S. C. Johnson & Son
Encyclopedia
S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (commonly referred to as S. C. Johnson), previously known as S. C. Johnson Wax (and earlier, Johnson Wax), is a privately held, global manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and other consumer chemicals based in Racine
, Wisconsin
. It has operations in 72 countries and its brands are sold in over 110. It is the largest component of the Johnson Family Enterprises
, which also includes the Johnson Financial Group
, and Johnson Outdoors
. In 2006, S. C. Johnson & Son employed approximately 12,000 and had estimated sales of $7.5 billion.
purchased the parquet flooring business of Racine Hardware Company in 1886 and renamed it Johnson's Prepared Paste Wax Company. Management has since passed down through five generations of the Johnson family; the longevity of this dynasty
is itself unusual. In 1939, the first part of the Johnson Wax Building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
, opened. The tower opened in 1950.
From April 1935 until May 1950, the company was the sponsor for the Fibber McGee & Molly radio show, officially known as The Johnson Wax Program; each episode featured an appearance by pitchman and Johnson representative Harlow Wilcox. To maximize show time, Wilcox was written into the script as a Johnson's-obsessed friend of the McGees (commonly called "Waxy" ) who would show up mid-episode and managed to get an ad into his lines, often using extremely far-fetched segues for comedic effect. Common products advertised on the show were Johnson's Wax, Johnson's Glo-Coat, and Johnson's Car-Nu.
Also during the 1950s, the company served as sponsor of the game show, The Name's the Same
; alternating with Swanson
, also co-sponsoring Robert Montgomery Presents
on NBC
, and later on CBS
, The Red Skelton Show
.
In 1984, Cornell University
renamed its business school
the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management
in recognition of the Johnson family's long generosity to that institution.
In 1992, the company bought Drackett
, manufacturer of Windex
, Drāno
and other specialty cleaning products. In 1997, S.C. Johnson expanded its roster of consumer brands when it purchased Dow Chemical's DowBrands division, which included Ziploc
, Saran
, Fantastik, Glass Plus
, Scrubbing Bubbles
, and Spray 'n Wash. Dow Chemical purchased Texize
in 1986, in which it received the Fantastik and Glass Plus brand. The company received approval for the deal in 1998 from the Federal Trade Commission
by agreeing to sell the Glass Plus and Spray 'n Wash brands to competitor Reckitt Benckiser
.
The current Chairman and CEO, Dr. Herbert Fisk Johnson III
, is the fifth generation of the Johnson family to lead the company. He succeeds his father, Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr.
, who died in May 2004.
The company was one of three 2006 recipients of the Ron Brown Award
for corporate leadership.
From 2005 to 2011, S. C. Johnson & Son was ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 10 "Companies to Work For" in their annual ranking. In 2007, the company was ranked #7; In 2011, they were ranked #10.
Despite its large size, the company remains privately owned by the Johnson family, and is currently in its fifth generation of family ownership.
's annual Corporate Equality Index report. In 2005 and 2006, Working Mothers magazine named the company among the top ten in its annual list of 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. However, after objections to Glenn Beck's controversial views as expressed on Fox Television, S. C. Johnson & Son agreed to pull its advertisements from the Glenn Beck Show.
now has a Greenlist label on it. The Greenlist process is a classification system that evaluates raw materials on human and environmental health. The Greenlist logo is present to help customers identify which products are environmentally safe and deliver excellence. The Greenlist label is present in many S.C. Johnson & Son products. Although this is generally a positive addition to the traditional Windex
bottle, the company could put the Greenlist logo on any of their products, no matter the ingredients, because they own the Greenlist label. This could lead to false representation of products ingredients. By using Greenlist, S.C. Johnson eliminated 1.8 million pounds of volatile organic compounds from Windex
, and four million pounds of polyvinylidene chloride
from Saran Wrap.
lawsuit 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. H. Fisk Johnson ordered an inquiry into the allegations, and told Tax.com
that he learned "other details of the decisions they (the tax department) made that I didn't like. I didn't like what I heard." The lawsuit is currently pending at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Case No. 10-2172, which on November 24, 2010, appointed counsel for DeGuelle and ordered rebriefing of the case.
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. It has operations in 72 countries and its brands are sold in over 110. It is the largest component of the Johnson Family Enterprises
Johnson Family Enterprises
Johnson Family Enterprises is a privately held company controlled by the Johnson family that in turn owns or controls a number of other firms such as S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., previously known as S. C. Johnson Wax, a global manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and other consumer chemicals,...
