Fran-Dan Bolt & Screw Corp.

THE NUTS & BOLTS BUSINESS

Fran-Dan Makes Multifaceted, Multigenerational Connections

Vicki Speed

 

Joel Gondelman represents the fourth generation of ownership at Fran-Dan Bolt & Screw.

 

Fran-Dan has supplied fasteners to signature projects including Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel (Big Dig) and Gillette Stadium.

When Francis and Daniel Kagno opened their small hardware store in the middle of Cambridge’s Inman Square in 1939, they likely didn’t envision that their descendants would grow that Massachusetts-based business into an international venture that has persevered for four generations.

Today, still family-owned and operated, Fran-Dan Bolt & Screw Corp. (Fran-Dan) offers one of the largest and most comprehensive standard and specialty fastener inventories in the industry. From anchors, bolts, nuts, washers and screws to struts and custom-made parts in any material, Fran-Dan likely has the fasteners you need when you need them.  

But it’s the people behind the fasteners—four generations of family ownership and, in many cases, employees, that really tells the story of how a small hardware store became a national fastener presence.

Anchored by Family

Francis and Daniel’s hardware store continued a steady growth during and after World War II. They continued to build relationships with customers and vendors in and around Boston and in the northeast during that time of high economic prosperity.

Demand was so high that in 1963, the owners relocated the business from Inman Square to the company’s current location, a 25,000-square-foot office, warehouse and distribution facility in East Cambridge where the sole focus became fasteners.

By 1973, Francis and Daniel’s son, Ira, and Ira’s brother-in-law, Sam Gondelman—both long-time employees— took over operations of the company. Sam’s son, Steven, followed in his father’s footsteps and took over the company as President in 1987. Steven remains an active owner in the business, though his son Joel took over as President in 2005.

Joel reminisces, “My sister, brother and I have worked in the warehouse since we were kids—just like my grandfather, father and great-uncle. I can remember sorting nuts and bolts into boxes at a very young age. Since then, I’ve done everything related to the business except drive delivery trucks.” 

When asked how his company is different from his competitors, Joel responds, “We have a different business model because we’re multigeneration family-owned and operated. There is always a member of the family at the office. We can make decisions on the fly and, with our buying power, we have an extensive inventory that can satisfy any customer’s requirements.”

In fact, the company has a 98% fill rate on orders and an inventory of over 20,000 SKUs.

He adds, “That inventory and our connections with manufacturers allow us to respond to our clients very quickly—and it works. Our philosophy is that you can’t sell it if you don’t have it.”

Over the last two decades, the business has grown exponentially. “The great thing about our business is that we’re essentially recession-proof,” explains Joel. “When construction and manufacturing are good, people need fasteners to build new things. In bad times, they need fasteners for repairs and maintenance.”

Embedded in the Community

As a 78-year-old family-owned and operated business, Joel believes he and his family are able to take a personal and flexible approach to business.“We have formed lifelong relationshipswith our customers and vendors,” he says, “which I believe is one of the keys to our multigenerational success. I’m still working with the same families that my grandfather and father established relationships with 50 or 60 years ago. By knowing our clients’ businesses and understanding their needs, we are better able to serve them.”

It’s working. The company has a global customer base. It recently sent fasteners—in this case, anchor bolts—as far away as Madagascar to help a contractor build a school. However, a large majority of its business is in the northeast. Joel confirms, “Right now, there’s about $8 billion in construction in the Boston area alone. We spend a lot of time serving our customers right here at home.”

The company has been a major supplier to high-profile projects, such as the over $14 billion Central Artery/Tunnel (Big Dig) highway project and the $325 million Gillette Stadium. More recently, the company has signed contracts to provide fasteners for multiple Logan Airport terminal and parking improvement projects, and the new Wynn Boston Harbor Casino. 

Fran-Dan’s mission is to be the premier distributor and supplier of standard and specialty fasteners, limited by no industry or product. If a customer needs a custom part, Fran-Dan can have it manufactured. Joel adds, “We specialize in not being a specialist.” 

Connecting the Next Gen

Currently, the company employs 24 people, which includes Joel’s father, mother, sister and brother. 

Joel adds, “When I first joined the company as a full-time employee 22 years ago, my grandfather was still actively participating in the day-to-day activities. That led to some terrific conversations about the vision of the company moving forward and has helped maintain our core philosophy to do what’s right for the business and our customers.”

Key in those discussions was the importance of its people. Many Fran-Dan employees are multigenerational. Joel’s father’s right-hand man, Jim, has been with the company for 43 years. Jim’s son has been a company salesman for 18 years. The manager of Fran-Dan’s packaging division has been with the company for 40 years and all three of his kids have worked for the company in some capacity.

Joel simply states, “They’re family. They always have been and always will be.” 

He continues to build that “family” by supporting local community programs. Joel partners with the neighboring town of Somerville (a 17-year relationship) to give eligible students real-world work experience. In addition, Joel works with the Cambridge Employment Program (CEP) to hire staff when necessary. Joel continues, “CEP is a great program that focuses on pairing local residents with local businesses. It’s a win-win for business owners, residents and the community.”

Fran-Dan’s focus on family results in a very small turnover of its core employees. “Over half of our employees have been with the company for more than two generations,” he confirms. “You can’t replace loyalty and knowledge—and we value that in our people. We treat people like we would like to be treated.”

Joel doesn't know if his two young daughters or his niece will ever have an interest in the business—though they have worked in the warehouse, just as he did when he was young, sorting nuts and bolts into boxes. If history is any example, they will one day translate those experiences into helping their family’s company continue to connect in Boston, the northeast and around the world as fifth generation owners.