Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) operates retail farm and ranch stores in the United States; its $2.7 billion in sales revenue in 2007 were more than any other company in its market.^[1] TSCO stores are located in rural communities and suburbs outside metropolitan areas.^[2] Despite its name, Tractor Supply Company does not sell large-scale farming equipment. Instead the retailer offers a comprehensive selection of farm and ranch-related merchandise and supplies, including livestock and pet products, tools, lawn and garden equipment, and work apparel. In addition to branded merchandise made by other manufacturers, Tractor Supply Company also sells its own private label products under 15 different brands.^[3]

Tractor Supply Company earned a 31.5% gross margin and 5.9% operating margin on its $2.7 billion of sales in 2007, as same store sales grew 3.4%.^[4] Tractor Supply Company operated 764 store locations at the end of 2007 and added 50 new stores in the first half of 2008 to bring its total store count to 814.^[5][6] To complement its expanding base of brick-and-mortar stores, Tractor Supply Company has also spread its operations into e-commerce as it launched its online store in late 2007.^[7] One major factor in the retailer's revenue growth is the unpredictable weather patterns associated with each season. The spending habits and budgets of Tractor Supply's customers vary with the success of their farms, which is often dictated by the weather.

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