Bon Tool Adds Hardware Collection from the SBA
Local Company Earns Top Honors as Local, State and Regional SBA Exporter of the Year
John Bongiovanni, president, Bon Tool Company is adding some hardware from the U.S. Small Business Administration to complement the 8,000 varieties of non-powered hand tools his company crafts and distributes to contractors around the world.
Bongiovanni and his team are the SBA’s Mid-Atlantic Region’s (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and District of Columbia), Pennsylvania and Western Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year for 2024. SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator John Fleming will honor Bongiovanni during a special ceremony marking the 61st annual celebration of National Small Business Week.
“It was cool just being the Western Pennsylvania nominee, said Bongiovanni who has led Bon Tool since his father’s unexpected passing in 2017 and faced a number of economic challenges such as COVID and supply chain constraints. “I’ve accomplished a lot in my young CEO years.”
From brick trowels to taping knives, contractors from the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe and India reach in their toolbox for equipment manufactured and sold by Bongiovanni’s 60-year-old Pittsburgh-based company. “We create those specialty products needed for masonry, concrete, drywall and floor coverings,” said Bongiovanni. “We have a presence on shelves at both specialty and big box national home improvement stores, online and through our printed catalogs.”
The award-winning company, originally focusing on new products for the masonry sector, rebranded as Bon Tool as they diversified into the concrete and plaster markets. Not only did the product line grow, so did Bon Tool’s physical presence. The former garage-based business now is housed on a campus in Pittsburgh with a west coast distribution center.
But it was through the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC) classes and the SBA’s State Trade and Expansion Program (STEP) that enabled Bon Tool to become a global leader in hand-held trowel tools. The SBA’s STEP program makes matching-fund grants for states to increase the number of small businesses that export and the value of those exports. Pennsylvania’s GAP (Global Access Program) provides up to $10,000 to qualifying Pennsylvania companies, reimbursing up to 75 percent of eligible expenses associated with specific export promotion activities.
“I grew up in the family business attending board meetings and trade shows throughout the world,” Bongiovanni added. “And we love the STEP grant, it’s helped us with overseas shows, travel, translators and hotel fees.”
Their exporting efforts are increasing sales and employment, by eight and five percent respectively, enabling Bongiovanni to continue following in his father’s footsteps by growing the area’s vocational trade pool.
“I need welders and machinists, and everywhere I go, companies and union halls say they can’t get enough workers,” Bongiovanni added. “My dad was a big advocate of the vocational trades and when he passed, we created a nonprofit group to help students interested in the construction-related trades with scholarships. So far, we’ve doled out about $25,000 to students pursuing two-and four-year degrees.”
“We’re so pleased they’re in our backyard and using the SBA’s exporting toolkit helping tradespeople everywhere,” said SBA Western Pennsylvania District Director Dr Kelly Hunt. “And, more importantly, they’re making sure our vocational trade students have the educational and financial footing to help grow our region.”
Bongiovanni said he believes all companies should consider reaching out to the SBA’s resource partner network and explore exporting.
“You have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone,” Bongiovanni said. “What’s the worst that can happen…you’re out an order? Be willing to take chances because one winner can make up for three or four losses that didn’t pan out.”