- published: 30 Aug 2015
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Harbor Freight Tools is an American privately held company that runs a chain of discount tool retail stores. The company was founded in 1968 by Allan Smidt, primarily selling through its mail order catalog, which still exists today. The Calabasas, California based company offers a large variety of tools through its Web site, mail order catalog, and retail stores. Harbor Freight was one of the largest employers in Ventura County until their relocation to Calabasas, CA. It also previously owned and operated former online retailer OneStopGardens.com.
Harbor Freight operates offices in the United States as well as China. It owns the website www.harborfreight.com as well as the official blog site blog.harborfreight.com
Allan Smidt, a businessman from Los Angeles, started Harbor Freight Salvage Company in Los Angeles, CA. The company bought and sold damaged freight goods. Run from the garage of his North Hollywood home, he originally sold to contractors from the back of his truck. Soon the company expanded to include a small army of telephone salesmen whose efforts helped grow the company. One could buy virtually anything they desired should it have been damaged in shipping. This is how the unique and unusual name "Harbor Freight" came about.