History

Proven Success

N.W. Buyers was founded in 1920. That same year the League of Nations came into existence ... the Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition) and the Nineteenth Amendment (Women's Suffrage) went into effect ... Wall Street was bombed, killing 30 and causing $2,000,000 in damage ... Warren G. Harding, Dark Horse Republican candidate, won the national election ... and the national public debt was at the frightening figure of around $24 billion.

1920 was also the year that Leonard M. Heinen (sales representative) was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, showing a line of men's and boys' clothing to a store from Watertown, South Dakota. The two came up with the idea to get some additional clothiers together and form a menswear buying organization to attract resources to the upper Midwest and also reduce the cost of merchandise.

In June of that year Mr. Heinen and five clothing retailers met in St. Paul to discuss the idea of forming a buying group. A second meeting was held in September and N.W. Buyers was formed. The first market was held in January 1921 at the Ryan Hotel in St. Paul. 41 Member Stores and 31 Affiliated Resources were represented.

What was just a good idea back in 1920 is now a thriving 88 year old organization with 350 memberships representing 425 retail locations. We currently facilitate the purchase and delivery of merchandise to our Member Stores from over 180 Affiliated Resources.