News Release

TORONTO, July 24, 2012- Acklands-Grainger Inc., Canada’s largest distributor of industrial, safety and fastener products, recently launched new and improved features to its website designed to help customers navigate to products and solutions more quickly and efficiently.
"Customers tell us they need a partner to help them increase productivity and profitability," said Mike Duggan, eCommerce Director, Acklands-Grainger. "These enhancements make it easy for customers to find the products they need and consolidate their purchases on acklandsgrainger.com, increasing efficiency and helping to improve their bottom line.”
Specific features include:

• Improved ordering functionality.  A customer utility toolbar was added to streamline how customers order through the website. This feature provides access to order history, personalizes order lists, details for products selected for purchase, and the ability to view locations for pick up convenience.

• Enhanced search.  With product search generating 75 percent of website traffic, the goal was to make the search experience as seamless as possible.  The product tab now includes 200+ subcategories to help customers narrow their search faster right from the home page. In addition, the company added a new product detail page that includes enhanced images and product specific information to help customers make more informed buying decisions.

 “We continue to benchmark ourselves against world class industries to make sure we are delivering the best possible online experience,” said Mike.  “These enhancements are a foundational step in our ongoing commitment to evolve as the needs of our customers change.”

About Acklands-Grainger Inc.

Founded in 1889, Acklands-Grainger is Canada’s largest distributor of industrial, safety and fastener products, with over 120,000 in-stock products available from 175 branches and six distribution centres coast to coast to coast. For more information about Acklands-Grainger, please visit www.acklandsgrainger.com.

Its parent company, W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2011 sales of $8.1 billion, is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, with expanding global operations. For more information about the company, visit www.grainger.com/investor.

English Media Contact:
Kelly France
847-535-1433
kelly.france@grainger.com