About

In 1975, at the age of 26, Bruce Kindler realized a demand for quality welding gloves while working as a Sales Representative for Montgomery Companies, who was not able to sell gloves directly to the welding industry. To fill this demand, he borrowed $4,000 from his mother and $5,000 from a family friend to create Kinco International. “Kinco” was shorthand for “Kindler Company” with a nod to the family-relationship term, “kin” for “family company.”

Even though his resources were limited in the beginning, his ideas, ambition, and perseverance were boundless and led him on a path to success. Within four years of establishing the company, shortly before his wife Sherie joined the business part-time and his son Travis was born, Bruce was able to pay back both loans.

Since its adventurous beginnings birthed out of the Lewis and Clark expedition, grit has remained in our city's roots. While you may call it Stumptown, PDX, Bridgetown, Rose City, RIP City, or just Portland, we're proud to call it home.

Our main office and warehouse is located in the beautiful metro area of Portland, Oregon, strategically positioned close to both the Portland International Airport and Interstate 84 near the Columbia River shipping corridor.

From humble beginnings, much of Kinco’s success is due to the incredible relationships and fair-minded treatment cultivated by the Kindler family with its vendors for nearly 50 years. Some vendors, who Bruce met in 1975, have become great family friends.

Over the years, Kinco’s sales, product line, customer base, staff, warehouse, and office space have all continued to grow at a rapid rate due to the values, ambition, personal relationships, and entrepreneurial spirit Bruce instilled at its foundation and that Travis has continued to expand upon.

The Kindler family, and the extended family of Kinco employees and vendors, look forward to the continued success of the company for many years to come!

A 26-year old Bruce Kindler realizes
a demand for quality welding gloves while working as a Sales Representative for Montgomery Companies.

Bruce borrows some money from family and friends and starts Kinco International on April 1st.

Kinco® begins selling several styles of gloves to welding supply stores by performing deliveries up and down the West Coast in his wife Sherie's VW Microbus.

Product is stored in the family's garage before acquiring a 100 sq. ft. storage space at 1750 SE Ochoco in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Kinco® acquires 15,000 sq. ft. of warehouse
and office space at 927 SE Marion Street in
Portland, Oregon.

Sherie officially joins the Kinco® team.

Bruce and Sherie's son Travis starts gaining important hands-on experience at the age of 3. 

Style No. 1927 is launched. Originally called the "Lined Firewood Glove," this style remains in Kinco®'s product line to this day!

Otto™ striped design and fabric is trademarked.

Travis makes his frist trip to Hong Kong to visit factories with his parents. Learning the culture and traditions of our partners overseas becomes a significant part of Travis' life and the way we do business.

Due to rapid growth, Kinco® purchases a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse and office space at 9788 SE 17th Avenue in Milwaukie, Oregon. 

Travis, seen here imprinting welding gloves, helps out in the warehouse as a summer job during high school.

Kinco® launches a line of hi-vis gloves featuring 3M™ Scotchlite™ reflective knuckle straps, the first of their kind on the market.

While working a part-time Inside Sales role during college, Travis initiates a transition from an industrial-only focus to include retail sales. This proves pivotal in the company's growth.

Travis officially purchases the company from his parents, assuming the role of President. He frequently sleeps in the hallways to manage overseas communication and the volume of work now on his shoulders.

Bruce officially retires after 31 years.

Kinco® continues to grow and relocates to a 56,000 sq. ft. warehouse space at 4286 NE 185th Drive in Portland, Oregon.

Travis begins making visits to international vendors as the sole representative of Kinco®, and ends up living in Hong Kong for a year.

Building on an underground following that started among ski lift operators, Kinco® becomes a recognized name in the ski & snowboard industry.

Sherie retires after 33 years.

Due to another period of rapid expansion, the business relocates to its current 97,000 sq. ft. location at 18792 NE Portal Way in Portland, Oregon.

Kinco® hits its 40th anniversary goal of $25MM in sales, and celebrates with an all-company trip to Idaho.

Kinco® acquires Welch®, a second generation family owned company specializing in quality, handcrafted suspenders.

Under Travis's direction, Kinco® continues to enjoy sustained growth, and has multiplied sales by a factor of five with double-digit growth year over year.

Our core values serve as a guide to hold us to a higher standard, and they are the canons that keep us accountable to ourselves and our commitments.

We are not afraid to take a financial hit to maintain these values. We hire, fire, sell to, buy from, and make tough decisions to live and maintain our company's core values each day.

Our core values are not independent of one another – instead they work together in harmony to create our foundation for success.

We do whatever it takes to get the job done. We recognize, adapt to, see through, and overcome obstacles.

We always do the right thing. We operate with integrity and take ownership for our actions even if it requires more time or more money.

We continually strive for progress and refinement in everything we do. We challenge ourselves to remain unsatisfied with the status quo and work to advance our products, processes, and services daily. 

We perform the unexpected and extraordinary. We take pride in going above and beyond to ensure we exceed expectations. Nothing is too small or too insignificant.

We always work as a team. We have an appreciation for our individual strengths and fill in the gaps to be efficient and effective.

Since its adventurous beginnings birthed out of the Lewis and Clark expedition, grit has remained in our city's roots. While you may call it Stumptown, PDX, Bridgetown, Rose City, RIP City, or just Portland, we're proud to call it home.

Our main office and warehouse is located in the beautiful metro area of Portland, Oregon, strategically positioned close to both the Portland International Airport and Interstate 84 near the Columbia River shipping corridor.