Gardener’s Supply Company

Year Founded: 1983
Employee-Owned Since: 1987 (ESOP); 2009 (100%)
Headquarters: Burlington
Additional Locations: Williston; Milton; Georgia; Lebanon, NH; Hadley, MA
Employees: 250-400
Line of Business: Garden supplies
Website: www.gardeners.com

Gardener’s Supply Company was founded in 1983 as a direct mail catalog and website for home gardeners. From early on in the company’s journey, its founder Will Raap wanted employees at Gardener’s Supply to have a stake in the success of the business and to think about the business through the mindset of an owner.

In 1987, the company started purchasing stock and contributing it to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan with 30 ESOP participants. In 1999, the company borrowed money to purchase more stock for the ESOP and reached 30% employee ownership. In 2006, the company again borrowed money and purchased another 15% of the company for the ESOP. Just a few years later, in 2009, the company borrowed from both the bank and the company’s founder Will Raap to purchase the remaining company stock, making the company 100% employee-owned with 225 ESOP participants at the time.

Read about a chapter in Gardener’s Supply’s journey in this 2018 Vermont Business Magazine article written by VEOC founder Don Jamison.