What Pacon Corporation does

Pacon Corporation is a U.S.-based specialty paper converter and manufacturer of educational and art supplies, founded in 1951 in Appleton, Wisconsin, where it still operates from its Casaloma Drive facility. The company manufactures construction paper, art papers, art and kraft rolls, bulletin board décor, boards, ruled and composition papers, classroom and office supplies, dry erase products, STEAM curriculum kits, arts and crafts materials, early learning products, and photography backdrops. Core technical capabilities include flexographic printing, custom sheeting, single-face corrugating, disc and flexographic ruling, micro-perfing, padding, punching, slitting, rewinding, trimming, and dry erase production, supported by proprietary product technologies such as Tru-Ray vat-dyed sulphite construction paper and the Fadeless color technology introduced in 1960. Pacon operates a portfolio of more than 40 brands (including Tru-Ray, Fadeless, Bordette, Creativity Street, Prang, Corobuff, Classroom Keepers, WonderFoam, Spectra, GoWrite, Mind Sparks, UCreate, Lia Griffith, and Ella Bella) sold through a multi-channel distribution network of catalog education distributors, online retailers such as Amazon, Michaels, Jo-Ann, Hobby Lobby, and Oriental Trading, and mass retailers including Walmart, Dollar Tree, and Big Lots across North America with a claimed global reach. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based through distributors and retailers; revenue is generated entirely through one-time product sales. The company was a portfolio company of private equity firm Mason Wells prior to its June 2018 acquisition by F.I.L.A. (Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini S.p.A.), an Italian industrial enterprise specializing in art and educational supplies, under which Pacon operates as part of the Dixon Ticonderoga family of brands.

Name

Pacon Corporation

Legal name

Pacon Corporation

Website

https://pacon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Pacon Corporation is a U.S. specialty paper converter and manufacturer of educational and art supplies, founded in 1951 and headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin. It sells a 40+ brand portfolio of construction paper, STEAM kits, bulletin board décor, and craft materials through catalog distributors and major retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational and Art Supplies

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600), Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Supplies Retail (CRALABAF), Kids Crafts & Educational Craft Kits Retail (CRALACAG), Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts Retail (CRALACAD)

Keywords

• Educational art supplies
• Construction paper manufacturing
• Classroom craft materials
• Specialty paper conversion
• STEAM educational products

Headquarters

HQ city

Appleton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Art and Educational Supply Products: Pacon generates revenue through the sale of educational and art supplies including construction paper, art papers, art rolls, bulletin board décor, boards, ruled papers, classroom supplies, dry erase products, STEAM products, arts & crafts materials, early learning products, racks & dispensers, and photography backdrops. Products are sold as one-time purchases through distributors, retailers, and direct channels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pacon Corporation manufactures and distributes educational and art supplies through a portfolio of more than 40 established brands, including construction paper (Tru-Ray, Prang), decorative papers (Fadeless, Corobuff, Flameless), bulletin board borders (Bordette), art and craft materials (Creativity Street, WonderFoam, Plast'r Craft, Wax Works), classroom organization (Classroom Keepers), dry erase products (GoWrite!), STEAM educational kits (Learn It By Art, Mind Sparks), and photography backdrops (Ella Bella). Products are sold wholesale to catalog distributors serving K-12 schools and through major retail and online channels to consumer/hobbyist end users.