, which also includes the Johnson Financial Group
Johnson Financial Group
Johnson Financial Group is the $6 billion financial services company of the Johnson Family Enterprises. The company was founded in 1970 and has grown from a single bank holding company to a global organization providing a full range of financial services to businesses and individuals. Johnson...
, and Johnson Outdoors
Johnson Outdoors
Johnson Outdoors Inc. produces outdoor recreational products such as watercraft, diving equipment, compasses and navigational products, and outdoor clothing.-Company history:...
. In 2006, S. C. Johnson & Son employed approximately 12,000 and had estimated sales of $7.5 billion.
History
The company began when Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr.Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr.
Samuel Curtis Johnson created S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc of Racine, Wisconsin.In 1882 he moved to Racine where he became a parquet flooring salesman for the Racine Hardware Manufacturing Co. In 1886 he purchased the flooring business from the company and renamed it Johnson's Prepared Paste Wax Company...
purchased the parquet flooring business of Racine Hardware Company in 1886 and renamed it Johnson's Prepared Paste Wax Company. Management has since passed down through five generations of the Johnson family; the longevity of this dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
is itself unusual. In 1939, the first part of the Johnson Wax Building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
, opened. The tower opened in 1950.
From April 1935 until May 1950, the company was the sponsor for the Fibber McGee & Molly radio show, officially known as The Johnson Wax Program; each episode featured an appearance by pitchman and Johnson representative Harlow Wilcox. To maximize show time, Wilcox was written into the script as a Johnson's-obsessed friend of the McGees (commonly called "Waxy" ) who would show up mid-episode and managed to get an ad into his lines, often using extremely far-fetched segues for comedic effect. Common products advertised on the show were Johnson's Wax, Johnson's Glo-Coat, and Johnson's Car-Nu.
Also during the 1950s, the company served as sponsor of the game show, The Name's the Same
The Name's the Same
The Name's the Same is an American game show that was produced by Goodson-Todman for the ABC television network from December 5, 1951 to August 31, 1954, followed by a run from October 25, 1954 to October 7, 1955....
; alternating with Swanson
Swanson
Swanson is a brand of TV dinners, broths, and canned poultry made for the North American market. The TV dinner business is currently owned by Pinnacle Foods, while the broth business is currently owned by the Campbell Soup Company...
, also co-sponsoring Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC from January 30, 1950 until June 24, 1957. The live show had several sponsors during its seven-year run, and the title was altered to feature the sponsor, usually Lucky Strike cigarettes, for example,...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, and later on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, The Red Skelton Show
The Red Skelton Show
The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke and third to The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings during that time. Skelton, who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion pictures as...
.
In 1984, Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
renamed its business school
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management
S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management
The Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management is the graduate business school of Cornell University, a private Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. It was founded in 1946 and renamed in 1984 after Samuel Curtis Johnson, founder of S.C...
in recognition of the Johnson family's long generosity to that institution.
In 1992, the company bought Drackett
Drackett
The Drackett Company was a leading company in the specialty chemicals business during the 20th century, responsible for such products as Windex glass cleaner, Vanish toilet bowl cleaner, Drāno drain opener, Behold furniture polish, Endust dusting aid, Renuzit air freshener, Mr. Muscle oven...
, manufacturer of Windex
Windex
Windex is a trademark for a glass and hard-surface cleaner manufactured since 1933. S. C. Johnson acquired Windex in 1993 and has been manufacturing it since that time. The product was recently reformulated with more environmentally desirable solvents....
, Drāno
Drano
Drano is a drain cleaner product manufactured by S. C. Johnson & Son.- Crystal Drano :According to the National Institutes of Health's Household Products Database, the crystal form is composed of sodium hydroxide , sodium nitrate, sodium chloride , and aluminum.The power crystals are simply colored...
and other specialty cleaning products. In 1997, S.C. Johnson expanded its roster of consumer brands when it purchased Dow Chemical's DowBrands division, which included Ziploc
Ziploc
Ziploc is a brand of reusable, re-sealable zipper storage bags and containers originally developed by Dow Chemical Company, and now produced by S. C. Johnson & Son. According to Dow's website, the bags were originally test marketed in 1968....
, Saran
Saran (plastic)
Saran is the trade name for a number of polymers made from vinylidene chloride , along with other monomers. The main advantage of Saran film is its very low permeability to water vapor, flavor and aroma molecules, and oxygen compared with other plastics...
, Fantastik, Glass Plus
Glass Plus
Glass Plus is a popular glass and multi-surface cleaner that is currently manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser, who purchased the brand from S.C. Johnson. SC Johnson had purchased it from Dow Chemical. Dow Chemical acquired it through its 1986 purchase of Texize. It does not contain the chemical...
