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May 26th, 2017
This year Fellowes brands marks its centenary. Let�s look back at it�s history through advertisements.
Harry Fellowes, a school drop out at the age of 14, started the Fellowes brand by following his (entrepeneur�s) nose. Whilst working as a tailor in Illinois he noticed a local fellow entrepeneur packing up his business as he was being drafted in to serve during the First World War. Fellowes decided to make the offer to Mr. Nickel for his business and he agreed to the sum of $121.40. The Business man had created an innovative storage system which was made of corregated cardboard and was light but sturdy enough to contain many files. It had a secure string and button closure which would mean the boxes could be easily accessed then put away.
During the 1930�s Bankers Box became a national manufacturer in the U.S.
Sons Folger and John Fellowes joined the business in 1934 and 1938. Then in the fifties Folger Fellowes became the face of the company and the company expanded its distribution over time to multiple dealers and wholesalers in markets across the U.S.
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Keeping it in the family, James Fellowes joined in 1969 and was later named president in 1983. In 1972 the business expanded overseas and a UK operation opened.
Still remaining relevant in the 1980�s the brand expanded into Shredders and computer accessories and changed the name from Bankers Box to Fellowes Manufacturing.
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Since the 1980�s Fellowes have expanded the business but still hold their headquarters in Illinois. It�s still family-run as the great-grandson of the founder and the fourth generation of the Fellowes family, John Fellowes, is currently CEO of Fellowes Brands.
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No longer just boxes, Fellowes brands now manufacture shredders, binding and laminating equipment, workspace accessories, air purifiers, record storage solutions and mobile technology accessories.
Call your account manager to place your order on Bankers boxes today!