{{short description|Brand of lawn and garden equipment}} {{for|the radio station in Indiana|WORX-FM}} {{Infobox brand | name = Worx | logo = WORX_Tools_Logo.png | image = | caption = | type = Lawn and garden equipment, DIY power tools | currentowner = Positec Tool Corporation | origin = China, USA | introduced = 2004 | discontinued = | related = | markets = | previousowners = | trademarkregistrations = | ambassadors = | tagline = | website = {{URL|http://www.worx.com/}} }} thumb|Small handheld circular saw by Worx
'''Worx'''<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.worx.com/about-us |website=Worx}}</ref> (styled '''WORX''' in the company's logo), is a line of lawn and garden equipment and power tools owned and distributed by the Positec Tool Corporation, a manufacturing company based in Suzhou, China, with North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.<ref name="Forbes01">{{cite magazine | last =Flannery | first =Russell| title =Doing It Himself| magazine = Forbes| date =3 December 2010 | url =https://www.forbes.com/global/2010/1220/companies-don-gao-black-decker-positec-doing-it-himself.html| access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Brands">{{cite web |url=http://www.positecgroup.com/our_brands |title=New Pride of Ownership|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=www.PositecGroup.com |publisher=Positec Tool Corporation |access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref> The brand is known primarily for its lawn and garden tools like trimmers, lawn mowers, and chainsaws.<ref name="GCB">{{cite news|title=Positive Technology|work=Greater Charlotte Biz|date= August 2014|url= http://issuu.com/greatercharlottebiz/docs/greater_charlotte_biz_2014.08|access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref> In North America, Worx products can be found at numerous major retailers including Lowe's, Walmart, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and Costco.<ref name="Forbes02">{{cite magazine | last =Shao | first =Heng| title =Chinese Power Tool Company To Expand U.S. Market| magazine = Forbes| date =3 July 2012 | url =https://www.forbes.com/sites/hengshao/2012/07/03/chinese-power-tool-company-to-expand-u-s-market/| access-date =22 April 2015}}</ref> The brand is also sold on other continents, such as in Europe.
==History== The Positec Tool Corporation was founded in Suzhou, China, by Don Gao in 1994.<ref name="Biz01">{{cite news | last =Boye | first =Will| title =Positec finds tools for growth | publisher = Charlotte Business Journal| date =15 July 2011 | url =http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/print-edition/2011/07/15/finding-tools-for-growth.html?page=all | access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref> For most of its early years, Positec sold OEM power tools to companies and brands like Black & Decker.<ref name="WWJ01">{{cite news | last =Marshall | first =Chris| title =Rockwell Tools: New Company, Same Quality| publisher = Woodworker's Journal| date =6 April 2010 | url =http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/rockwell-tools-new-company-quality/| access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="IW">{{cite magazine | last =Minter | first =Steve| title =Positec's Path to Success Built on Brand| magazine = IndustryWeek| date =3 June 2011 | url =https://www.industryweek.com/leadership/companies-executives/article/21949358/positecs-path-to-success-built-on-brand| access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref> Gao wanted to branch out by creating a line of lawn and garden equipment using his own branding. Positec launched early versions of Worx tools in China in 2004. One of the first Worx products sold was an electric lawn trimmer called the Worx GT.<ref name="CE">{{cite magazine | last =Pellet | first =Jennifer| title =DIY Brand Building| magazine = Chief Executive| date =15 February 2012 | url =http://chiefexecutive.net/diy-brand-building| access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Response">{{cite news| last =Haire| first =Thomas| title =DR Gives Positec a Big Edge| publisher =Response Magazine| date =1 November 2012| url =http://www.responsemagazine.com/direct-response-marketing/dr-gives-positec-big-edge-4865| access-date =23 April 2015| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150417041905/http://responsemagazine.com/direct-response-marketing/dr-gives-positec-big-edge-4865| archive-date =17 April 2015| url-status =dead| df =dmy-all}}</ref>
