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Our History

  • 1964

    William Tuttle “Tut” Sherrill founds the company in Greensboro, NC as a manufacturer's rep for Savage Arms, Southland mowers and Power King tractors.

  • 1970s

    Tut takes son Tobe on sales calls and to trade shows, largely to keep him out of trouble.

  • 1983

    23-year-old Tobe graduates college and joins the company with a degree in Commercial Design & Advertising.

  • 1987

    Utilizing his advertising skills, Tobe orders line art from local a copy printer and builds an advertising scheme for customers in the Carolinas and Virginias.

  • Sept. 1989

    Hurricane Hugo lands in Charleston, SC, and Tobe buys a used camper to live and serve the influx of tree workers.

    This effort shows Tobe the need for a company specializing in arborist tools and equipment, and shapes the direction of the company.

    W.T. Sherrill, Inc. adds various tree-working tools to their lineup.

  • 1989

    Tobe buys his first Macintosh computer and learns desktop publishing.

  • 1990

    WT Sherrill reinvents the company, honing their focus on supplying arborist tools & equipment.

  • 1992

    WT Sherrill prints their first mail-order catalog (black & white).

  • 1993

    By now, the company has published 2 catalogs, delivered primarily in the mid-Atlantic states.

    Tobe begins to climb trees and use the tools he has been writing about.

  • Mid-90s

    Sherrill, Inc. embraces ArborMaster's philosophy of safety training and helps spread the word of professionalism through safety.

  • 1996

    Tobe Sherrill launches its e-commerce website wtsherrill.com, years before anyone else in the industry.

  • (BigShot in 2005)

    1998

    Tobe invents the Big Shot, and makes a high tie-in-point (TIP) accessible to more climbers.

  • 1999

    Sherrill, Inc. now has 3 locations and 30+ employees.

  • 2000

    SherrillTree forms a distribution relationship with Vermeer Manufacturing, retiring the heavy equipment side of the business to focus on tools.

  • 2005

    Sherrill, Inc. rebrands to SherrillTree for publication use.

  • 2008

    SherrillTree becomes the sole distributor of Silky Saws – the leading manufacturer of arborist saws – in the United States.

  • 2016

    SHERRILLtree acquires TreeStuff.com from founders Luke and Erin Dunlevy.

  • 2016

    SHERRILLtree launches their proprietary brand Notch Equipment, quickly dominating the arborist supply market.

  • 2019

    Sherrill, Inc. acquires leading rope manufacturer Sterling Rope Company, Inc. (Maine) and arborist retailer Bishop Company (California).

  • 2019

    Sherrill, Inc. rebrands to Vertical Supply Group.

  • 2020

    Vertical Supply Group acquires pole pruner and saw manufacturer Fred Marvin Associates (Ohio).

  • 2021

    Vertical Supply Group acquires and integrates rescue equipment supplier Rescue Direct.

  • 2021

    Vertical Supply Group acquires rope manufacturer Atlantic Braids (Ontario, Canada).