Young At Heart: A Greer History
Our company had humble beginnings in 1923 in the form of a little store across from Market Square in Edmonton. William E. Greer, known as Bill to his friends, started “Bill Greer Hardware.”
At the time, the major method of transportation was still horse and carriage. Saturdays were particularly busy at the store, with farm wagons surrounding the square, and store hours running from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to accommodate customers that traveled from all areas.
In the mid-1930s, Bill began to notice that the lumber yards were moving into the hardware business, so he started selling cleaning supplies, recognizing that cleaning products provided the opportunity for repeat business. By 1938, the hardware portion of the business was sold, and W.E. Greer Agencies was born. The company moved to 105th Street and 104th Avenue and began selling cleaning and maintenance equipment for institutions and industry.
In 1946, Bill’s son, James Greer, started working for his father in the warehouse after returning home from the war. That same year, W.E. Greer Ltd. joined the National Sanitary Supply Association, which later became the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA). W.E. Greer Ltd. was the first Canadian member.
In 1959, Bill passed away, and James (Jim) took over as president of the company. Under Jim’s leadership, Greer began manufacturing its own cleaning chemicals, starting with a neutral floor cleaner. By 1970, with manufacturing becoming a core focus of the business, the company moved into its current building, complete with a manufacturing plant.
In 1991, John Greer, Bill’s grandson, became president, continuing the family legacy of innovation and customer service.
In 2024, the company enters its fourth generation of leadership, with Justin Greer, Bill’s great-grandson, taking over as president. The original philosophy, started by Bill Greer, still holds today: great products with great customer service. Our company’s strength lies not only in our exceptional cleaning chemicals but also in the value we add through training, reporting, and vendor-managed ordering.
