| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Traded as | NASDAQ: OSH |
| Industry | Retail – Home Improvement |
| Founded | San Jose, California (1931) |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California, United States |
| Number of locations | 89 (2010) |
| Products | Home Improvement products |
| Employees | 6,500 |
| Website | website |
Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation (OSH) is a California-based "Do-It-Yourself" home and garden retailer. Headquartered in San Jose, California, OSH is a leading chain of home improvement and garden retail stores with nearly 100 locations throughout the state of California.
OSH primarily serves retail DIY and commercial customers. The core products at OSH consist of merchandise needed for recurring home maintenance and improvement in categories such as hardware, paint, tools, nursery and garden, including major appliances in select locations. In addition, OSH carries an assortment of exclusive Sears brands such as Kenmore and Craftsman.
Orchard Supply Hardware, incorporated in 1931 as Orchard Supply by 30 farmers, mostly prune growers who banded together to form a cooperative to buy essential farm supplies. Each farmer put up $30 and Orchard Supply Company was born.[1]
The company began as a cooperative and by 1946 the original 30 farmers had been joined by almost 2000 other members. By 1950 the electronics industry began booming in the Santa Clara Valley, which flourished an abundance of new home owners in the San Francisco Bay Area. The orchards became residential neighborhoods and Orchard Supply Company became Orchard Supply Hardware retail store.[1] OSH was purchased by Sears in 1996, and in 2005 sold a 19.9% interest to Ares Management of Los Angeles, announcing expansion plans at the time [2] which have not occurred as of February 2011.
OSH was spun out of Sears Holdings in 2012, and became a public company.[3]