Product overview

Pacon Corporation is a manufacturer and distributor of educational and art supplies serving teachers, students, and artists. The company operates as a portfolio of distinct brands rather than a single unified product, offering physical paper products and craft materials across multiple categories. Core product lines include construction paper (Tru-Ray® Premium Sulphite, Prang® medium and standard weight, specialty papers), art papers (drawing, sketching, painting, coated etching papers), art and kraft rolls (flame retardant, dual surface, kraft rolls), bulletin board décor (Bordette® borders, Fadeless® and Corobuff® background papers), boards (foam, display, presentation, poster, railroad, tagboard), ruled papers (composition books, handwriting papers, examination books), classroom and office supplies (chart tablets, educational aids, storage via Classroom Keepers®), dry erase products (GoWrite!®), STEAM education solutions (Learn It By Art™ makerspace and math integration kits), arts and crafts materials (wiggle eyes, chenille stems, modeling materials like Plast'r Craft® and Wax Works®, foam products, glitter, yarn), photography backdrops (Ella Bella®), and early learning materials (blocks, puzzles, puzzle mats). The brand portfolio also includes ArtKraft®, Creativity Street®, WonderFoam®, Spectra® tissue and glitter, Mind Sparks® learning games, UCreate®, Lia Griffith paper flowers, and various other specialized art and educational product brands. The company was founded in 1951 as Paper Converters, Inc. and acquired by F.I.L.A. in 2018.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tru-Ray® Construction Paper: Premium sulphite construction paper known for fade-resistance and durability
• Fadeless® Paper
• Bordette® Decorative Border
• Creativity Street®
• Corobuff® Corrugated Paper
• Classroom Keepers®
• UCreate®
• WonderFoam®
• Prang®
• Ella Bella® Photography Backdrops
• ArtKraft® Duo-Finish®
• Learn It By Art™
• Mind Sparks®
• Plast'r Craft®
• Squishy Foam®
• Artstraws®
• Wax Works®
• Spectra® Bleeding Art Tissue™
• Lia Griffith
• DecoPuffs®
• Rainbow® Colored Kraft
• Array®
• Art Street®
• Decorol® Art Paper
• Ecology® Paper
• Flameless® Paper
• Ghostline®
• Gorilla Blocks®
• GoWrite!®
• KolorFast®
• MathNotes®
• Now You See It!®
• Real Images™
• Trait-tex® Yarn
• The Present-It®

