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S. C. Johnson & Son

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"SC Johnson" redirects here. For the individuals, seeSamuel Curtis Johnson.For the Cornell University graduate business school, seeSamuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Not to be confused withJohnson & Johnson.

S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
S. C. Johnson
Company typePrivate
IndustryConsumer goods
Founded1886;138 years ago(1886)
Racine, Wisconsin,U.S.
FounderSamuel Curtis Johnson Sr.
HeadquartersJohnson Wax Headquarters
1525 Howe Street,
Racine, Wisconsin
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Herbert Fisk Johnson III
(Chairman&CEO)
Brands
RevenueUS$11.2 billion(2023)
OwnerJohnson Family
Number of employees
13,000(2019)[1]
Websitewww.scjohnson.com
Former SC Johnson logo (1999–2018)

S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.(commonly referred to asS. C. Johnson) is an Americanmultinationalcorporation, privately held manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and other consumer chemicals based inRacine, Wisconsin.[1]In 2017, S. C. Johnson employed approximately 13,000 people and had estimated sales of $10 billion.[2]

The company is owned by the Johnson family.H. Fisk Johnson,Chairman and CEO since 2004, is the fifth generation of the Johnson family to lead the company.[3]

History[edit]

The company is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the U.S.,[4]beginning in 1886 whenSamuel Curtis Johnsonpurchased theparquet flooringdivision from the Racine Hardware Manufacturing Company and named the new business S. C. Johnson. The company's principal product at that time was parquet flooring, later adding other floor care products such as Johnson's Prepared Wax, Johnson's Dance Wax, and Johnson's Wood Dye.[5]

UnderHerbert Fisk Johnson Sr.,the company expanded worldwide, establishing its first subsidiary in theUnited Kingdomin 1914.[6]Giving his employees credit for a successful year, Herbert gave them $35,000 in 1917.[7][8]In 1932, SC Johnson introduced Johnson's Glo-Coat.[9]The success of Glo-Coat bolstered the company during the Great Depression.[10]S. C. Johnson's line of wax-reliant products necessitatedHerbert Fisk Johnson Jr.’s 1935 expedition to Fortaleza, Brazil, to find a direct sustainable source of wax.[11]

From April 1935 until May 1950, the company was the sponsor for theFibber McGee and Mollyradio show,officially known asThe Johnson Wax Program.[12]During the 1950s, the company served as sponsor of the game show,The Name's the Same.[13]The company went on to co-sponsorRobert Montgomery PresentsonNBC,andThe Red Skelton ShowonCBS.[14]

In April 1939, theFrank Lloyd Wright–designed SC Johnson Administration Building opened.[15]Its addition, the Research Tower, opened in 1950.[16]TheSC Johnson Headquarterswas designated aNational Historic Landmarkin 1974.[17]

The launch of Raid House & Garden Bug Killer in 1955 marked the company's first major departure away from wax-based products.[18]Within the next few years,Sam Johnson,fourth generation leader, introduced some of the company's best known brands:Glade,OFF!,andPledge.[19]

In April 2018, the company updated itstaglinefrom "A Family Company", which began in 1998, to "A Family Company at Work for a Better World". According to the company, the updated tagline is "A reminder that SC Johnson holds itself to a higher standard."[20]

Racine Hardware Manufacturing Advertisement, "The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine," November 1889

Acquisition milestones[edit]

  • In 1992, the company boughtDrackett,manufacturer ofWindex,Drāno,and other specialty cleaning products.[21]
  • In 1998, S. C. Johnson expanded its roster of consumer brands when it purchasedDow Chemical's DowBrands division, which includedZiploc,Saran,Fantastik,andScrubbing Bubbles.[22]
  • In 1999, the commercial cleaning products and systems division separated from Johnson Wax and became a stand-alone company called Johnson Wax Professional, later known asDiversey, Inc.[23]
  • In 2003, the company acquired the fourBayerhousehold chemical brandsBaygon,Bay Fresh, Bayclin, and Autan.
  • In 2008, the company acquired Caldrea, Co., maker of household cleaning products including the Caldrea and Mrs. Meyers Clean Day brands.[24]
  • In 2011, the company acquired theKiwishoe care brand fromSara Lee Corporation,thus also expanding its shoe care businesses after the deal.[25]
  • S. C. Johnson acquired Deb Group in 2015. A year later the company announced a new line of SC Johnson Professional products at the ISSA/INTERCLEAN conference in Chicago.[26]
  • In July 2016 the company signed an agreement to acquire Babyganics, a baby products company with skin care, oral care, sun care, insect repellent, diapers, and wipe products.[27]
  • In 2017 the company signed an agreement to acquire cleaning brands Method andEcover.[28]
  • In December 2019, the company acquired the privately-heldStashercompany and its brand of reusable silcone food storage bags.[29][30]

