History
Rubbermaid was founded in 1920[1] in Wooster, Ohio as the Wooster Rubber Company by nine businessmen. Originally, Wooster Rubber Company manufactured toy balloons.[2]
In 1927, Horatio Ebert and Errett Grable took over managing the company from the original founders.
In 1933, James R. Caldwell and his wife received a patent for their blue rubber dustpan. They called their line of rubber kitchen products Rubbermaid.[3] Rubbermaid was launched
In 1934, Wooster Rubber and Rubbermaid merged and retained the Wooster Company name.
In 1942, Rubbermaid converted to military manufacturing during World War II.
In 1947, Rubbermaid introduced a line of rubber automotive accessories.
1950 to 2000
In 1955, Wooster Rubber Co. issued an IPO. The following year, the company began making plastic products. In 1957, the company changed it name to Rubbermaid.
In 1959 Caldwell stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Donald Noble.
In 1965, the company purchased Dupol, a German toy manufacturer.
In 1976, members of the United Rubber Workers union call a strike.
In 1980, Noble was replaced as CEO by Stanley C. Gault. In 1981, the company purchased Con-Tact plastic coverings and Carlan.
In 1984, Rubbermaid acquired Little Tikes, a toy maker. In 1985, Rubbermaid acquired competitor Gott Corporation.[4] The following year the company acquired MicroComputer Accessories and Seco Industries. In 1987, the company acquired Viking Brush, a Canadian company.
In 1990, the company acquired Eldon Industries.
In 1991, Walter Williams took over as CEO of the company. In 1992, the company acquired Iron Mountain Forge Corporation. In 1993, Wolfgang Schmitt became CEO. In 1994, the company acquired Carex Health Care Products. In 1995, the company acquired INjectaplastic S.A. a French company.
In 1996, Rubbermaid acquired Graco baby products.[5] In 1997, the company acquired Curver.
In 1999, Rubbermaid was purchased by Newell for $6 billion. Then Newell changed its name to Newell Rubbermaid.[6]
2000 to present
In 2003, the company announced its move out of Wooster to Atlanta, Georgia; 850 manufacturing and warehouse jobs would be eliminated, and 409 office jobs would move to other locations. A Rubbermaid distribution center remained at the former headquarters for some time, until it was recently purchased by GOJO Industries, Inc.[7]
On November 16, 2004, Rubbermaid was used as a prime example in the PBS Frontline documentary "Is Walmart Good for America?"[8]
In 2005, Rubbermaid sold Curver.
In 2006, Rubbermaid sold Little Tikes to MGA Entertainment.
Newell Rubbermaid changed its name to Newell Brands in 2016 as part of a takeover of Jarden in another merger. The following year, Newell sold the Rubbermaid totes line to United Solutions.[9]
References
- ^ "Rubbermaid Inc Facts, information, pictures". Encyclopedia.com. 2006. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- ^ Katom. "Rubbermaid Company History". Retrieved 2014-11-23.
- ^ Gentry, Erin (14 July 2009). "Rubbermaid History". Rubbermaid Blog. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Reuters (1985-09-12). "Rubbermaid-Gott". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Rubbermaid Buys Graco For $320 Million | The Spokesman-Review". Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ Katom. "Rubbermaid Company History". Retrieved 2014-11-23.
- ^ Cimperman, Jennifer Scott (2005-03-09). "Rubbermaid's gone, but Wooster is still standing". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- ^ "Is Walmart Good for America?" Frontline, Season 23, Episode 4. PBS. November 16, 2004.
- ^ "United Solutions buys $70M Rubbermaid storage business". Worcester Business Journal. Retrieved 2018-11-25.