The story behind DEPEND^®

The History of Kimberly-Clark

A global company that remembers its heritage Kimberly-Clark always has been a company that touched people’s lives.

Although our size and scale has changed dramatically since 1872, our founders' values still guide us - manufacturing the best possible products, providing quality service and dealing fairly with employees and customers. Generations of successful men and women have followed those values, evolving Kimberly-Clark into a successful worldwide enterprise.

Ingrained in our culture is a passion for innovation and leadership. We have invented entire product categories – facial tissue, feminine pads, paper towels, toilet paper on a roll and disposable training pants.

Now, 130 years after Kimberly-Clark was founded, our products continue to make a difference in people’s lives.

History

Kimberly, Clark and Company established in Neenah, Wisconsin, with $30,000 capitalisation. Four young businessmen, John A. Kimberly, Havilah Babcock, Charles B. Clark, and Frank C. Shattuck, joined forces as partners in this Wisconsin village and put together the modest sum of $30,000 to start Kimberly, Clark and Co.

Scott Paper Company founded in Philadelphia by Irvin and Clarence Scott. Brothers Seymour and Irvin Scott ran a paper commission business for twelve years, but the poor economy in the 1870s forced them out of business. Irvin and his younger brother, Clarence, then decided to form their own company out of the remains of the first. Irvin reportedly borrowed $2,000 from his father-in-law and added it to the $300 the two brothers had to form the capital of Scott Paper Company.

Name changed to Kimberly & Clark Company. Incorporated with a capital stock of $400,000. By 1880, the company had done extremely well, so the partners decided to incorporate as the new Kimberly & Clark Company, with a capital stock of $400,000.

1872 Kimberly, Clark and Company established in Neenah, Wisconsin, with $30,000 capitalization.  Four young businessmen, John A. Kimberly, Havilah Babcock, Charles B. Clark, and Frank C. Shattuck, joined forces as partners in this Wisconsin village and put together the modest sum of $30,000 to start Kimberly, Clark and Co.

1879 Scott Paper Company founded in Philadelphia by Irvin and Clarence Scott. Brothers Seymour and Irvin Scott ran a paper commission business for twelve years, but the poor economy in the 1870s forced them out of business. Irvin and his younger brother, Clarence, then decided to form their own company out of the remains of the first. Irvin reportedly borrowed $2,000 from his father-in-law and added it to the $300 the two brothers had to form the capital of Scott Paper Company.

1880 Name changed to Kimberly & Clark Company. Incorporated with a capital stock of $400,000. By 1880, the company had done extremely well, so the partners decided to incorporate as the new Kimberly & Clark Company, with a capital stock of $400,000.

1889 Kimberly Mill built and town developed. To build a large new pulp and paper mill, the firm bought farmland and water power rights along the Fox River three miles east of Appleton, Wisconsin. As part of the development, the company built a hotel and 60 houses which were sold or rented. For this project, Kimberly & Clark turned the design over to renowned architect A. B. Tower of Holyoke, Massachusetts, who was called by John A. Kimberly the "prince of paper-mill architects."

1890 Scott Paper Company becomes nation's leading producer of bathroom tissue. By 1890, Scott Paper became the nation's leading producer of bathroom tissue. Manufacturing the then "unmentionable" product was the turning point for the company and would pay huge dividends for a long time.

1906 After the deaths of three of the four founders, Kimberly & Clark Company is reorganized and incorporated as Kimberly-Clark Company with capital of $2 million.    Following the reorganization, John A. Kimberly gradually withdrew from an active role in the company. He continued as president, retaining the title until his death on January 21, 1928, at the age of 90. For the last 20 years of his life, he lived in Redlands, California, effectively letting others run the firm.

1907 Scott Paper introduces the Sani-Towels paper towel, the first paper towel in America. Scott Paper invented disposable paper towels for use in Philadelphia classrooms to help prevent the spread of the common cold from child to child.

1915 Kimberly-Clark begins to manufacture creped cellulose wadding named Cellucotton. The Globe mill in Neenah, Wisconsin, was rebuilt to produce Cellucotton as a substitute for cotton. It was first used as bandages for wounded soldiers in World War I. After the war, Cellucotton led to the development of Kotex feminine pads and Kleenex facial tissue.

1916 Scott Paper changes an industry marketing strategy. In 1916 Scott Paper adopted the slogan: "It's the counted sheet that counts." Scott took the lead against its competitors by selling bathroom tissue by the sheet, changing the marketing strategy of the entire industry.

1920 Kimberly-Clark sets up the Cellucotton Products Company to sell Kotex feminine pads. Because of the public's disdain about openly discussing menstruation and not knowing how this attitude might affect K-C's good reputation, the company decided to market Kotex feminine pads through a new subsidiary, Cellucotton Products Company. Dealers refused to display the product on their counters and would not put it in their show windows. The few who did sell Kotex pads would hide it behind counters or in back rooms. Magazines and newspapers refused to accept advertising for it. The company pressed on, however, and eventually advertising was accepted.

1921 Scott Paper introduces "Thirsty Fibre." Creative minds were put to work to come up with a catchy title for a 1921 commercial motion picture portraying the entire process of ScotTissue towel manufacturing. The discussion evolved into looking closely at the towels themselves. People noticed the knit of the paper, its cross-weave. Finally, someone said "it's the fibres, they're..." Before the person finished the sentence a chorus rang out, "They're thirsty!" Out of this meeting came the idea of "Thirsty Fibre" and the film was titled "The Absorbing Story of Thirsty Fibre.“

1924 Kimberly Clark introduces its disposable "cold cream towel," Kleenex facial tissue. Women's growing use of cosmetics and cold cream gave K-C a market for its tissue as an economical makeup remover. Until then, women had traditionally used a cloth towel, which was usually hung on the back of the bathroom door. Kimberly-Clark advertised its product as a "sanitary cold cream remover" that could be thrown away after every use. (When the company changed its advertising in 1930 to emphasize usage as a disposable handkerchief, sales soared.)