Ingredients[edit]

The company launched a website listing ingredients for their products sold in North America in 2009.[31]Fragrance ingredients were added to the list in 2012.[32]The company added the ingredients of its European products to the list in May 2016.[33]In May 2017, SC Johnson disclosed a list of 368 potential skin allergens in its products.[34]

Brand names[edit]

Among the brands owned by S. C. Johnson & Son are the following:

Car care[edit]

Further information:car care
  • Grand Prix (in some markets, known as Kit, Tempo (Mexico), and Carnu)

Household cleaning and scent products[edit]

Further information:cleaning productandfragrance
  • Babyganics
  • Bayclin (Indonesia and Latin America)
  • Bayfresh (Southeast Asia)
  • Beanpod Soy Candles
  • Bon Ami (in Canada market)
  • Caldrea
  • Citresin (Czech Republic)
  • Drano(in Japan markets, known as Pipe Unish)
  • Ecover[35]
  • Fantastik
  • Favor
  • Finis (South and West Asia)
  • Glade(in some markets, known as Gleid and Brise)
  • Held (Switzerland)
  • Janitor in a Drum
  • Kiwi Dranex Kleen (in Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore markets, known as Kiwi Kleen)
  • Lynn (Czech Republic)
  • Lysoform (known as FamilyGuard in Asian markets; marketed as a new product in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic)[36]
  • Method[35]
  • Mr Muscle(in Japan markets, known as Kabikiller)
  • Temple/Tenpuru (Japan)
  • Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day
  • Nature's Source
  • Oust
  • Pledge(in some markets, known as Blem, Pliz, Bravo, Brilho, Pronto, Pride, and Glo-coat)
  • Scrubbing Bubbles(formerly known asDowBathroom Cleaner before the sale to S. C. Johnson & Son)
  • Shout
  • Toilet Duck(in some markets, known as Canard WC, Bebek, Duck, WC Eend, WC Ente)
  • Windex
  • Armstrong (Floor Cleaner) in US markets.
  • Johnsons Brite
  • Plexon
  • Freedom (Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand)
  • Roma Coco (Brazil)
  • Echo (South & Latin America)
  • Optimum (Brazil)
  • 00 Null Null WC (Germany)
  • Brillo (some countries in Europe)
  • Goddard's (Australia & New Zealand license)
  • Wega (Swiss)
  • 999 (Indonesia)
  • All Joy (China)
  • Stira E Ammira (in Hispanic markets, known as Toke and Klaro)
  • Ceramicol (Argentina)
  • Crew (Hongkong & Japan)
  • Lifeguard (UK)
  • J-80 Sanitizer (Indonesia)
  • Shut (Japan)

Household food storage[edit]

Household pest control[edit]

  • All Out (India)
  • Autan
  • Baygon
  • Biolit (Czech Republic)
  • Chemotox(Hungary)
  • Diffusil (Czech Republic)
  • Exposis (Brazil)
  • Fuyí (Argentina)
  • OFF!(in Japan markets, known as Skinguard)
  • Pyrel (France)
  • Raid
  • STEM
  • Ridsect (Malaysia)
  • Polil (Spain)
  • F-Killer (S. Korea)
  • Pest Rest (China)

Personal care[edit]

  • Coola
  • Oars + Alps
  • Sun Bum

Shoe care[edit]

  • Class
  • Grison
  • Kiwi
  • Meltonian
  • Salamander
  • Tana
  • Woly
  • Golden Rooster (China)
  • Colorfiel (Mexico)
  • Red Bird (China)

Divested brand names[edit]

Among the brands formerly owned by S. C. Johnson & Son are the following:

