Exhibit 99

MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
151 Sunnyside Boulevard
Plainview, NY  11803

                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
                         Announces Executive Promotions
            Names Mel Redman as President and Chief Operating Officer

For Release 5:00 p.m. E.S.T.
Monday, January 12, 1998

Contact: Shelley Boxer
V.P./C.F.O.

MSC Industrial Direct
516-349-7100, x1216

Plainview, NY, January 12, 1998-MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. (NYSE: MSM) today
announced the appointment of Mel Redman as President and Chief Operating
Officer. Redman has served on MSC's Board and as a consultant since 1995. The
Company said that Mitchell Jacobson remains Chief Executive Officer and will now
serve as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Sid Jacobson, who becomes Vice
Chairman of the Board.

"We are pleased to welcome Mel as part of our team." said MSC's new Chairman.
"He brings to MSC a wealth of experience gained at Wal-Mart, Inc., one of
America's premier companies, and a close familiarity with our industry and
company. As a consultant and as a member of our Board of Directors, he has been
instrumental in helping to build our executive team and business model. Mel will
concentrate on maintaining and improving MSC's operational excellence,
especially in the areas of reducing our operating and product acquisition costs,
enabling me to increase my focus on MSC's marketing and sales areas as well as
our long-term strategic goals," Jacobson concluded.

Redman has more than 25 years of professional achievement in retail management.
He is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of management, operations and
store planning. Prior to establishing his consulting firm, Mr. Redman was, until
1995, Senior Vice President of Operations for Wal-Mart Inc. in the Southwest
Division, where he was responsible for the profitability of over 450 Wal-Mart
stores, 180,000 associates and $15 billion in annual sales.

Mr. Redman, 46, will relocate from Bentonville, Arkansas to New York.

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is a direct marketer and leading full-line
supplier of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance and repair supplies to
industrial customers throughout the United States.