, Scrubbing Bubbles
Scrubbing Bubbles
Scrubbing Bubbles is a brand of bathroom cleaner produced by S. C. Johnson & Son.The product was originally named Dow Bathroom Cleaner, after its manufacturer at the time, the Dow Chemical Company. After Dow sold some of its consumer product lines to S.C...
, and Spray 'n Wash. Dow Chemical purchased Texize
Texize
Texize Chemical Company or simply Texize, is a chemical company incorporated in the 1940s which sold industrial cleaners to textile plants, hence the name "Texize." It was also one of the first accounts of Henderson Advertising Agency, founded by James M. Henderson in 1946. It was Henderson who...
in 1986, in which it received the Fantastik and Glass Plus brand. The company received approval for the deal in 1998 from the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
by agreeing to sell the Glass Plus and Spray 'n Wash brands to competitor Reckitt Benckiser
Reckitt Benckiser
Reckitt Benckiser plc is a global consumer goods company headquartered in Slough, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of household products and a major producer of consumer healthcare and personal products...
.
The current Chairman and CEO, Dr. Herbert Fisk Johnson III
Herbert Fisk Johnson III
Herbert Fisk Johnson III or H. Fisk Johnson III , known as "Fisk", is the fifth generation of his family to lead S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc of Racine, WI. He is the current Chairman and CEO of the company. He is the son of Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr., who died in 2004, and Imogene Powers Johnson...
, is the fifth generation of the Johnson family to lead the company. He succeeds his father, Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr.
Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr.
Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr. was the fourth generation of his family to lead S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., which is headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin. He was the son of Herbert Fisk Johnson, Jr. and the great-grandson of company founder, Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr...
, who died in May 2004.
The company was one of three 2006 recipients of the Ron Brown Award
Ron Brown Award
The Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership is a U.S. presidential honor to recognize companies "for the exemplary quality of their relationships with employees and communities"...
for corporate leadership.
From 2005 to 2011, S. C. Johnson & Son was ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 10 "Companies to Work For" in their annual ranking. In 2007, the company was ranked #7; In 2011, they were ranked #10.
Despite its large size, the company remains privately owned by the Johnson family, and is currently in its fifth generation of family ownership.
Diversity
In every year since 2003, S. C. Johnson & Son has received a perfect 100% rating on the Human Rights CampaignHuman Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
's annual Corporate Equality Index report. In 2005 and 2006, Working Mothers magazine named the company among the top ten in its annual list of 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. However, after objections to Glenn Beck's controversial views as expressed on Fox Television, S. C. Johnson & Son agreed to pull its advertisements from the Glenn Beck Show.
Brand names
Among the brands owned by S. C. Johnson & Son are the following:- Household cleaning and scent products
- Bayfresh
- Beanpod Soy Candles
- Caldrea
- Drāno
- Fantastik
- GladeGlade (brand)Glade is an S. C. Johnson & Son brand of household air fresheners that were first introduced in 1956. The family of products include: Aerosol Sprays, Candles, Car Scented Oil, Carpet & Room, Glass Scents, PlugIns, PlugIns Scented Oil, Press'n Fresh, Secrets, Scented Oil Candles, and Wisp...
- Grab-it
- Mr. MuscleMr. MuscleMr. Muscle is a brand of hard surface cleaners. It has been manufactured by S. C. Johnson & Son, since their purchase of Drackett from Bristol-Myers in 1992. The original product was developed at Drackett in 1986....
- Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day
- Nature's Source
- Oust
- Pledge
- Scrubbing BubblesScrubbing BubblesScrubbing Bubbles is a brand of bathroom cleaner produced by S. C. Johnson & Son.The product was originally named Dow Bathroom Cleaner, after its manufacturer at the time, the Dow Chemical Company. After Dow sold some of its consumer product lines to S.C...
(formerly known as Dow Bathroom Cleaner before the sale to S. C. Johnson & Son) - Seed by Soy Inspirations
- Shout
- Toilet DuckToilet DuckToilet Duck is a brand name toilet cleaner noted for the duck-shape of its bottle, so shaped to assist in dispensing the cleaner under the rim. The design was patented in the 1980s by Walter Düring from Dällikon, Switzerland. It is now produced by S. C. Johnson & Son.Toilet Duck suppliers are...
- WindexWindexWindex is a trademark for a glass and hard-surface cleaner manufactured since 1933. S. C. Johnson acquired Windex in 1993 and has been manufacturing it since that time. The product was recently reformulated with more environmentally desirable solvents....
