A former Bradford man crafted a career for himself after
starting from a tool dealership in Bradford and moving up to
creating the new Bob Vila Tool line.

Greg Ross started in the tool business in Bradford, owning the
Snap-On Tool dealership for many years, beginning in the late
1970s. In the early 1980s, he moved to southern California and
currently lives in Las Vegas.

“I’ve already had my own tool business for many, many years,”
Ross said. “I’ve branded for Popular Mechanics. … I’ve branded for
Sears with their Craftsman line. I’ve also branded my own line
called Skilcraft. Bob was just another trademark that we picked up
together. It has a great, great brand following as far as consumers
go.”

Ross said he had an interest in what Bob Vila was doing and
noticed he left Sears and the Craftsman tool line in July 2006.

“So I contacted (Vila), and he wanted to have his own name on
the tools,” Ross said.

Ross said he has a partnership with Vila in the design, creation
and development of the tool line. He said Vila is the spokesperson
for the line while Ross is the creator of the project.

“The tools are innovative and ergonomically correct so they fit
in the palm of your hand,” Ross said. “Plus, they have a lifetime
warranty. We did a worldwide launch (of the tool line) on Dec. 15
on (the Home Shopping Network), and in four hours, we made $1
million.”

After the success of the first television sale, Ross said they
have a commitment with HSN to appear every month on the network to
sell the product line.

“We go down to Florida once a month, promoting the product line
together,” Ross said of he and Vila. “That wasn’t my idea, but you
know what, it’s a great new little business that we’ve got going.
The only bad part about it is I don’t like (putting on) the
make-up.”

Ross said Vila and he are also planning sometime in the future
to launch the tool line on major retail channels throughout the
country.

Ross pointed out Vila has almost 30 years in the business,
starring on home improvement shows such as “This Old House” and
“The Bob Vila Show,” which still airs periodically.

“It’s just great to have a name like Bob Vila,” Ross said.
“Everybody knows Bob Vila. It stands for quality. Like Zippo in
Bradford and Kendall (back in the old days) and Case Cutlery – they
all stand for quality.”

Ross, whose parents are Pete and Donna Ross, still visits
Bradford once or sometimes twice a year with much of his family,
including the Burgess family, his godmother Mary Bonk and his aunt
Dorothy Tornatela of Barbour Street, who works at Zippo
Manufacturing Co., still living in Bradford.

“(I don’t come back) in the winter time,” Ross added. “The town
hasn’t changed too much.”