Products and services

• Tru-Ray® Construction Paper Premium sulphite construction paper that is 100% vat-dyed, acid-free, and fade-resistant, designed for scoring, folding, and curling without cracking or tearing; targeted at upper elementary through high school art classrooms.
• Fadeless® Paper Fade-resistant decorative paper developed in 1960, featuring true fade-resistance color for bulletin board displays and classroom decorations.
• Bordette® Decorative Border Decorative border product for finishing bulletin board displays with coordinated classroom décor.
• Creativity Street® Arts and Crafts Craft essentials brand featuring wiggle eyes, chenille stems, pom pons, and various craft supplies for arts and crafts projects.
• Prang® Construction Paper Construction paper brand (formerly SunWorks® and Art Street®) offering medium and standard weight papers for school projects and arts and crafts with bright, consistent colors.
• Corobuff® Corrugated Paper Unique corrugated paper developed in 1954 for bulletin board displays and classroom decorations.
• Ella Bella® Photography Backdrops Paper photography backdrops available in over 25 patterns, designed for cake smash sessions, newborns, child, seniors, maternity, and pet photography without requiring a professional backdrop stand.
• Learn It By Art™ STEAM Makerspace Products STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) makerspace products enabling hands-on learning experiences and real-world connections in education.
• Learn It By Art™ Math Art Integration Kits Math-focused art integration kits combining mathematics concepts with creative art projects for classroom use.
• WonderFoam® Craft and Early Learning Materials Foam-based craft materials and early learning products including foam shapes, sheets, and educational items for daycares and classrooms.
• GoWrite!® Dry Erase Products Dry erase products including lapboards, sheets, rolls, and accessories for reusable writing and practice activities.
• Mind Sparks® Learning Games Learning games providing fun ways to engage children in math concepts, foreign languages, and sentence structures through card games, foam blocks, and dry erase games.
• Classroom Keepers® Organization and Storage Classroom organization and storage products for organizing classrooms, homes, or offices.
• ArtKraft® Duo-Finish® Kraft Paper Rolls Duo-finish kraft paper rolls available in various widths for murals, banners, wrapping, and art projects.
• Flameless® Flame Retardant Paper Flame retardant paper for murals and bulletin board displays meeting fire safety standards.
• Composition Books Sewn or taped binding composition books available in various ruled formats including handwriting, standard, D'Nealian™, Zaner-Bloser™, and multi-program styles for penmanship and creative writing.
• Spectra® Bleeding Art Tissue™ Deluxe bleeding art tissue that creates watercolor-like effects when wet, used for art projects and classroom activities.
• Plast'r Craft® Modeling Material Modeling material and tools for creating sculptures and craft projects.
• Lia Griffith Paper Flowers and Crepe Paper Paper flowers brand offering Lia Griffith paper flowers and crepe paper for decorating homes or offices with nature-inspired designs.
• UCreate® Art Papers Art papers brand offering premium coated poster board and art papers for various creative projects.
• Array® Teacher Solutions Teacher solutions brand offering classroom and educational supplies.
• Pacon® Brand Art and Educational Supplies Company's own branded line of art and educational supplies including construction paper, art rolls, and craft materials.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Cancer SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacon is happy to actively partner with the American Cancer Society as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Feed the ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacon actively partners with Feed the Children to support their charitable mission.
• Fresh ArtistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacon launched Art1st Gold Frame Watercolor Paper in collaboration with Fresh Artists. A portion of proceeds from every purchase goes back to Fresh Artists, supporting their mission.
• Kids in Need FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacon is proud to support the Kids in Need Foundation as the sole recipient of all donated products. They believe every child should have equal opportunity and access to quality education.
• EdMarket AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacon is a member of the EdMarket Association, the education marketplace industry association.
• National Art Education AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacon is a member of the National Art Education Association.
• NAMTAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacon's Strathmore Artist Papers division is a strong supporter of NAMTA (National Art Materials Trade Association).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crayola: Crayola (owned by Hallmark) is the dominant brand in children's art supplies, including crayons, markers, paints, and construction paper. It directly competes with Pacon's Tru-Ray, Prang, and Creativity Street product lines in the K-12 and consumer channels, sharing the same retail and education distributor footprint.
• School Specialty: School Specialty is a leading K-12 distributor and supplier of educational supplies, classroom furniture, and curriculum materials. It overlaps directly with Pacon's distribution strategy as one of the listed catalog distributors serving schools, and competes for the same district-level procurement contracts.
• Elmer's Products (Newell Brands): Elmer's, owned by Newell Brands, manufactures glue, paints, and school/office craft products serving K-12 and consumer markets. It directly competes with Pacon's Creativity Street craft essentials and STEAM kits via mass retailers (Walmart, Target) and education distributors.
• Canson: Canson is a French manufacturer of artist and fine art papers (drawing, watercolor, sketching, printmaking). It directly competes with Pacon's Strathmore Artist Papers division and drawing/sketch/art paper SKUs in the artist and education markets.
• Discount School Supply: Discount School Supply is an online retailer and distributor of school and classroom supplies for early childhood and elementary education. It distributes Pacon's products while also offering competing art, craft, and classroom essentials at similar price points.
• Lakeshore Learning: Lakeshore Learning is a major educational supplies retailer and manufacturer serving teachers, schools, and parents. It is one of Pacon's listed catalog distributors but also sells its own branded craft and STEAM kits competing with Pacon's Learn It By Art™ makerspace products.
• Nasco: Nasco (Educator Division) supplies educational and art supplies, STEM products, and craft materials to K-12 schools. It is one of Pacon's listed catalog distributors but also curates its own competing product lines in the same classroom and STEAM categories.
• Strathmore Artist Papers: Strathmore Artist Papers is a sister brand within F.I.L.A. that produces professional-grade sketch, drawing, watercolor, and mixed-media papers. It shares the same parent and overlapping customer base (artists, art students, educators) as Pacon's drawing and sketch SKUs.

Broad incumbents

• Hobby Lobby: Hobby Lobby is a large national arts, crafts, and home décor retailer that carries Pacon's products (Creativity Street, Tru-Ray, art supplies). As a major channel partner and a broad incumbent, it represents both a route-to-market and a competitive threat via its private-label craft assortment.
• Dixon Ticonderoga Company: Dixon Ticonderoga is Pacon's sister company under F.I.L.A. and offers pencils, erasers, and writing instruments primarily to the education market. It is a broad incumbent in the same school supply category with overlapping customer base (teachers, students, distributors) but a different product mix (writing instruments vs. paper/craft).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PaconCorporation
• Facebookfacebook.com/167928493245302
• Instagraminstagram.com/artteacherappreciation
• Pinterestpinterest.com/Pacon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacon-corporation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacon Corporation