- Household food storage
- Saran Wrap
- ZiplocZiplocZiploc is a brand of reusable, re-sealable zipper storage bags and containers originally developed by Dow Chemical Company, and now produced by S. C. Johnson & Son. According to Dow's website, the bags were originally test marketed in 1968....
- Household pest control
- OFF!OFF!OFF! is a well-known insect repellent brand from S. C. Johnson and produced in Finland. Its active ingredient is DEET . It was first sold in 1957.- Products :*OFF! Family Care*OFF! Active*OFF! Deep Woods...
- Autan
- RaidRaid (insecticide)Raid is the brand name of a line of insecticides produced by SC Johnson, first launched in 1956.The initial active ingredient was the first synthetic pyrethroid, allethrin...
- BaygonBaygonBaygon is a pesticide brand produced by S. C. Johnson & Son. It is an insecticide used for extermination and control of many household pests and is very effective for crickets, roaches, ants, carpenter ants, spiders, silverfish, mosquito, and others...
- ALL OUT
- OFF!
- Car care
- Grand Prix
- Tempo
- Floors
- Johnsons Brite
- Glo-Coat
- Taski
- Shoe care
- KiwiKiwi (shoe polish)Kiwi is the brand name of a shoe polish, first made in Australia in 1906 and sold in almost 180 countries. Previously owned by the Sara Lee Corporation since 1984, it was sold in 2011 to SC Johnson...
- Kiwi
Environmental record
S.C. Johnson & Son's WindexWindex
Windex is a trademark for a glass and hard-surface cleaner manufactured since 1933. S. C. Johnson acquired Windex in 1993 and has been manufacturing it since that time. The product was recently reformulated with more environmentally desirable solvents....
now has a Greenlist label on it. The Greenlist process is a classification system that evaluates raw materials on human and environmental health. The Greenlist logo is present to help customers identify which products are environmentally safe and deliver excellence. The Greenlist label is present in many S.C. Johnson & Son products. Although this is generally a positive addition to the traditional Windex
Windex
Windex is a trademark for a glass and hard-surface cleaner manufactured since 1933. S. C. Johnson acquired Windex in 1993 and has been manufacturing it since that time. The product was recently reformulated with more environmentally desirable solvents....
bottle, the company could put the Greenlist logo on any of their products, no matter the ingredients, because they own the Greenlist label. This could lead to false representation of products ingredients. By using Greenlist, S.C. Johnson eliminated 1.8 million pounds of volatile organic compounds from Windex
Windex
Windex is a trademark for a glass and hard-surface cleaner manufactured since 1933. S. C. Johnson acquired Windex in 1993 and has been manufacturing it since that time. The product was recently reformulated with more environmentally desirable solvents....
, and four million pounds of polyvinylidene chloride
Polyvinylidene chloride
Polyvinylidene chloride is a polymer derived from vinylidene chloride.-History:Ralph Wiley, a Dow Chemical lab worker, accidentally discovered polyvinylidene chloride in 1933. While cleaning laboratory glassware, he came across a vial he could not scrub clean...
from Saran Wrap.
Controversy
A RICORacketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
lawsuit 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. H. Fisk Johnson ordered an inquiry into the allegations, and told Tax.com
Tax Analysts
Tax Analysts is a nonprofit publisher of weekly magazines and daily online journals on tax policy and administration. Tax Analysts also promotes transparency in tax policymaking and holds regular conferences on key tax issues.-History:Thomas F...
that he learned "other details of the decisions they (the tax department) made that I didn't like. I didn't like what I heard." The lawsuit is currently pending at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Case No. 10-2172, which on November 24, 2010, appointed counsel for DeGuelle and ordered rebriefing of the case.
Competitors
- CloroxCloroxThe Clorox Company is a US-based manufacturer of various food and chemical products based in Oakland, California, which is best known for its bleach product, Clorox.- History :...
- Colgate-PalmoliveColgate-PalmoliveColgate-Palmolive Company is an American diversified multinational corporation focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products . Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of...
- HenkelHenkelHenkel AG & Co. KGaA is an multinational company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany.The company operates in three business areas: Home Care , Personal Care ,...
- Procter & GambleProcter & GambleProcter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
- Reckitt BenckiserReckitt BenckiserReckitt Benckiser plc is a global consumer goods company headquartered in Slough, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of household products and a major producer of consumer healthcare and personal products...
- UnileverUnileverUnilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
- Spotless GroupSpotless GroupSpotless Group SAS is a pan-European manufacturer of household cleansing and laundry products, based in Paris, France. Spotless Group has subsidiary operations in 8 European states, employing over 400 people in Ireland, Sweden, Hungary, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands...