The Hillman Group Celebrates 60+ Years of Innovation and Growth on Inside Business Today with Bill & Giuliana Rancic

CEO Jon Michael Adinolfi Shares Hillman’s Blueprint for Growth, Customer Commitment, and Path Toward $2.5 Billion in Sales in Exclusive Segment

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Hillman Group, a leading North American provider of hardware products and services for retail, professional distribution, and industrial MRO customers, will be featured on Inside Business Today, hosted by Bill Rancic and Giuliana Rancic. President and Chief Executive Officer Jon Michael Adinolfi shares how Hillman is building on more than six decades of experience while executing a strategic blueprint designed to expand its categories, strengthen its core business, grow in the professional channel, and create long-term value. The feature story will air nationally on Bloomberg Television as sponsored programming on September 18, 2026 at 10:30 PM CST / 8:30 PM PST.

Founded in Cincinnati in 1964 by Max Hillman Sr. and his wife, Alice, Hillman began when the couple borrowed $2,000 from a family member to purchase a small fastener franchise. Drawing on nearly two decades of sales, warehousing, and distribution experience, Max built the business around a straightforward philosophy: provide reliable products, deliver exceptional service, and build strong relationships that help customers succeed.

More than 60 years later, those principles remain at the heart of Hillman. Today, the company offers a portfolio of more than 111,000 SKUs spanning fasteners, hardware, gloves and work gear, key duplication services, and other essential categories. Supported by more than 1,200 field sales professionals and a direct-to-store distribution model, Hillman combines broad product expertise with hands-on service designed to help its retail and professional customers grow.
During the Inside Business Today interview, Adinolfi discusses Hillman’s blueprint for value creation and its long-term path toward becoming a $2.5 billion business. Central to that strategy is continued growth within Hillman’s core categories, expanding its customer footprint, pursuing strategic acquisitions, entering adjacent categories, and accelerating the company’s presence among professional customers.

Expansion into the Pro channel represents a significant opportunity for the company, increasing Hillman’s target addressable market from approximately $6 billion to $12 billion. By combining its established retail expertise with products and solutions designed for professionals who fix, build, and create every day, Hillman is positioning itself to serve an even broader segment of the hardware market.

The segment also highlights what has differentiated Hillman throughout its history: an exceptional service model built around close customer relationships. Hillman’s extensive field organization, direct-to-store capabilities, category management expertise, global sourcing network, and focus on innovation allow the company to provide a level of support that extends far beyond simply putting products on the shelf.

That commitment to innovation can be seen across Hillman’s product portfolio, including its Power Pro Wood Screw and Structural Screw programs, as well as investments in the infrastructure supporting its customers. Hillman is opening what it calls its “distribution center of the future” in Forest Park, Ohio—near the same community where the company’s story began more than six decades ago. The investment represents a full-circle moment for Hillman, connecting its Cincinnati roots with the technology, scale, and operational capabilities needed for its next chapter of growth.

“Hillman is a great example of an American business that has never stopped evolving,” said Bill and Giuliana Rancic. “They’ve built tremendous scale while maintaining the customer relationships, service, and values that have been part of the company from the beginning.”

“We’re excited to feature The Hillman Group on Inside Business Today,” said Gila Stern, Vice President of Production. “Their story combines an incredible entrepreneurial legacy with a clear vision for the future. From expanding into the Pro market and investing in innovation to strengthening distribution and customer service, Hillman demonstrates how a company can honor its roots while continuing to find new opportunities for growth.”

Adinolfi also discusses the people and culture behind Hillman’s success. Recognized as a USA Today Top Workplaces award winner, the company has refreshed its vision, mission, and values to align its team around its next phase of growth. Its vision—to be the most trusted hardware partner for its customers, owning retail, DIY, and the Pro—is supported by core values centered on People First, Accountability and Ownership, Customer Commitment, Integrity & Trust, and Resilience.

For Adinolfi, Hillman’s connection to the people it serves is also personal. With both his father and grandfather having worked in the trades, he understands firsthand the importance of dependable products to the professionals who rely on them every day. That connection reinforces Hillman’s commitment to delivering quality products, exceptional service, and solutions customers can trust.

As Hillman looks toward the future, its focus remains on disciplined growth, innovation, strategic expansion, and strengthening the partnerships that have fueled the company for more than six decades.

Tune in to Inside Business Today on Bloomberg Television (sponsored programming) on September 18, 2026 at 10:30 PM CST / 8:30 PM PST to learn how The Hillman Group is building on its legacy while pursuing an ambitious new era of growth.

To learn more about The Hillman Group, visit hillmangroup.com. Hillman is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker HLMN.

About The Hillman Group
Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, The Hillman Group is a leading provider of hardware products and services to retail, professional distribution, and industrial MRO customers across North America. With a portfolio of more than 111,000 SKUs, more than 1,200 field sales professionals, direct-to-store distribution capabilities, and more than 60 years of industry expertise, Hillman delivers innovative products and exceptional service designed to help its customers succeed. The company serves DIYers and professional customers alike with solutions for people who fix, build, and create. Learn more at hillmangroup.com.

About Inside Business Today
Inside Business Today, hosted by Bill and Giuliana Rancic, is a premier business series exploring innovation, leadership, and transformative ideas across industries. Airing on Bloomberg Television (as sponsored programming) and ReachTV, the show inspires audiences with insights from visionaries driving meaningful change. Learn more at www.insidebusinesstoday.com

Gila Stern
Inside Business Today/ Life+Leisure
+1 312-620-6522
email us here

Media gallery