Counselor Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (KG, asi/40480) announced today that it has acquired the product line of Skinner & Kennedy Co. (asi/87620), a St. Louis, MO-based firm with a 125-year history that’s best known for its calendars.
Financial terms of the deal were not released, but Koozie Group said the agreement entails the purchase of Skinner & Kennedy offerings that include commercial, desk pad and planner calendar styles, as well as products like notepads and paper fans.
Skinner & Kennedy’s operations will relocate to Koozie Group’s facility in Sleepy Eye, MN. KG will bring Skinner & Kennedy products to market under the Skinner & Kennedy name, a spokesperson told ASI Media.
Industry veteran Chuck Pecher, CEO of Skinner & Kennedy and with the company since 1975, is retiring. Scott Michel (sales) and Harm Kurz (customer service) are joining Koozie Group. Pam Baumann, a Koozie Group manager with 43 years of experience in the realm of promo calendars, will play what KG described as an important leadership role during the transition.
“Koozie Group and Skinner & Kennedy Co. are two of the top names in promotional calendars, and we are both proud of our USA-made products,” said Pierre Montaubin, CEO of Koozie Group and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “Skinner & Kennedy Co.’s legacy combined with our Sleepy Eye team’s expertise in calendar printing and production is a win-win for customers.”
Koozie Group said it intends to keep the Skinner & Kennedy Co. portfolio as “intact as possible.” Integration should be complete by the end of March 2025, and customers can continue to place orders through Skinner & Kennedy Co. channels until then.
“As the process unfolds, Koozie Group will communicate further details about the transition with customers and on the Koozie Group blog and website,” the Counselor Top 40 supplier said in a statement.
“Skinner & Kennedy Co.’s legacy combined with our Sleepy Eye team’s expertise in calendar printing and production is a win-win for customers.”
Pierre Montaubin, Koozie Group (asi/40480)
Pecher believes that the legacy of Skinner & Kennedy has found an ideal home with Koozie Group.
“Koozie Group is an innovative producer of high-quality promotional calendars, with numerous awards recognizing their expertise,” Pecher said. “I’m confident our customers will be in good hands with them and anticipate a smooth transition.”
Pecher is a member of industry trade group Promotional Products Association International’s (PPAI) Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2019. Pecher also formerly served on the PPAI board of directors. “Chuck Pecher has contributed so much to the promotional products industry, and we couldn’t be prouder to add such a well-respected line to our portfolio,” Montaubin said.
“I’m confident our customers will be in good hands with (Koozie Group) and anticipate a smooth transition.”
Chuck Pecher, Skinner & Kennedy (asi/87620)
Pecher’s retirement plans include golfing, travel (a trip to Greece is in the cards) and giving back. “I’m eager to volunteer my time and skills to worthy causes, making a positive impact on those in need,” Pecher said.
Based on reported 2023 North American promotional product revenue of $317 million, Koozie Group ranked seventh on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry.
Overall, the firm offers more than 400 stock calendar items. Its Sleepy Eye facility operates proprietary machinery that enables the production of more than three calendars every second, executives said. Since 2020, the facility has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) – part of broader sustainability initiatives Koozie Group has undertaken, like going carbon neutral. More than 95% of paper products printed in KG’s Sleepy Eye, MN facility carry either an SFI or FSC designation, according to the company.
“We’re proud to be the largest supplier of promotional calendars in North America,” said Montaubin. “This acquisition further strengthens our market position and is integral to our long-term plan for scalable and sustainable growth.
