Skip to Content Skip to footer

OUR COMPANY

We make everyday challenges easier – so you can focus on what matters. We develop, nurture, acquire, manufacture and market a comprehensive portfolio of distinct, innovative products that help you while you are at work , while you learn and when you play.


Who we are

We help you work smarter, learn with confidence, and play with more joy because life is too short for anything less.  

Founded in 1903, we have a rich, multinational heritage. For generations, our family of brands has been supporting you, whether you’re a professional, a student, an artist, or a gamer. We make products that help you fulfill your potential! Our pioneering past paves the way for a purposeful future.  

ACCO Brands video



ACCO Brands Corporation Facts

2025 Sales: $1.5 Billion
Employees: Approximately 5,000
Operations: 35 Countries
Product Groups: Technology Accessories, Learning & Creative, Business Essentials 
Headquarters: Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA 
USA Stock: Traded on the New York Stock Exchange 
(ticker symbol ACCO) 

Location of Corporate office

Our widely recognized brands

AT-A-GLANCE®, Barrilito®, Derwent®, Esselte®, Five Star®, Foroni, GBC®, Hilroy®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA™, Quartet®, Rapid®, Rexel®, Swingline®, Tilibra®, and many others. Our products, many #1 or #2 market positions in key categories, are sold in more than 100 countries around the world.
Learn More Learn More

Our History

Historical image of vintage ACCO truck

For more than a century, we have been creating tools that help you work smarter, learn confidently, and play with enjoyment. What began as a modest school and office products company has evolved into a multinational leader in branded products  that are trusted in workplaces, schools, and homes around the world. 

Our journey started in 1903 with bold ideas and iconic inventions. From the creation of the ring binder and the paper clip to the widespread popularization of the stapler, we’ve been helping you solve real problems that make everyday tasks easier.   

As the world changed, so did we. Through strategic acquisitions and a relentless focus on growth, we’ve built a portfolio of distinctive brands that expanded beyond office essentials into education, gaming, and creative spaces, bringing you products that fit your life, whether you are at work, in school or at play.   

Milestones include: 

  • 1903–1925: Founding of American Clip Company (ACCO), Wilson Jones and Swingline—pioneers in office organization. 
  • Mid-20th Century: Expansion into Canada, England and Europe with brands like Rexel® and NOBO®. 
  • 2005: Formation of ACCO Brands Corporation through the merger of the ACCO World office products unit of Fortune Brands and General Binding Corporation (GBC). 
  • 2012–2025: Growth through the acquisition of MeadWestvaco’s Consumer and Office Products business which added well-known school and office product brands including Mead®, Five Star®, Trapper Keeper®, AT-A-GLANCE®, Cambridge®, Day Runner®, Hilroy®, and Tilibra®. 
  • 2016-2025: ACCO Brands continued to expand their reach into education, gaming, and creative markets with the acquisitions of brands like  Esselte®, Leitz®, Rapid®, Barrilito®, Foroni, PowerA™, Buro Seating and more. Today: Our brands – including Kensington®, Five Star, Leitz®, GBC, PowerA™, and more help people all over the globe when they work, learn, and play. 

We’re proud of our past. But we’re even more excited about what’s next. Our commitment to innovation, quality and sustainability means we will keep creating products that make everyday life easier. Because when you feel good about the tools you use, you can focus on what matters most.  

More information about ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE: ACCO) can be found at www.accobrands.com.