The History of Arrow Lift®
Arrow Lift® founder Bob Newstrom knew from a young age that he wanted to own a business. As a boy managing his paper route, he dreamed of building his own business. In 1985, that vision took shape when he founded Arrowhead Hospital & Medical Supply in Duluth, Minnesota. Driven by the desire to support his family and help people in his community, he has since grown the company into a thriving family-owned operation.
As the business expanded, Bob launched an accessibility division called Arrow Lift®. Over the next 40 years, Arrow Lift® grew, with showrooms across the country offering more than just home mobility solutions.
From the start, our mission has been focused on serving others by providing excellent accessibility lifts and other products.
The Foundation
Bob, who had served in the U.S. Air Force and graduated from Gonzaga University, didn’t originally set out to revolutionize the home accessibility industry. But in 1985, everything changed.
"One morning after church, a physical therapist friend asked me, 'What do you want to do in the next 10 years?' I told him, ‘I’d like to find a small business to get involved with.’”
Six months later, that same friend returned with an idea. Inspired, Bob put together a business plan and founded a small medical supply company in Duluth, Minnesota. Though Arrowhead Hospital & Medical Supply provided a wide range of medical equipment, the accessibility division ultimately captured Bob’s heart.
"The moment we installed a stair lift or elevator and saw the reaction on a customer’s face, it was always incredibly meaningful," Bob recalls. "For some, it meant regaining access to a part of their home they had lost. Whether it was a basement workshop, a sewing room, or simply the ability to do laundry, they could take care of themselves again. You could see the joy in that moment."
The Rise of Arrow Lift®
As time went on, Bob became increasingly drawn to the accessibility side of the business. One aspect of the accessibility business that Bob particularly enjoyed was that it allowed him to connect directly with customers and make an immediate impact on their lives.
In 1987, he took a bold step forward by formally establishing a dedicated accessibility division—laying the foundation for what would become Arrow Lift®.
The Early Years: Building More Than a Business
Growing a business while raising a young family required dedication, long hours, and creative problem-solving. Bob found a way to merge both worlds. On long sales trips, he often brought one of his five children along, turning business travel into quality one-on-one time. Those trips, sometimes capped off with a stop for ice cream, created lasting memories that his children still cherish as adults.
"At the time, I knew it was important," Bob says. "But I didn’t realize how many memories we were creating until years later when the kids would start reminiscing about specific houses we visited."
These early experiences shaped Arrow Lift® into a family business and reinforced Bob’s commitment to customer relationships. Along the way, the accessibility equipment division truly began to shine. Its success was driven by the ability to make an immediate, meaningful impact on customers' lives.
Shaping a Family Legacy
In 1998, Bob made a pivotal decision: he decided to spin off the accessibility division into its own independent business. This shift allowed Arrow Lift® to fully focus on its accessibility mission, and set the stage for a new chapter.
The next generation soon joined the company, strengthening the foundation. In 2001, Andy Newstrom, fresh from a management training program at a large corporation, approached his father with a proposal.
"Andy called me, and I’ll never forget," Bob recalls. "He said, 'Do you think we could work together and build the business?' And I said, 'Yeah, I think we could give that a try.'"
Joe Newstrom followed in 2004, bringing his mechanical engineering expertise to the installation and service side of the business. Then, in 2011, Pete Newstrom joined, leveraging his Air Force officer experience and education in finance to make significant contributions to the company’s leadership and management.
Cross-Country Growth
What started as a regional operation in the Upper Midwest soon grew into strategic expansion. Through a professional peer group, the Newstroms had connected with Brian Nichols, founder of Abbey Access (later California Home Elevator) in 1998. Their shared values and commitment to quality led to a partnership in 2014, forming Arrow Lift® of California.
With Joe Newstrom serving as Chief Engineer at the company’s Agoura Hills office, and with additional locations in Ontario, Union City, and Clovis, Arrow Lift® cemented its presence on the West Coast.
Experience Leads to Excellence
Arrow Lift®’s decades of experience have led to partnerships with the highest-quality manufacturers in the industry. Having worked with nearly every major lift manufacturer over the years, we’ve carefully selected the most reliable and customer-focused brands.
"We’ve tried them all," Bob says. "Once we started building the business, suppliers sought us out because of our market presence. That gave us the opportunity to evaluate which ones truly met our standards."
Each year, Arrow Lift® reassesses the market to stay ahead of industry advancements, ensuring customers receive the best options available.
The Power of Personal Connection
Understanding that most customers will purchase only one stair lift or elevator in their lifetime, we have also invested in creating showrooms where people can experience the equipment firsthand. From the first showroom in Blaine, Minnesota, to the newest one in Ontario, California, these spaces reflect our commitment to helping customers make informed decisions about their mobility needs.
The true impact of Arrow Lift®’s work often appears in unexpected ways. Bob fondly recalls installing a curved stairlift for a 98-year-old woman who lived alone with her beloved cats. Due to congestive heart failure, her doctor had warned her against using the stairs alone, limiting her to the main floor of her home.
A week after installation, Bob visited for a follow-up. The woman, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, asked about the stairlift’s weight capacity. Surprised—since she was a small, slight woman—Bob reassured her that she was well within the limit.
"Well," she explained, "every night at 10 o’clock, I ride downstairs to let my cats out and then treat myself to a bowl of ice cream. I’ve been doing it every night since you installed the lift, and I was just wondering if I might be pushing the weight limit!"
Moments like these reinforce Arrow Lift®’s mission. More than just installing equipment, we aim to restore the simple pleasures and routines that make a house feel like home.
Looking Forward
Today, Arrow Lift® operates in multiple states, with showrooms stretching from the Midwest to California. What began as a small business with five employees has grown into a company of over 150, many of whom have been part of the Arrow Lift® team for decades.
From a small medical supply business to a leader in home accessibility solutions, Arrow Lift® has stayed true to its purpose of serving others by providing safe, reliable, high-quality accessibility lifts and home elevators.
"As I look to the future, I think we’re just getting started. The relationships we’ve built, the expertise we’ve developed, and the next generation of leadership—it’s all taken on a life of its own. That’s really meaningful to see."
