STIHL
German outdoor power equipment maker founded in 1926, sold exclusively through servicing dealers.
STIHL has held to dealer-only distribution while most competitors moved into big-box retail, on the argument that professional equipment needs a servicing relationship behind it.
Why that matters to contractors
A landscape crew with a saw down loses a day. Dealer proximity and parts availability outrank price, and STIHL’s entire channel strategy is built on that calculation.