Also in 2004, Gao met Tom Duncan, an entrepreneur and former executive at Vermont American, a company owned by the Robert Bosch Tool Group of Germany.<ref name="GCB"/> Duncan brought the Rockwell Tools brand name under the umbrella of Positec and became the head of the company's North American division in 2005. He would eventually sell both the WORX and Rockwell brands from the headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news | last =Duncan | first =Tom| title =Immersed in Global Business| newspaper =The New York Times| date =26 May 2012 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/27/jobs/tom-duncan-of-positec-immersed-in-global-business.html?_r=0| access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref>
Positec initially had trouble selling Worx products to major retailers because those retailers wanted to sell them as an in-house brand (rather than an independent brand). In order to sell under the Worx brand name, the company decided to employ direct response marketing including the use of infomercials. The Worx GT electric trimmer was the first Positec product to be sold using an infomercial in the United States in early 2007. By the end of that year, the company had sold 313,000 Worx GT units.<ref name="IW"/><ref name="Response"/>
The first retailer in which Worx products appeared was Lowe's in October 2009.<ref name="GCB"/> By 2012, the Worx brand was in Walmart, Costco, and The Home Depot (among others).<ref name="Forbes02"/> Also in 2012, Positec's increased sales required the company to move its U.S. distribution center from Long Beach, California to Huntersville, North Carolina to be closer to the headquarters in Charlotte.<ref name="Biz02">{{cite news | last =Wilson | first =Jen| title =Positec Tool Corp. opens Huntersville distribution facility| publisher = Charlotte Business Journal| date =24 February 2012 | url =http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2012/02/24/positec-tool-corp-opens-huntersville.html | access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref>
==Products== The Worx brand is composed of numerous lawn and garden tools. The brand's flagship product was the Worx GT, a lightweight electric trimmer. Updated iterations of the Worx GT continue to be made and sold by Positec.<ref name="Response"/> Worx is also known for selling items like lawn mowers and chainsaws. It offers cordless electric lawn mowers that run exclusively on battery power and have zero carbon emissions.<ref name="M4K">{{cite news | title =After One Year of Use, The Final Worx Cordless Lawn Mower Review.| publisher = Modular4KC| date =1 August 2010| url =http://modular4kc.com/2010/08/01/after-one-year-of-use-the-final-worx-cordless-lawn-mower-review/ | access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref> In 2014, Worx released a fully robotic lawn mower (dubbed the "Worx Landroid") that will mow the lawn, returning to a charging station if the battery begins to run low.<ref name="Cyber">{{cite news | last =Choros | first =Alex| title =Never mow your lawn again: Worx Landroid landing in Australia| publisher = Cybershack| date =25 August 2014| url =http://www.cybershack.com.au/news/never-mow-your-lawn-again-worx-landroid-landing-australia | access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref> The Worx JawSaw is a chainsaw with a partially enclosed blade that is designed for safety.<ref name="Biz01"/>
Other products include leaf blowers, yard carts, and other accessories. The Worx TriVac is a cordless electric leaf blower that doubles as a vacuum.<ref name="GCB"/> The Worx AeroCart is a wheelbarrow-like yard cart that features 8 different functions.<ref name="CR">{{cite news | last =Perratore | first =Ed| title =Convertible Worx Aerocart does the heavy lifting| publisher = Consumer Reports| date =16 March 2015| url =http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/03/convertible-worx-aerocart-does-the-heavy-lifting/index.htm| access-date =23 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://thebestleafblowers.com/ |title= Best Leaf Blowers }} Friday, 19 February 2021 </ref>
==Recognition and awards== In 2011, Positec was honored with the Product of the Year award by ''DIY Week'' in the garden tools category for the Worx TriVac leaf blower/vacuum and the Eco cordless lawn mower.<ref name="GCB"/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.grownlocal.co.uk/ |title= Grown Local }} 11 August 2021 </ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == <!-- Per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only --> * {{Official website|http://www.worx.com/}} {{Power tool manufacturers}} Category:Manufacturing companies established in 2004 Category:Companies based in Charlotte, North Carolina Category:Companies based in Suzhou Category:Garden tool manufacturers Category:Lawn mower manufacturers Category:Tool manufacturing companies of China Category:Tool manufacturing companies of the United States Category:Chinese brands