Don has always been a hard-working, resourceful kind of guy. As a youngster, he grew up on Minnesota's Iron Range and worked at his father's scrap yard. That's where he learned how to recycle old train parts, mining equipment and other industrial scrap. The knowledge he gained in those early days transferred over to his first business venture as a teenager, refurbishing and selling used hydraulic components to loggers...

This early taste of business success led Don to the University of Minnesota – Duluth, where he earned a finance and business degree in 1972. After eight years in the accounting and sales world, a nationwide recession prompted a return to his entrepreneurial roots. In 1981 Don dusted off his hydraulics expertise and set up shop in his garage, selling cylinders, valves and how-to log splitter manuals by mail. It was the start of something much bigger: the birth of Northern Hydraulics. In 1998 the company officially changed its name to Northern Tool + Equipment to better reflect its quickly growing product assortment, and the rest is history.

Sons Ryan and Wade Kotula have been an important part of this company every step of the way. From their early start sweeping floors, mailing catalogs and packing orders, to their valuable time learning the ropes from their father, to their current role as owners, they've worked hand-in-hand with the leadership team to guide the business. Ryan and Wade continue to practice Don's passion for always engaging and listening to the customer, learning the challenges of the people being served, and helping them tackle any job in successful, efficient ways.

From the retail stores, to the manufacturing facilities, to the distribution centers, all the way to the home office, this entrepreneurial spirit carries through the entire Northern Tool team. The company mindset is always open to exploring fresh ideas and challenging team members to use their extensive industry knowledge in creative, helpful and bold new ways. Although we've come a long way from our early emphasis on refurbished parts to our current position as a leader in superior quality tools at great prices, the culture of that garage start-up remains the same. Success grows only by maintaining and cultivating those customer relationships, exactly like Don Kotula has practiced right from the start.

The Perfect Product Lineup

"Quality tools for serious work" isn't just a tagline, it's our company promise. When it comes to selection, Northern Tool doesn't stop at supplying you with over 100,000 tools from the top names in the industry including STIHL, Milwaukee, Honda, and hundreds of other leading national brands. In fact, we take our assortment a step further by designing, building and testing our own exclusive products + equipment, as well. We manufacture and sell NorthStar, Powerhorse, Bannon, Klutch and a host of other premium products you can't get anywhere else. This exceptional lineup ensures that you'll find the right tools and equipment to custom-fit your needs.