Wilmar, LLC was founded in 1971. Based in Kent, Washington, Wilmar supplies major retailers as well as distributors throughout North America. By providing quality tools, great service, and innovative packaging and product support, Wilmar has become one of the leading distributors of professional tools in North America.
Trading under the brand names of AirTIGHTTM; Performance ToolTM; Performance TechTM; MechanicsTM; Project ProTM and Northwest TrailTM, Wilmar focuses on providing a superior level of service and quality products that meet their customer’s expectations of product that carries their “Guarantee of Satisfaction”.
HEADQUARTERS
Kent, WA
INDUSTRY
Distribution
SOLUTION
Acumatica Distribution Edition
WEBSITE
www.wilmarcorp.com
When Wilmar’s legacy ERP system began failing, the company faced a critical decision: patch together temporary fixes or find a long-term solution to support growth. With support for their old system gone and instability increasing, it was clear that change was needed.
After exploring multiple ERP options, Wilmar selected Acumatica for its usability and reporting power. “We really liked the usability of the interface, and in particular, the generic inquiries and reporting tools really caught our eye,” said Cantral. “Feature-wise… the reporting stood apart. And being able to do minor customizations ourselves without needing a professional development group… that was a big selling point.
Wilmar partnered with Aktion Associates after being recommended by both Acumatica and a trusted consultant familiar with their legacy system. That marked the beginning of a strong and lasting partnership.
Acumatica offered a flexible foundation tailored to Wilmar’s needs, while Aktion played a key role in aligning the solution with their unique business model. During implementation, the team navigated a significant pivot related to inventory allocations, ensuring the system could support Wilmar’s evolving requirements.
That customization not only enabled Wilmar to achieve a successful go-live, but it also proved so impactful that it was later incorporated into Acumatica’s core product—demonstrating how forward-thinking solutions can influence the broader platform. Aktion additionally worked to develop Wilmar’s initial EDI integration and inventory solutions, both critical to day-to-day operations.
What set Aktion apart for Wilmar was their partnership-driven approach. “It’s not so much individual stories, it’s more the approach,” Cantral emphasized. “Aktion’s been very open to letting us manage things ourselves, which is really important to us. Anytime we do need help, they’re at the ready with suggestions or technical resources. It’s more like a collaboration. They’ve really understood our business over the years.” This balance, self-sufficiency with expert support, has given Wilmar confidence and agility. “I like that they’ve worked with us, not just pitched us a product. That’s made all the difference.”
Today, Wilmar continues to thrive with Acumatica and Aktion as trusted partners. The company recently expanded through acquisition and is migrating the new business from NetSuite to Acumatica. Cantral sees Acumatica’s flexibility as critical to this effort.
“Acumatica, for better or for worse, gives me a lot of options,” he said. “It’s almost overwhelming, just the amount of options we have for integration as we merge another company’s processes into ours. But having that flexibility means we can find the right fit for our business.”
The wider Acumatica community has also recognized Wilmar’s achievements. In 2024, the company was named Acumatica Distribution Customer of the Year, reflecting its innovation and excellence in leveraging the platform. Cantral has been named an Acumatica MVP three times, most recently in 2025, underscoring his leadership and deep expertise within the ecosystem. For Cantral, Wilmar’s success with Acumatica comes down to both the platform’s openness and his team’s willingness to adapt. “Having access to the database on the back end lets me see what’s happening under the hood. I can write custom SQL queries to cover any gaps and not have to guess how things work,” he said. “And Acumatica makes it easy to play with different processes; it’s not a monumental project just to try out a feature.”
With a proven ERP foundation and a trusted partner in Aktion, Wilmar is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation.
If you’re wondering what kind of impact a modern, cloud‑based ERP could have on your organization, Aktion brings the industry expertise, honest guidance, and technical depth to help you get there.
We help you build the operational backbone that supports your next stage of growth.