1942 Kimberly-Clark produces M-45 anti-aircraft gun mounts. These gun mounts as well as fuses for heavy shells were among many products the company made for the Armed Forces in World War II. For its production performance, K-C received two Army-Navy "E" Awards. The "E" stood for Excellence.

1955 Scott Paper is the first paper producer to advertise bathroom tissue on national television. Scott was an innovator in television advertising and became the first paper producer to advertise bathroom tissue on national television when it aired a commercial for ScotTissue.

1956 Kleenex becomes a co-sponsor of the "Perry Como Show" on TV. Kimberly-Clark made Kleenex tissue a co-sponsor of the Saturday night Perry Como Show in 1956. The show was ranked among the top ten on all networks, with an estimated viewing audience of 40 million. Since the sponsorship worked so well, Delsey bathroom tissue, Kleenex facial tissue and Kleenex table napkins next sponsored the "Danny Thomas Show.“

1978 Kimberly-Clark introduces Huggies diapers. With elastic at the legs and an hourglass shape, Huggies diapers were an instant hit when introduced in 1978. Over the years, K-C researchers have continually improved the product's absorbency and fit, making Huggies the number one brand in the U.S. years, K-C researchers have continually improved the product's absorbency and fit, making Huggies the number one brand in the U.S.

1980 DEPEND®. incontinence products are introduced. In the early 80s, the subject of adult incontinence was as taboo as menstruation had once been. Thanks in large part to an advertising campaign featuring actress June Allyson urging people to "Get back into life," DEPEND®. products have given people with this condition the ability to resume an active lifestyle.

1989 Pull-Ups training pants are invented. Retired Chairman of the Board and CEO Wayne R. Sanders, who was at the time president of the Infant Care Sector, launched Pull-Ups disposable training pants in 1989 without first test marketing the product. It was a bold but successful move as parents welcomed the arrival of this first-of-its-kind product for toddlers.

1995 Scott Paper and Kimberly-Clark merge. After months of negotiations in 1995, the merger was announced on July 17, 1995. The $9.4 billion merger created a Fortune 100 global consumer products company.

1997 Kimberly-Clark celebrates 125th anniversary To commemorate Kimberly-Clark's 125th anniversary in 1997, the company commissioned a wonderful new coffee table book, Shared Values: A History of Kimberly-Clark. Using engaging narrative, interesting sidebars and more than 200 vintage and contemporary photographs, the book recounts many of the famous episodes in Kimberly-Clark and Scott's past, as well as a few stories that have never been told in print.

1998 Kimberly-Clark Introduces Huggies Little Swimmers disposable swimpants. Available in over 25 countries, Little Swimmers swimpants means hassle-free water fun! They protect in the water without swelling up like diapers and tear away sides make changes a breeze.

2002 Kimberly-Clark introduces The Neat Sheet ground cover - a water-repellent, cloth-like, machine washable alternative to the bulky beach-blanket, bed-sheet or tarp.

2004 Kimberly-Clark Brand Icon Inducted Into Madame Tussauds London. Kimberly-Clark's yellow Labrador puppy, which adorns the company's bath tissue products around the world, achieved unprecedented status recently as the first brand icon to earn a place among the celebrity wax figures at Madame Tussauds in London.

2004 Kleenex Brand Launches New Anti-Viral Tissue. Kleenex Anti-Viral tissue relies on a patented, super premium 3-ply tissue design with a moisture-activated middle layer that is treated with an anti-viral formula. When moisture from a cough or sneeze hits the middle layer, Kleenex Anti-Viral tissue begins working immediately, ultimately killing 99.9% of cold and flu viruses* in the tissue within 15 minutes.

2004 Kimberly-Clark to Launch Full Line of Huggies Bath & Body Products. Company Announces Innovative New Toiletries Products Including Huggies Liquid Powder, Shampoo, Baby Lotion, Diaper Rash Cream and Disposable Wash Mitts.

2004 Good Housekeeping Names HUGGIES LITTLE SWIMMERS - one of the top four 'GOOD BUYS' of the past decade.    Kimberly-Clark’s Disposable Swim Pants Recognized for Innovation, Value, Performance.

Kimberly-Clark Professional

However, even when they're not at home, people all over the world use Kimberly-Clark products every day.

In hotels, workplaces and washrooms you'll find Kimberly-Clark Professional brands such as Scott, Kleenex, WypAll, Kimtech and Kimberly-Clark Professional Skin Care. Wherever there are people, you'll find Kimberly-Clark.

Dedicated to providing you with trusted products that clean, care and protect you and your environment when you are away from your home.

After 125 years in the business working for you...we are experienced at meeting your diverse needs. From factories to offices and from hospitals to hotels, all types of businesses have come to rely on our products.

If you need industrial protection,cleaning materials or hygiene products our products lead their class and, together with our unique dispensing systems provide you with effective economic solutions.  

please visit our website for further information on Kimberly-Clark Professional & visit:

www.kcprofessional.com/

Kimberly-Clark Health Care

Protection. For life. From surgical apparel to medical devices - everything we make, everything we do, is focused on protecting health care professionals and patients. This means we work every day to develop and deliver quality health care products and to provide responsive customer service that you can depend on to meet your protection needs.

Please visit our website: www.kchealthcare.com