expands call center to handle additional phone traffic from catalog mailings.
00.00.1993
Tool Crib of the North widely accepted
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Tool Crib of the North emerges as a national name with first full-color catalog mailing, promotional mailing and phone in orders across the U.S. from national customers.
00.00.1995
Duluth store opens
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Duluth, MN branch opens in May and becomes the first Minnesota location.
00.00.1995
Rentals begin at Grand Forks location
Starts dedicated rental area in Grand Forks store renting tools.
00.00.1995
Distribution fulfillment center opens
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Distribution fulfillment center is built for shipping and receiving of catalog orders.
00.00.1997
George Kuhlman inducted into Hall of Fame
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George Kuhlman inducted into N.D. Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.
00.06.1998
Acme celebrates 50 yrs.
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Celebrates 50th Anniversary and introduces a mascot into the Tool Crib logo.
00.07.1998
New distribution center built
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New 50,000 sq. ft. distribution center is built in Grand Forks industrial park for catalog and internet sales and doubles the size of existing DC.
00.08.1998
Acme Rents opens in Grand Forks
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New business "Acme Rents" opens next to retail store in Grand Forks to accommodate customer requests of construction equipment and tools for rent.
00.04.1999
Acme arrives online
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Launches one of the first internet websites focusing on the tools and equipment categories.
00.10.1999
Tool Crib of the North sells to Amazon
Tool Crib of the North sells catalog and internet division to Amazon.com while keeping its retail businesses and focuses on store growth.
00.06.2003
Acme acquires Dakota Fastening
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Acquires Dakota Fastening, a fastener business focusing on the nails and staple business.
00.06.2004
Acme acquires Puckett Tools
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Acquires multi-branch location called Puckett Tools out in Des Moines, Waukee, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
00.08.2004
Acme acquires rental store in Bemidji
Acquires equipment & rental store in Bemidji, MN. Bemidji location becomes the third location in the state of MN.
00.11.2005
Plymouth store opens
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Opens largest store at the time of 13,600 sq. ft. of showroom in Plymouth, MN.
00.07.2006
Duluth store moves locations
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Duluth moves into new location and becomes second location branded Acme Tools.
00.02.2010
New name, same company
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A new website and catalog business emerges named Acme Tools. The focus continues on building, remodeling, woodworking, and landscaping tools and equipment.
00.00.2013
Acme celebrates 65 yrs.
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Acme celebrates 65th anniversary.
00.06.2013
Acme Equipment opens in Grand Forks
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New business location called Acme Equipment opens in Grand Forks focusing on construction and landscaping equipment of tractors, skid steers, excavators, riding mowers, trailers, aerial lifts, and light towers for the construction and agriculture industries.
00.08.2013
Williston store opens
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Tenth location opens in Williston, ND as the western part of the state experiences major growth from the oil & gas industry.
00.09.2014
New Distribution Center opens in Grand Forks
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To accommodate for continued business growth, Acme Tools opens a 40,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in the city's Industrial Park.
00.00.2018
Acme celebrates 70 yrs.
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Acme celebrates 70th anniversary.