GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL
Professional services
UnclaimedGlobal Industrial Company is a North American distributor of industrial, maintenance, repair and operating supplies serving businesses through e-commerce, catalogs and relationship-based sales.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Global Industrial Company is a Port Washington, New York–based distributor and corporate brand focused on industrial, maintenance, repair and operating products. Its principal commercial identity is Global Industrial, which serves business, institutional and government customers through branded e-commerce websites, direct-response channels, call centers and relationship-oriented sales. The company offers a broad assortment intended to support workplaces, warehouses, factories, offices, commercial facilities and public-sector operations. The business began in 1949 in Queens, New York, as Global Equipment Company, founded by Michael and Paul Leeds as a supplier of material-handling equipment. Its early activities centered on practical equipment used to move, store and organize materials. The company later expanded beyond its original category and entered direct marketing in 1972, establishing a distribution model that could reach business customers without relying solely on physical branches. Technology products became an important part of the company’s development during the 1980s. The business began marketing computer equipment in 1981 and expanded through acquisitions of computer-supply companies in the United States and Europe. By the early 1990s, the broader organization had developed into a sizeable direct marketer with international operations and revenue approaching $180 million, according to the cited historical material. The corporate identity changed several times as its activities broadened: the company adopted the name Global Direct-mail in 1995, changed to Systemax in 1999, and ultimately adopted Global Industrial Company in 2021. Under the Systemax name, the organization operated a portfolio that extended well beyond industrial distribution. It acquired or controlled technology and consumer-electronics businesses and brands including CompUSA, Circuit City and TigerDirect, while also building European business-to-business technology operations. These activities included the acquisition of CompUSA’s brand, trademarks and e-commerce business in 2008; the purchase of Circuit City intellectual property in 2009; the acquisition of WStore Europe later in 2009; and the purchase of SCC Services in the Netherlands in 2014, which became Misco Solutions. The company subsequently divested much of its technology portfolio, including the sale of TigerDirect-related assets in 2015 and the disposal of European technology operations between 2016 and 2018. The present-facing business is centered on Global Industrial and related industrial-distribution activities. Subsidiaries and divisions identified in the reference material include Nexel, Infotel, C&H Distributors and Avenue Industrial Supply Company. The company markets more than one million products through online channels and a call-center infrastructure, covering material handling, storage, safety, facility maintenance, janitorial supplies, packaging, furniture, office products, tools and related operating needs. The model combines a large digital catalog with product expertise and account-oriented service. Global Industrial has operated under a corporate structure that has also been associated with the New York Stock Exchange-listed Systemax organization. The brand is primarily North American in commercial orientation, with Global Industrial and related websites serving customers in the United States and Canada. Its positioning is that of a broad-line, business-to-business industrial supplier: customers can consolidate recurring operational purchases across many product categories rather than source every item from specialized vendors. The company’s history also includes accounting restatements and significant legal controversies involving former executives of the former technology-products organization, matters that belong to the history of the wider corporate group rather than to ordinary product operations.
History
Global Industrial Company traces its origins to 1949, when Michael and Paul Leeds established Global Equipment Company in Queens, New York, as a material-handling supplier. The business initially focused on equipment used in warehouses and industrial settings. In 1972 it entered direct marketing, an important structural change that allowed it to sell to business customers through catalogs and other remote channels rather than depending exclusively on field sales or local facilities. The company expanded its scope during the 1980s. It began marketing computer equipment in 1981 and grew through acquisitions of businesses supplying technology products. This development brought the organization into broader direct-to-business distribution and contributed to expansion across the United States and parts of Europe. The corporate name changed to Global Direct-mail in 1995 and to Systemax in 1999, reflecting the wider group’s evolution beyond its original equipment business. During the Systemax era, the group operated both industrial-distribution and technology-oriented businesses. It acquired the CompUSA brand and related e-commerce operations in 2008, purchased Circuit City intellectual property in 2009, acquired WStore Europe in 2009, and bought SCC Services in the Netherlands in 2014, subsequently calling that business Misco Solutions. In 2015, it acquired Plant Equipment Group, a North American MRO direct marketer, reinforcing the industrial side of the portfolio. The group later reduced its exposure to consumer and business technology retail. It sold TigerDirect-related North American assets to PCM in 2015, disposed of Misco Germany to CANCOM in 2016, sold most European Technology Products Group businesses in 2017, and completed the sale of its France-based IT business to Bechtle in 2018. These transactions concentrated the organization more heavily on its industrial and MRO distribution activities. The company adopted the name Global Industrial Company in 2021. Global Industrial became the primary customer-facing identity, supported by e-commerce sites, call-center sales and relationship marketers. The business offers a catalog reported to contain more than one million products, including material-handling equipment, storage, safety, facility maintenance, janitorial, packaging, shipping, office and workplace products. Named subsidiaries and divisions include Nexel, Infotel, C&H Distributors and Avenue Industrial Supply Company. The broader corporate history includes governance and accounting controversies. Results for earlier periods were restated in 2005 after inventory-accounting errors were identified. In 2011, former technology-group executive Gilbert Fiorentino was placed on administrative leave and later resigned; the SEC subsequently brought charges relating to undisclosed compensation and company merchandise. In 2014, Gilbert and Carl Fiorentino pleaded guilty in a separate supplier-kickback matter. These events concerned former Systemax technology operations and executives, but are relevant to the history of the corporate entity from which Global Industrial developed. Today, Global Industrial is positioned as a North American business-to-business distributor. Its value proposition is breadth of assortment, availability of operational supplies, online ordering and support for recurring procurement needs across industrial, commercial, institutional and government workplaces.
