THE STIHL STORY
Recognizing that the U.S. was one of the largest markets in the world, in the 1970's the Stihl family decided to open a manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach, Va. The location's close proximity to one of the country's largest deep-water ports and its ready-to-work labor force made Virginia Beach the ideal location. In 1974, in a rented 20,000-square-foot facility, STIHL Inc. (then STIHL American) opened its doors with 50 employees assembling one model of chainsaw. Today, 2,100 employees, working in over one-million-square-feet of operating space, manufacture millions of powerheads a year on the sprawling 150-acre STIHL Inc. campus.
In their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, skilled employees with the assistance of highly automated technology, work together to produce more than 80 models of STIHL equipment through vertically integrated processes and extensive quality assurance checks. These products are then distributed throughout the country through our 11 regional branches and distributors, sold through a network of more than 10,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers and exported to more than 80 countries around the world.
THE STIHL PHILOSOPHY
STIHL believes in the power of supporting its authorized local STIHL Dealers, who not only support their communities but also provide customers with unparalleled purchasing experiences. That's why STIHL products are only sold through authorized local STIHL Dealers, not big box stores. And with an ever-growing product lineup, STIHL continues to offer one of the broadest ranges of handheld gasoline, corded-electric and battery products in the industry. Their philosophy has always been to build a quality product, sold by quality people. That's why you won't find STIHL in a big box store — you'll find it on the trailers of professional landscapers, the back of fire and rescue trucks, in the hands of loggers and in millions of consumers' garages and sheds across the country.
This commitment to quality products, produced by quality people, sold by quality Dealers explains why since 2009, STIHL ranks as the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America among consumers and professional landscapers.*
* "Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2020 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.