  • Aveeno,a brand of personal care and skin care products. Sold toJohnson & Johnsonin 1999.
  • Bama, a brand of shoe care products. Acquired by the Serafin group of companies in 2018.
  • Behold,a brand of furniture polish. Sold toSara Lee Corporation(then Nakoma Products) in 1993.
  • Curel, a brand of skin care products. Sold toBausch & Lomb(then Kao Corporation) in 1993.
  • Edge,a brand of shaving cream for men. Sold toEdgewell Personal Care(formerly Energizer Holdings) in 2009.
  • Endust,a brand of dusting aid. Sold with Behold toSara Lee Corporation(then Nakoma Products) in 1993.
  • Fiberall, a brand of bulk laxatives. Sold toCiba-Geigy(now Novartis, then Leosons Products) in 1988.
  • Glass Plus,a brand of glass and multi-surface cleaners. Sold toReckitt Benckiserin 1998.
  • O-Cedar,a brand of mops, brooms, and household accessories. Sold to Vining Industries (then Freudenberg Household Products) in 1993.
  • Pouss-Mousse, a brand of hand soaps. Sold toColgate-Palmolivein 1993. Now it operates as a sub-brand to Palmolive as of 2020.
  • Renuzit,a brand of air fresheners. Sold toThe Dial Corporation(now Henkel) in 1993.
  • Rhuli Gel, a brand of anti-itch gel. Sold with Aveeno toJohnson & Johnsonin 1999. It returned in 2017 and is now owned by Trifecta Pharmaceuticals USA.
  • Skintimate,a brand of shaving cream for women. Sold with Edge toEdgewell Personal Care(formerly Energizer Holdings) in 2009.
  • Soft Sense, a brand of skin care products. Sold with Curel toBausch & Lomb(then Kao Corporation) in 1993. As of 2020, the product is now discontinued.
  • Spray 'N Wash, a brand of stain removers. Sold with Glass Plus toReckitt Benckiserin 1998.
  • Tahiti, a brand of shower gels. Sold with Pouss-Mousse toColgate-Palmolivein 1993.
  • Vivid, a brand of bleach. Sold with Glass Plus and Spray 'N Wash toReckitt Benckiserin 1998.
  • Yes, a brand of laundry detergent. Sold with Glass Plus, Spray 'N Wash, and Vivid toReckitt Benckiserin 1998.

Discontinued brand names[edit]

Among the brands discontinued by S. C. Johnson & Son and no longer available in their lineup are the following:

  • Semerbak, a brand of bathroom freshener in Indonesia. Merged with Duck, while in Japan it still uses Shut for this product.
  • AllerCare, a brand of dust mite products. Pulled from the U.S. market by S. C. Johnson & Son in 2000 due to complaints of asthma attacks and other dangerous symptoms.
  • Astri, a brand of ironing aid in Indonesia and this product is local name from Stira E Ammira.
  • Axi, a floor cleaner brand from Indonesia and Thailand. Merged with Mr. Muscle.
  • Rain Barrel, a fabric softener brand from US. In Indonesia called Soft & Fresh.
  • Jubilee, a kitchen wax brand from US. (Subsequently licensed and manufactured by Malco Products, Inc.)
  • Fresh Soft Sense, a skincare brand from Indonesia. This product is domestic name for Soft Sense.
  • Klear, in some countries known as Sol Plus and Klir. Merged with Pledge.
  • Future, merged with Pledge while in Taiwan markets merged with Mr. Muscle.
  • Kleen N' Fresh, a floor cleaner brand from Taiwan. Merged with Mr. Muscle.
  • Glo, merged with Pledge.

Environmental record[edit]

S. C. Johnson & Son's Greenlist process is a classification system that evaluates the effects of raw materials on human health and the environment. The Greenlist logo represents an internal ratings system to help customers identify which products are environmentally safe. The Greenlist label is present in many S. C. Johnson & Son products. The Greenlist process has resulted in the elimination of 1.8 million pounds ofvolatile organic compoundsfromWindex,and four million pounds ofpolyvinylidene chloridefromSaran Wrap.[37]

In 2011, S. C. Johnson & Son settled a lawsuit that alleged the company's Greenlist label misled consumers into believing the products were reviewed by a third party and given a seal of approval. The company agreed to an undisclosed sum and dropped the labeling of Greenlist on Windex.[38]

S. C. Johnson & Son is the main sponsor of theSerra das Almas Private Natural Heritage Reservein the states ofCearáandPiauí,Brazil. The reserve protects an area of thecaatingabiome, including wild specimens of the carnauba palm tree (Copernicia prunifera), the source ofcarnauba wax.[39]

On December 18, 2012, S. C. Johnson & Son began operation of twowind turbinesat their largest manufacturing facility inMount Pleasant, Wisconsin.The turbines, in addition to the gas reclamation system in place at a nearby landfill, are estimated to produce enough electricity to completely power the facility.[40]

In 2017 S. C. Johnson purchased the ecological productEcoverand Method brands on undisclosed terms.[35]

Controversy[edit]

