If you spend time in woodworking forums, you’ve probably seen posts asking if Grizzly Tools is going out of business. The rumors have been growing louder, especially in the last couple of years. So, let’s look at what’s really happening with Grizzly Tools right now—and what might come next.
Where Did the Rumors Start?
Grizzly Tools, or Grizzly Industrial, has been around since the early 1980s. The company is best known for its bandsaws, planers, lathes, and other woodworking gear. For a long time, you could barely flip through a woodworking magazine without seeing full-page Grizzly ads.
Then, around 2022, that started to change. If you’re used to seeing those trademark green machines in print and online ads, their sudden absence felt odd. Some fans and customers started to worry immediately. Was Grizzly in financial trouble? Were they quietly closing stores or even shutting down for good?
A Shift in Advertising Catches Attention
It isn’t unusual for companies to scale back advertising to cut costs, especially if they’re feeling squeezed. What made the Grizzly situation different? First, the drop was quick and noticeable. Ad pages vanished from magazines throughout 2022 and into 2023.
Many folks in the woodworking community interpreted this as a bad sign. It looked like Grizzly was trying to tighten the belt, maybe to keep afloat. While one slow quarter doesn’t always mean big trouble, a downshift in marketing is often a symptom of deeper challenges.
The Financial Picture: Are Sales Slipping?
Okay, let’s talk numbers for a second. It’s no secret that Grizzly has faced some tough years recently. Reports point to declining sales and a net loss of about $10 million in 2022. That’s not the end of the world for a big company, but it’s not great news, either.
But Grizzly isn’t the only tool brand feeling the pinch. Since the start of the pandemic, the entire hardware and machinery industry has been hit with supply chain problems, increased costs, and unpredictable demand. In Grizzly’s case, the issues seem to have stacked up. Backorders and long shipping delays became more common, frustrating regular customers who rely on fast turnaround for their shops.
Then there’s the matter of competition. Every year, new brands pop up offering cheaper tools, often imported directly from overseas factories. Some of these newcomers lean hard into e-commerce and digital marketing, attracting customers Grizzly might have counted on before.
Supply Chain Snags: More Than Just a Headache
Few companies have been totally spared from the supply chain mess in the past few years. Grizzly was hit hard, especially as they rely on global manufacturing and shipping to stock their tool inventory.
Container shortages, pandemic shutdowns in China, and even U.S. port delays meant some machines just weren’t available. If you were trying to order a Grizzly lathe or planner in 2022, you may have noticed “out of stock” signs that lasted several months at a time.
These disruptions made it tricky for Grizzly to keep up with orders and could have eaten into their sales numbers.
Operations: Still in Business, but With a Few Hiccups
Even with all these difficulties, Grizzly is still operating. They haven’t issued any formal closure announcement. Actually, the company’s been present in the news for other reasons—some routine, some not.
For example, in November 2023, Grizzly announced a product recall for a line of wood lathes. The recall was tied to a safety issue, which isn’t totally unusual for major tool companies. Brands like Ryobi, DeWalt, or Craftsman have all had recalls at some point. The important part is that Grizzly followed the process, which points to the company still being functional and responsible for its products.
Besides that, Grizzly made a move that suggests they’re thinking long-term: In July 2023, they started working with Listrak. Listrak specializes in e-commerce marketing and email campaigns. This partnership is supposed to help Grizzly grow their online presence and boost sales, especially as print ads have become less effective (and more expensive).
If you’ve been getting more targeted emails or notices about online sales, that could be due to this new marketing approach.
E-Commerce Still Chugging Along
Take a look at Grizzly’s official website. The online store is still running, with frequent deals and discounts flashing on the homepage. While some products are out of stock, the company continues to list new items and offer sales promotions.
Most of their customer engagement has shifted online. This is probably a practical move, since more customers are shopping through websites than brick-and-mortar stores these days. It can also help the company save on overhead and target their advertising budget more efficiently.
Product Recalls: A Sign of Trouble, or Just Routine?
Some customers get nervous when they hear about recalls. In Grizzly’s case, the big one was for the G0733 and G0532 variable-speed wood lathes last November. There was a risk of injury if the wood piece came loose at high speed.
While recalls are never fun, they don’t always mean a company is about to go out of business. Usually, it just means they’re following the law when an issue is reported. However, too many recalls in a short time can stress a company’s finances and reputation, especially if they’re already on thin ice.
Grizzly hasn’t had a wave of recalls, but the timing (coupled with all the other challenges) has made a few customers jittery.
Customer Service: Mixed Reviews Lately
If you search for Grizzly on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, you’ll see a fair number of complaints logged in recent years. The issues range from shipping delays to problems getting replacement parts, or slow response times from customer support.
Some complaints are resolved, others not so much. For a company their size, it’s probably expected—especially during a tough financial period with fewer staff. Still, a stack of unresolved complaints can hurt trust, and if customers feel ignored, they sometimes take their money elsewhere.
In woodworking circles, you’ll hear a mix of opinions. Some say Grizzly customer service used to be quick and generous, but that it’s become slower and less responsive in the last year or two.
You might know someone who had to wait months for an order update. Others say their issues were handled, although maybe not as quickly as in the past. It seems support volume and staff changes have caused some hiccups.
Woodworking Community Talks
Nobody likes to see a favorite tool brand struggling. If you look at message boards like Sawmill Creek or Reddit woodworking groups, you’ll find many Grizzly loyalists. Some defend the company, saying these ups and downs are normal and Grizzly will push through.
Others are less hopeful, noting the changes they notice: fewer catalogs, tough returns, and those persistent “out of stock” warnings. There’s a kind of “wait and see” attitude among users who depend on their gear.
Most customers just want the tools they ordered, shipped on time, and in good condition. While rumors of a shutdown might seem dramatic, most evidence points to Grizzly putting in the work to stick around.
So, Is Grizzly Tools Going Out of Business?
Here’s what we know: Grizzly Tools faces real financial pressures. The pandemic, increased competition, and shipping headaches haven’t helped. They’ve pulled back on print ads, lost money in 2022, and wrestled with customer service problems.
But as of now, there isn’t any public announcement of bankruptcy or a shutdown. The company is still selling products online, handling recalls, launching marketing partnerships, and addressing customer complaints. These are not things you typically see from a company that’s closing up shop.
That said, Grizzly has more work to do to regain customer trust and improve its financial health. The situation could keep shifting, especially if supply chains stay unpredictable or if more competition steals away loyal buyers.
Curious about other businesses that have navigated similar waters, or want to keep up with more news on industrial brands? Sites like Blue Business Mag often feature updates and business deep-dives that might interest you.
For now, if you’re considering a Grizzly purchase or if you’re worried about warranties on your shop equipment, it makes sense to monitor the company’s news section, keep tabs on customer forums, and read recent reviews.
Companies like Grizzly sometimes bounce back after tight times—especially if they adapt to new online realities and focus on customer relationships. But as it stands, Grizzly Tools is still in business, though with less of the visibility, speed, and customer service many longtime users remember.
If there’s any big change—closure, major restructure, or sale—you’ll likely see it posted on woodworking forums and news outlets. Until then, Grizzly’s future remains uncertain, but it’s still open for business, at least for now.
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