The John Day

The John Day Company is a wholesaler/distributor of agricultural, industrial, material handling, and safety supplies and equipment. The company is a small, family-owned business that has remained successful through the years because of its dedication to provide excellent service and products, along with technical expertise to its customers. The John Day Company, originally the John Day Rubber and Supply Company, was founded in 1909 by John F. Day, Sr. For many years, Mr. Day traveled as a salesman for an agricultural implement wholesale house in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. In 1909, with very little capital, Mr. Day decided to start a company of his own. He persuaded several manufacturers of rakes, hose, and cutlery to allow him to take orders to be shipped by the factory. As the company grew, Mr. Day saw the necessity of carrying a stock of merchandise in Omaha in order to provide better service. The first stock was carried in the front bedroom of his home; it was later moved to a warehouse on 1114 Jackson Street. The addition of mechanical rubber goods, including hose, transmission belts, and packing, led to the development of two distinct divisions: one serving industry and the other serving agricultural implement dealers. In 1997, a safety division was developed, and in 1998, a material handling division was formed. The company felt both were necessary additions in order to better serve the needs of the industrial and agricultural customer. The four divisions enable the company to provide a wide product variation and offer the customer over 50,000 unique items. Each division has separate sales forces while sharing support services. John Day Company employs around one hundred people, maintains three branch operations, and represents over 3,500 manufacturers.