Craftsman is a trademark for a line of tools covering hand tools, power tools, tool boxes, lawn and garden equipment, work wear and many other things that you can find in a garage or working area. Craftsman is controlled by Sears, Roebuck & Company. The owner of the brand is KCD IP, LLC, an entity of Sears Holdings.

If we consider the history of the trademark it was in 1927 when Arthur Barrows started to work for Sears as a head of a hardware department. Barrows’ idea was to find an impressive brand name that would have stood out Sears among other manufacturers. There was a firm called Marion-Craftsman Tool Company and the name "craftsman" attracted Barrows’ attention. As a result Sears bought the rights to use the name "craftsman" for its products for $500.

Early customers of Craftsman tools were farmers who preferred to build their homes, barns, furniture etc. with their own hands. That was a good area for Craftsman to start successfully in the years of difficult economic situation in the USA in the 1930s. Tom Dunlap, a successor of Barrows as a head of hardware department, decided to create a line of tools that would satisfy the demands of the automotive industry as America was transitioning to the era of automobiles. He upgraded the quality of tools and first of all he abandoned the old, clumsy cast-iron hammers and wrenches as well as soft screwdrivers which he thought to be holdovers of the past. Dunlap applied chrome plating to the tools with the aim to make them more attractive, with good finish and color. In addition he added high impact plastic handles on screwdrivers. Some people were skeptical of the innovations, but it worked, and in a year Sears’ sales of tools rose six-fold. In 1929 Craftsman launched their first power tools, in 1934 – their first lawn mowers.

It is known that Sears does not manufacture Craftsman products by itself but place orders in different manufacturing companies and then apply the Craftsman brand to the products. In order to distinguish Craftsman items from the manufacturer’s own products or from other brands which the manufacturer makes, Craftsman brand products may be produced with super characteristics and purposes. Sometimes Craftsman products and products of other brands are made identical, the only difference is a brand name on them. Starting from 2010 Craftsman hand tools such as wrenches, ratchets and sockets having been manufactured by Apex Tool Group in China and Taiwan; but Western Forge produces screwdrivers, adjustable wrenches, pliers and larger mechanic tool sets in the United States. Waterloo Industries produces tool storage, DeVilbiss Air Power makes air compressors.

A number of companies such as New Britain, Moore Drop Forging, Stanley, Easco Hand Tools, Danaher Corporation, and recently Apex Tool Group manufacture Craftsman hardline mechanic tools. Techtronic Industries is involved in the production of portable power tools, the Chamberlain Group produces garage door openers, Emerson Electric Company and DeWalt manufacture bench and stationary power tools.

A greater part of Craftsman hand tools has a lifetime warranty. As Sears declares "If for any reason your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement."

Over the years Craftsman has widely expanded the lines of its products but all of them meet the requirements of high quality standards. And in terms of quality Craftsman tools have been highly appreciated by consumers. Some say that Craftsman is "America’s most trusted brand" or brand with "highest expectations".