ARICOlawsuit by tax whistleblower Mike DeGuelle alleges that since 1997, S. C. Johnson & Son has taken advantage of audit errors and filed fraudulent tax returns, underpaying its taxes by millions of dollars.[41]H. Fisk Johnson ordered an inquiry into the allegations, and toldTax Analyststhat he learned "other details of the decisions they (the tax department) made that I didn't like. I didn't like what I heard." On December 15, 2011, theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit,in Case No. 10-2172, ruled that DeGuelle had alleged a valid claim that the company's discharge of him was part of the tax fraud scheme.[42]DeGuelle's claim was reviewed in theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsinwith the Court ruling to dismiss the RICO lawsuit on the grounds ofpreclusion.[43]The Court did not rule on SC Johnson's actions as they pertain to tax evasion, withJudge Stadtmuelerstating that "the legality of SC Johnson's actions (and whether those actions did, in fact, occur) is of no importance to the Court's consideration of the defendant's motion for summary judgment."[42]TheWisconsin Court of Appealsreviewed DeGuelle's case and affirmed an earlier ruling of the Racine County Circuit Court in favor of SC Johnson for defamation related to Deguelle's claims of tax evasion and breach of a confidentiality agreement.[44][45]

S. C. Johnson & Son was one of 13 large consumer product companies who were together fined €948.9million byAutorité de la concurrencein France in 2016 for price-fixing on personal hygiene products. At the time, it was the largest single fine ever imposed by Autorité de la Concurrence.[46]

In March 2022, S. C. Johnson & Son faced public scrutiny after its decision to continue to operate in Russia despite widespread sanctions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The company was reported to have stopped new investments and scaled back unspecified operations as of April 1, 2022.[47]

References[edit]

