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About Us
About the company
Innovative Tools & Technologies designs and manufactures work and parts management systems for the automotive, aviation, material handling and home markets.
The Innovative Tools & Technologies Story
A super solution for business over a barrel
Since 1996, Innovative Tools & Technologies has dedicated its resources to helping customers be more efficient, productive – and profitable – with its uniquely designed and virtually indestructible work and parts management systems.
The company evolved out of necessity. Founder Bryan Johnson, an auto body technician for more than 21 years, was literally over a barrel, as was the rest of the auto body repair industry.
At that time, plastic bumper covers were placed over trash barrels for painting, baking and curing, and the end result was often “trash:” uneven paint coverage, unpredictable texture and distorted shape. Not to mention the tedious set-up process. There had to be a better way to support and secure bumpers during the repair and paint process, and Bryan created it: the SuperStand.
Not only did the SuperStand take bumper quality to the next level, it saved at least half an hour of labor per bumper, paying for itself in less than a month. Bryan’s colleagues saw the system and had to have it. Other shops heard about the super-star bumper stand and ordered it.
Managing work and parts in multiple markets worldwide
Soon, Bryan quit his day job in order to meet demand and develop other products to solve customer workflow and parts management challenges. Once again, word spread about the company’s workhorse products, and Innovative entered the aviation, materail handling and home markets with the promise of enhanced productivity and quality output at a fair price.
Today, more than 100,000 Innovative products are in use throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, and Innovative’s customers range from small shops to huge corporations to home handymen. These customers sum up Innovative products’ appeal: “Problem solved,” “Cool products” and “I couldn’t imagine operating without them.”
Innovative’s headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Innovative maintains sizable product inventories to ensure next business day shipping.
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Business Philosophy
The Innovative way – nothing less than the best
Innovative customers have learned that the company offers the best-designed, highest-quality products at the best price – all backed by the industry’s best warranty. The benefits? Increased productivity, quality throughput and profitability. Not to mention less clutter, and fewer lost parts and tempers.
Innovative earns its business by making its customers’ work and parts management processes more efficient, more profitable. By walking the talk and sticking to its core values.
Innovative values
- Adhere to highest ethical standards
- Treat customers, employees and vendors fairly
- Apply innovative design to solve customer problems, improve productivity
- Conduct strict quality control throughout – from products to packaging to service
- Utilize the highest quality materials and workmanship
- Fulfill orders fast – ship same or next business day
- Stand behind products with top-notch warranty
- Provide person-to-person service, go the extra mile for the customer
- Always put the customer first
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The Innovative Difference
Innovative invented the work and parts management systems segment of the automotive repair industry with its one-of-a-kind, ingenious solutions to customer problems. Others have attempted to replicate its products, but Innovative customers know the difference and pass the word along.
- Better design with fewer moving parts for a long lifetime
- Unparalleled workmanship and materials
- Innovative throughout – multi-use, space-saving, mobile to move with the user’s work flow
- The industry’s best, three-year warranty – although it’s never been utilized!
- Attention to the little things that create superior service such as “goodwill” small parts replacement
- Listening to the customer to create products that solve problems and make the job easier
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Innovative Leadership
Innovative has a flat, open leadership structure where each team member picks up the phone, listens to customers and builds personal relationships. Managers are empowered to go beyond their normal job boundaries to act as company ambassadors, business and market development specialists, and customer advocates. They know the company and its products inside and out, and take the initiative to support customers – often beyond the scope of Innovative’s products and services.
Bryan started Innovative in his garage more than a dozen years ago and incorporated the company in 1996. An auto body technician for more than 21 years, Bryan personally experienced the work challenges faced by shops and initially developed products like the SuperStand for his own use. Word of his ingenuity spread. 3M called upon him as a consultant to test its products for the automotive market and suggest possible enhancements. And when Bryan started Innovative, 3M became a loyal customer as did Snap-On Tools.
Bryan was a one-man band, and the company was entirely self-funded. For several years, word-of-mouth marketing and superior products generated sales momentum. Today, Innovative advertises in industry publications, participates in trade shows, and supplements online, direct sales with a growing global distribution network. The company constant: Bryan remains chief of product design creating products that make work easier and more efficient for Innovative’s customers.
Jason joined Innovative in 2004 after a 10-year career as an auto claims adjuster. Jason brought an insurance industry insider’s perspective to the business. He knew first-hand what auto body shops had to do to win the auto repair business from insurance companies: operate efficiently and provide consistent quality. And he also understood how Innovative could play a major role in that process by enhancing productivity and optimizing workflow for its customers.
Jason learned Innovative’s business from the inside too – from the warehouse to quality control to accounting to sales – ultimately becoming general manager. In that role, he has made the company more efficient and raised its profile with customers, automating processes and spearheading advertising and marketing. Jason is also a key customer contact, listening and learning from customers about their needs, and recommending the right Innovative products to help them out.
The second “Jason,” Jason Hilger, joined Innovative in 2006 from the aviation industry, where he worked as a flight instructor and representative. In that capacity, he had seen aircraft repair facilities storing parts on sawhorses – a situation parallel to that of the automotive repair industry prior to the advent of Innovative and its work and parts management products. Aircraft repair people evidenced the same ingenuity as auto body repair technicians in meeting their work challenges with found “tools.”
Jason identified the need for Innovative’s products and began their introduction into aviation repair and small aircraft manufacture. Today, Innovative advertises and participates in high-profile industry shows and is building a following in the aviation market segment. Jason is also responsible for Innovative’s office and warehouse operations. And like others in the company, he is a skilled listener and identifier of customer needs.
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Testimonials
Customers tell it like it is … “Slicker than pockets”
Organization, efficiency, productivity – couldn’t do without them …
"This is the first product we've ever purchased that was actually better than the brochure described it. My techs just love these things. I couldn't imagine my shop operating without them."
Tony Bonfe
Bonfe's Collision Center
"They're extremely helpful in the organization and efficiency of our shop's cycle times and production. I highly recommend them for all shops wanting to excel in the automotive repair industry!"
Pat Kowalski
Voss Collision Centre
Less mess, fewer lost parts, flexibility – what could be better?
"Now we are more organized with less mess and spend less time looking for parts. (Parts Carts are definite time savers!) They are mobile and move easily no matter how much weight we put on them. They are definitely one of the best purchases we have made and we highly recommend them."
Jacki Saint Luron
Pro Body Shop '98 Ltd
"The Parts Carts worked so well keeping our parts organized and free from damage that we've added an additional 12 for a total of 27 and we'll be adding to that. Our stalls stay organized and free of clutter. Couldn't do without them!"
Dusty Womble
Roger Beasley Collision Center
The best efficiency and bottom-line builders – awesome!
"We purchased a half dozen Parts Carts and our efficiency went through the roof!
These carts have streamlined our operation and added to our bottom line.”
"AWESOME parts carts at a great price! Great packaging & fast shipping!"
Highland Auto Body
"This is the first product that we ever bought that was actually BETTER than the brochure said it was going to be."
Advanced Auto Body
"I have several of Innovative Tools products that I've been MORE than happy with.”
Clearwater Collision
"I never write testimonials, but I made an exception here. I told my jobber I needed a wall bumper rack and he brought the MonsterBumper Wall by my shop. I couldn't believe how trick this thing is! Somebody had their thinking cap on when they designed it. Cool product!"
Sean Johnson
Seaside Paint & Body
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