- 2021
Corporate name changes to Global Industrial Company
[1]The organization adopts Global Industrial Company as its corporate name, aligning the corporate identity with its industrial-distribution focus.
- 2018
French IT business sold to Bechtle
[1]Systemax completes the sale of its France-based IT business to Bechtle AG.
- 2016
German operations sold to CANCOM
[1]Systemax sells its Misco Germany assets to CANCOM SE.
- 2015
Plant Equipment Group acquisition and technology divestiture
[1]The company acquires Plant Equipment Group while selling TigerDirect-related business-to-business assets to PCM.
- 2014
Misco Solutions acquisition
[1]Systemax acquires SCC Services in the Netherlands and renames the subsidiary Misco Solutions.
- 2009
Circuit City and WStore transactions
[1]Systemax acquires Circuit City intellectual property and announces the purchase of European business IT supplier WStore Europe.
- 2008
CompUSA acquisition
[1]Systemax agrees to acquire CompUSA’s brand, trademarks, e-commerce business and selected stores.
- 1999
Corporate name changes to Systemax
[1]The company adopts the Systemax name as its activities expand across industrial and technology distribution.
- 1995
Corporate name changes to Global Direct-mail
[1]The business adopts Global Direct-mail as its corporate name.
- 1981
Computer-product marketing begins
[1]The company adds computer equipment to its marketed product range.
Products and positioning
A broad-line business-to-business distributor offering industrial, MRO, workplace and facility products through digital commerce, direct marketing and relationship-based sales.
Industrial equipment
Material-handling equipment
Products for moving, lifting, positioning and handling goods and materials in warehouses, factories and commercial facilities. This category reflects the company’s original business focus and remains central to its industrial-distribution identity.
Warehouse and facility equipment
Storage and shelving
Shelving, racks, cabinets and related organization products designed for warehouses, stockrooms, workshops, offices and other operating environments. Nexel is identified among the company’s associated product and business names.
Industrial safety
Safety and workplace products
A range of workplace safety and personal-protection products intended to support hazard control, employee protection and compliant facility operations across industrial and commercial settings.
MRO and facility supplies
Facility maintenance and janitorial supplies
Maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and facility-operation products for businesses, institutions and public-sector workplaces. These products support routine upkeep rather than a single specialized industrial process.
Distribution supplies
Packaging and shipping supplies
Packaging, shipping and material-distribution products used to prepare, protect, store and move goods. The category complements the company’s warehouse and logistics assortment.
Workplace products
Office and commercial furniture
Furniture and office-related products for commercial, institutional and workplace environments, extending the catalog beyond factory and warehouse equipment into general facility procurement.
Controversies
2014
Supplier kickback convictions
Gilbert and Carl Fiorentino pleaded guilty in connection with a supplier kickback scheme involving the former Systemax technology business and concealed supplier-related financial interests.
2012
SEC case involving former executive compensation
The SEC charged former Systemax director and technology-group executive Gilbert Fiorentino over allegedly undisclosed compensation and company merchandise obtained from firms doing business with Systemax. He agreed to a fine and a permanent public-company officer and director bar.
2005
Inventory-accounting restatements
The company restated results for earlier periods after discovering inventory-accounting errors involving its British operation and TigerDirect unit.
Brand decisions
2021
Adopt the Global Industrial Company nameStrategyBackground
The corporate portfolio had become more focused on industrial and MRO distribution after the disposal of several technology businesses.
Action taken
The company changed its corporate name from Systemax to Global Industrial Company.
Aftermath
The corporate identity became more closely aligned with the Global Industrial customer-facing brand.
2015
Acquire Plant Equipment GroupM&ABackground
The company sought to strengthen its North American industrial and MRO distribution platform.
Action taken
Systemax acquired Plant Equipment Group from TAKKT America.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the group’s business-to-business MRO presence.
2015
Sell TigerDirect-related assetsStrategyBackground
Systemax began reducing its exposure to technology retail and related business-to-business technology operations.
Action taken
The company sold certain North American Technology Group assets, including TigerDirect, to PCM.
Aftermath
The divestiture contributed to a concentration on industrial distribution and MRO products.
Recent events
Reported
Global Industrial and OMNIA Partners expand public-sector procurement partnership[3]
Global Industrial announced a nationwide cooperative contract with OMNIA Partners for public-sector procurement, expanding their existing private-sector partnership.
Global Industrial appoints Adina Storch as senior vice president and general counsel[4]
Global Industrial announced Adina Storch's appointment as senior vice president and general counsel; she will also serve as corporate secretary to the company's board.
Reported
Systemax reports third-quarter 2019 results[5]
Systemax announced its third-quarter 2019 financial results, reporting consolidated sales of $243.9 million, up 3.4% year over year.
Sources12 sources
- 1Global Industrial Companyen.wikipedia.org
- 2Global Industrial official websiteglobalindustrial.com
- 3Global Industrial与OMNIA Partners拓展公共部门采购合作finanznachrichten.de
- 4Global Industrial任命Adina Storch为高级副总裁兼总法律顾问dallassun.com
- 5Systemax公布2019年第三季度业绩finanznachrichten.de
- 6Global Industrial Company Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Resultsfinanznachrichten.de
- 7Global Industrial Company Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Resultscaliforniatelegraph.com
- 8Global Industrial Company Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Resultsfinanznachrichten.de
- 9Systemax Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Resultsfinanznachrichten.de
- 10Systemax Reports Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Resultsfinanznachrichten.de
- 11Systemax Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Resultsfinance.yahoo.com
- 12Systemax Reports Second Quarter 2020 Financial Resultsfinanznachrichten.de
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