  1. ^abForbesAccessed March 4, 2020.
  2. ^Byron, Ellen (March 9, 2016),"How Fisk Johnson Works to Keep the Shine on Family Business",The Wall Street Journal,retrievedMarch 29,2018
  3. ^Delwiche, Anna (January 29, 2017),"Continuing the Family Legacy: Fisk Johnson's Donation and His Family's Commitment to Cornell",The Cornell Daily Sun,retrievedMarch 29,2018
  4. ^Cowen, Lee (October 16, 2016),"In Good Company: A Family History at SC Johnson",CBS Sunday Morning,retrievedApril 3,2018
  5. ^Pfankuchen, David (September 21, 1986),"Parquet Floors Launched Firm",The Journal Times,retrievedApril 3,2018
  6. ^Pfankuchen, David (September 21, 1986),"Parquet Floors Launched Firm",The Journal Times,retrievedApril 23,2018
  7. ^Staff Writer (December 22, 1917),"Johnson Gives His Employes [sic] Credit for Successful Year",The Racine Journal-News,retrievedMarch 29,2018
  8. ^Staff Writer (February 16, 1928), "Herbert F. Johnson Dies, Victim of Heart Disease",The Racine Times-Call
  9. ^Staff Writer (April 29, 1932),"New Product is Now on the Market",The Racine Journal-News,retrievedMarch 29,2018
  10. ^Burke, Michael (October 22, 2001),"The Flight That Changed a Company",The Journal Times,retrievedApril 3,2018
  11. ^Staff Writer (October 14, 1935)."Wax Hunt".Time.RetrievedDecember 8,2018.
  12. ^Stumpf, Charles; Price, Tom (1987),Heavenly Days! The Story of Fibber McGee and Molly,Waynesville, NC: The World of Yesterday, pp. 41–202,ISBN0-936505-05-2
  13. ^Staff Writer (April 13, 1953),"Rival TV Networks Share The Honors: NBC and ABC both take lively part in one of TV's biggest success stories",LIFE,retrievedApril 19,2018
  14. ^Staff Writer (September 15, 2003),"S. C. Johnson & Son",AdAge.com,Crane Communications,retrievedApril 19,2018
  15. ^Staff Writer (May 8, 1939),"New Frank Lloyd Wright Office Building Shows Shape of Things to Come",LIFE,retrievedApril 19,2018
  16. ^Staff Writer (December 11, 1950),"Speaking of Pictures: Johnson's new 'Heliolab' makes strange patterns both by night and by day",LIFE,retrievedApril 19,2018
  17. ^"National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form - S. C. Johnson and Son, Inc.",nps.gov,National Park Service, December 27, 1974,retrievedApril 19,2018
  18. ^Cowen, Lee (October 16, 2016),"In Good Company: A Family History at SC Johnson",CBS Sunday Morning,retrievedApril 19,2018
  19. ^Johnson, Samuel C. (1988),The Essence of a Family Enterprise,Indianapolis, Indiana: The Curtis Publishing Company, pp. 49–50, 63, 65, 70–72,ISBN0-89387-086-2
  20. ^"SC Johnson updates its slogan: 'A Family Company at Work for a Better World'".The Journal Times.Racine, Wis.RetrievedApril 24,2018.
  21. ^The Associated Press (October 28, 1992),"Company News; S.C. Johnson to Buy Drackett from Bristol-Myers",The New York Times,retrievedApril 20,2018
  22. ^"S.C. Johnson completes Dow acquisition",Milwaukee Business Journal,January 23, 1998,retrievedApril 20,2018
  23. ^Callahan, Patricia;Ellison, Sarah(November 21, 2001),"Johnson Wax to Buy DiverseyLever From Unilever for About $1.6 Billion",The Wall Street Journal,retrievedApril 20,2018
  24. ^Hamlin, Doug (April 28, 2008),"S.C. Johnson buys Caldrea",Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal,retrievedApril 20,2018
  25. ^"Kiwi Shoe Care Brand Sold to SC Johnson".SGB Media.January 10, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
  26. ^Schuyler, David (October 26, 2016),"S.C. Johnson announces return to industrial and institutional market",Milwaukee Business Journal,retrievedApril 20,2018
  27. ^Barrow, Olivia (July 1, 2016),"S.C. Johnson acquires fast-growing baby products company",Milwaukee Business Journal,retrievedApril 20,2018
  28. ^Marotti, Ally (September 15, 2017),"S.C. Johnson plans to acquire Method, which has a Pullman soap factory",Chicago Tribune,retrievedApril 20,2018
  29. ^"SC Johnson Acquires Stasher® Brand".S. C. Johnson & Son. December 19, 2019.RetrievedApril 17,2022.
  30. ^"Stasher and Modern Twist: Kat Nouri: How I Built This with Guy Raz".NPR.org.November 22, 2021.RetrievedNovember 24,2021.
  31. ^"SC Johnson Starts Listing Products Ingredients Publicly",GreenBiz,March 13, 2009,retrievedApril 23,2018
  32. ^King, Bart (September 15, 2017),"SC Johnson Completes Full Disclosure if Fragrance Ingredients",Chicago Tribune,retrievedApril 23,2018
  33. ^"SC Johnson expands ingredient disclosure to Europe",Chemical Watch,May 27, 2016,retrievedApril 23,2018
  34. ^Joyce, Stephen (May 26, 2017),"SC Johnson to Expand Skin Allergen Disclosures in Products",Bloomberg BNA,retrievedApril 23,2018
  35. ^abcDye, Jessica (September 14, 2017)."SC Johnson scoops up Method, Ecover cleaning-product brands".Financial Times.RetrievedApril 19,2018.
  36. ^"ブランドのランディングページ: SC Johnson".
  37. ^"CNNMoney – Business, financial and personal finance news".
  38. ^"SC Johnson Settles Cases Involving Greenlist Labeling | Press Room".www.scjohnson.com.RetrievedJune 24,2016.
  39. ^Rodrigo Castro,Reserva Natural Serra das Almas / CE(in Portuguese), Associação Caatinga,retrievedMay 18,2016
  40. ^"SC Johnson Powers Up Wind Energy at Largest Mfg Facility – Press Room".scjohnson.com.
  41. ^"Can Loopholes Blow the Whistle on Whistleblowers?".Tax.com.Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.RetrievedDecember 6,2010.
  42. ^ab"Major Victory for Whistleblowers in Seventh Circuit Says Retaliation is a RICO Violation".Whistleblowers Protection Blog.December 19, 2011.RetrievedDecember 20,2011.
  43. ^"DeGuelle v. Camilli et al (10-CV-103-JPS)".Justia.com.RetrievedMay 28,2019.
  44. ^Laehr Tenuta, Marci (June 1, 2011),"Former employee must pay SCJ $50,000 in damages",The Journal Times,Racine, Wisconsin,retrievedMay 31,2019
  45. ^Burke, Michael (June 6, 2013),"Court of Appeals sides with SCJ in case regarding former employee",The Journal Times,Racine, Wisconsin,retrievedMay 28,2019
  46. ^"Huge price-fixing fine is upheld".The Connexion. October 28, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2017.
  47. ^"Over 400 Companies Have Withdrawn from Russia — But Some Remain",Yale School of Management,New Haven, CT,retrievedApril 1,2022

External links[edit]

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