gains
We’re planning on adding more customers into the fold as we get our four points of distribution to full speed. 
hen Bill Taylor founded Continental in Los Angeles in 1960, the company became a go-to abrasives manufacturer for distribution houses across the west. Years later, the company was sold and subsequently, dissolved. In 2013, Taylor’s daughter Cindy; son-in-law Gary; and his grandsons, Graydon, Gavin and Garrett, relaunched Continental Abrasives, thus reestablishing its presence on the West Coast with plans to go nationwide.
In May 2021, that intention became reality with the acquisition of The Edmar Abrasive Co. in Boomall, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1953 by Mario Mascioli, the Edmar product line ratio complemented Continental Abrasives’ abrasive offerings perfectly, and the company shares the same attention to quality and reliability for its customers.
Continental Abrasives is second- and third-generation owned and has maintained customer loyalty with its comprehensive print and digital product catalog, ability to ship most products same-day, and by offering affordable private label manufacturing. “We went from a single product category to a 48-page catalog in under eight years,” says Graydon Greiwe, director of sales and marketing at Continental Abrasives. “The Continental brand was well-known years ago, but we’re noticing customers asking if this is the same brand they used back in the 1980s—there’s still a generation of fabricators that know the quality of Continental. Now, we’re offering that same quality to a new generation, and it’s starting to take hold. Other than polishing, we’re able to offer any kind of abrasive you might need.”
Prior to acquiring Edmar, Continental had a product mix of 90 percent abrasive and 10 percent diamond grinding offerings. Edmar complemented Continental with its 10 percent abrasive and 90 percent diamond mix. “[This acquisition] was a perfect fit for us,” says Greiwe. “It’s this type of investment that solidifies us as a supplier of choice instead of a fill-in option for our customers.”
“We’re planning on adding more customers into the fold as we get our four points of distribution to full speed,” Greiwe says. “We can plan accordingly and be able to predict market needs better. Adding the just-in-time option shows customers we’re in close proximity to get them what they need fast.”
Continental’s catalog notes the category of a product and offers recommendations to customers based on application. “We spell out what you need to know in order to select the right abrasive,” Greiwe says. “We don’t leave anything to the imagination for the customers. It’s clearly defined.”
Continental offers wire wheels and brushes, carbide burrs, and sanding belts, among other products. Continental also continues to offer smaller distributors a way to protect their market by offering low minimum order quantity private label (MOQ PL) on diamond products. “The main message is that we are accessible,” he says. “We ship quick, and the typical turnaround time on an order is same-day or two-day.”
Through the years, the mainstay of Continental is that it continues to operate as a family-run business, one where everyone is available to answer customer questions or take orders. “We don’t hide behind receptionists and customer service representatives,” he says.
Greiwe himself is answering phones upon his arrival onsite at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time. “As owners and partners of the company, we’re here answering phone calls from customers,” he says. “We don’t rely on voicemail because we know each customer needs to feel heard and know they can rely on us, so we make ourselves available.”
