EastwoodCo

The Eastwood Company is a seller of automotive restoration products, headquartered in Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1978, the company was started by Curt Stroker. "Do-It-Yourself" and "Do the Jobs Right" are the mottos of the company.[1]

Eastwood Company
TypePrivate
IndustryAutomotive Restoration, automotive tools
Founded1978
Headquarters
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
,
United States of America
Key people
Curt Strohacker, Chief Executive Officer
Brian Huck, President
ParentKian Capital

History

Eastwood started in a garage in suburban Philadelphia in 1978, with the founder, Curt Strohacker, selling buffing wheels and compounds with tiny 1/4-page ads in automotive magazines.[2] Today, the company staff works out of a distribution and headquarters facility in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, mailing millions of full-color catalogs annually, and running the Eastwood.com e-commerce website.[3] In 2019, Kian Capital acquired Eastwood Company.[4]

Expansion and growth

The first Eastwood catalog featured eight black and white pages of metal finishing equipment. By the early 1980s, the continued success took the catalog mailing operation into a professional list house.[3] It reached 5,000 names by 1981 and kept growing. In addition to catalog marketing, Eastwood sold its products directly at selected car shows.[5]

By 1984 and 1985, company ads would appear in more than fifty publications, including Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Popular Mechanics. The catalog prospered as well, growing to 96 pages with a four-color cover by 1986.[5] Circulation reached more than 100,000 auto restorers, who received six issues per year.[6]

By the end of the 1980s, the Eastwood customer file for custom and automotive restoration enthusiasts easily passed the half-million mark.[3]

Products

Eastwood's assortment has grown to include over 5,000 products, including rust preventatives, specialty coatings, paints, chemicals, powder coating, welding and metal fabrication equipment, pressure blasters, and more.[6]

Awards and recognition
  • 1998: The Pennsylvania Governor's award for "Environmental Excellence[7]
  • 1999: Automotive Restoration Market Organization's "Best New Product"[8]
  • 2011: Winner of Popular Mechanic's™ Magazine Editor's Choice Award for Product Innovation and Design[9]
  • 2012: Winner of Popular Mechanic's Magazine Editor's Choice Award for MIG Spot Weld Kit[10]

References
  1. "Eastwood Celebrates 35th Anniversary - Street Rodder Magazine". Streetrodderweb.com. 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  2. "Eastwood Celebrates 35th Anniversary with New Website and Retail Store Re-Opening". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  3. "Eastwood Case_Study" (PDF). Magentocommerce.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  4. "Kian Capital Transaction Announcement – The Eastwood Company". Kian Capital. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  5. "Eastwood - tools Catalog featured by CatalogY.com - A catalog of catalogs - free catalogs - online catalogs". Catalogy.com. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  6. Photography by Drew Hardin; Planet R; Randy Lorentzen (2006-08-09). "Ultimate Paint and Body Guide Part 4 - The War Against Rust - Hot Rod Magazine". Hotrod.com. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  7. "The Eastwood Company (usa) - Company Profile". Hellotrade.com. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  8. "ARMO Award Winners | Specialty Equipment Market Association". Sema.org. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  9. "2011 SEMA Editor's Choice Awards". Popular Mechanics. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  10. "Best Car Tech of SEMA: 2012 Editors' Choice Awards". Popular Mechanics. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
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