Educational Products

What Educational Products does

Educational Products Inc. (EPI), founded in 1980 by Dr. Jim Stapleton and Kay Stapleton, is a Carrollton, Texas-based provider of pre-packaged, teacher-approved school supply kits, bulk school supplies, and custom imprinted/embroidered apparel. EPI invented the school supply pack category and claims the #1 market position in custom school supply programs, serving over 1 million students annually across the United States through a model that combines direct-to-consumer online ordering (via School ID portals), bulk delivery to schools, and field sales outreach to school districts, parent groups, PTAs, nonprofits, and corporate clients. The company holds 2,500+ unique SKUs across its inventory, operates 575,000 sq ft of warehouse and distribution space across Carrollton and Houston, TX, and claims over 40% cost savings versus retail for its core school supply pack product.

EPI generates revenue primarily through one-time transactions across three streams: (1) customized school supply packs priced at approximately $34 per pack by grade level; (2) bulk school supplies sold through an e-commerce storefront with free shipping at $250+; and (3) custom apparel (imprinted with 36-item minimum, embroidered with 12-item minimum) with all-inclusive pricing, free shipping, and dedicated representative support. Supporting the core offerings are the Chairperson Portal (24/7 account management for school program coordinators), an extensive Design Gallery with 100+ pages of customizable spiritwear templates, and fundraising program services. EPI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Excelligence Learning Corporation, a private Monterey, California-based childhood education company, since 1999; the parent and its operating division have earned Top Workplaces DFW 2023 and Great Place to Work 2024 certifications.

The underlying technology is primarily distribution and fulfillment-oriented with no disclosed proprietary AI, ML, or platform architecture. Customer acquisition combines digital channels (company website, social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and a Refer & Earn program) with offline touchpoints including free marketing materials distributed to participating schools, dedicated EPI representatives handling quote requests, and U.S.-wide sales teams engaging school districts and corporate clients. The business model is seasonal and transaction-heavy, anchored by the back-to-school cycle, with a long-tail of small school and parent customers and episodic enterprise programs such as the State Farm back-to-school supply collection drive.

Name

Educational Products

Legal name

Educational Products, Inc.

Website

https://educationalproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Educational Products Inc. (EPI) is a Carrollton, Texas-based provider of pre-packaged, teacher-approved school supply kits, bulk school supplies, and custom apparel, serving over 1 million U.S. students annually through schools, parent groups, and corporate clients. It operates as a subsidiary of Excelligence Learning Corporation and claims to be the inventor and #1 supplier of school supply packs in the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School Supplies & Custom Apparel

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (45942), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

School Supplies Distribution (CRAOALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Engagement & Take-Home Learning Materials (Home Packs, Parent Guides) (EDACAJAL), Instructional Equipment & Classroom Tools (Whiteboards, Lab Kits, Manipulatives) (EDAEAIAB), Educational Supplies & Learning Toys Retail (CRALAIAL)

Keywords

• School supply kits
• Custom school apparel
• Bulk educational supplies
• Spiritwear apparel printing
• Teacher-approved supply packs

Headquarters

HQ city

Carrollton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. School Supply Packs: Pre-packaged school supply kits customized by school and grade level, ordered by parents through an online portal. Packs are either delivered to schools in bulk (free shipping) or directly to homes (parent pays shipping). Revenue is generated through per-pack pricing based on grade level and contents.
2. Custom Apparel (Imprinted): Imprinted apparel with minimum order of 36 items featuring the same artwork and imprint colors. All-inclusive pricing with no artwork, setup, or shipping fees. Ships 12 business days after order placement from Carrollton, Texas.
3. Custom Apparel (Embroidered): Embroidered apparel with minimum order of 12 items featuring the same design. Includes one-time digitizing fee for logo/artwork (varies by size and stitch count). Free shipping. Ships 18 business days after order placement.
4. Bulk School Supplies: Individual school supplies sold in bulk quantities to schools, parent groups, and organizations. Free shipping on orders of $250 or more. Products include adhesives, arts & crafts, binders, paper, pencils, pens, and more from major brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Educational Products Inc. (EPI) assembles and sells pre-packaged, teacher-approved school supply kits customized by school and grade level, delivering them directly to schools or to parents' homes. The company also produces and sells custom imprinted and embroidered apparel—including spiritwear, t-shirts, hoodies, and uniforms—for schools, parent groups, nonprofits, and businesses via quote-based ordering. Supporting offerings include a 2,500+ item bulk school supply catalog and parent group fundraising programs.

Product overview

Educational Products Inc. (EPI) operates as a school supplies and custom apparel company organized around two core offerings: (1) EPI School Supply Packs — pre-packaged, teacher-approved kits invented by the company over 40 years ago, customized per school and grade level and shipped to homes or schools, saving families over 40% versus retail; and (2) EPI Custom Apparel — imprinted and embroidered apparel including spiritwear, uniforms, and event merchandise with in-house design services. Supporting these core products are a bulk school supplies catalog (2,500+ items), a Chairperson Portal for account management, a Design Gallery of pre-made apparel templates, and fundraising programs. The company also distributes science fair products. EPI is a subsidiary of Excelligence Learning Corporation, headquartered in Carrollton, TX.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EPI School Supply Packs Pre-packaged, teacher-approved school supply kits customized by school and grade level. Ordered by parents online through EPI's School ID portal, with delivery to schools in bulk (free shipping) or directly to homes (parent pays shipping). Grade-level kits priced at approximately $34–$35. Over 1 million students served annually.
• EPI Bulk School Supplies Online catalog of over 2,500 individual school supply items available for bulk purchase, including adhesives, arts & crafts, binders, paper, pencils, pens, paints, and other items from major brands (Dixon Ticonderoga, Crayola, Elmer's, Sharpie, Expo, Avery, Colorations, Kleenex). Free shipping on orders of $250 or more.
• EPI Custom Apparel Custom imprinted apparel (minimum 36 items, same artwork and imprint colors, all-inclusive pricing with no artwork/setup/shipping fees, ~50 imprint colors, 12 business day ship time) and custom embroidered apparel (minimum 12 items, same design, free shipping, one-time digitizing fee for logo, 18 business day ship time) for schools, parent groups, nonprofits, and businesses. Includes spiritwear, t-shirts, hoodies, bags, and uniforms.
• Fundraising Programs Variety of fundraising program options for parent groups and schools to raise money through school supply and apparel sales, supported by dedicated EPI representatives and free marketing materials (posters, yard signs, sign-up forms).
• Science Fair Products Science fair-related products and supplies available through the company's extensive inventory, distributed alongside its core school supply offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save over 40% compared to retail pricing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Excelligence Learning CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPI is a division of Excelligence Learning Corporation since 1999. Excelligence is based in Monterey, California and is described as the leader in the childhood education industry, meeting needs of teachers, administrators, programs, and parents in all 50 states and 40 countries. EPI is part of the Excelligence Family alongside brands like Really Good Stuff, Frog Street, Excelerations, and others.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Amazon Business: Amazon Business sells school and office supplies to schools, districts, and parents with Prime shipping and aggressive pricing — a broad incumbent whose scale and logistics could structurally compress EPI's 40% cost advantage over time.
• Staples Business Advantage: Staples Business Advantage is the B2B division of Staples serving schools, businesses, and government with office and school supplies at scale — a broader incumbent competing with EPI in bulk school supply purchasing for districts and organizations.
• Quill: Quill is a Staples-owned office and school supplies retailer serving businesses, schools, and government agencies — a broader incumbent in the bulk school supply channel that competes with EPI's bulk catalog.

Direct peers

• 4imprint: 4imprint is a large promotional products and custom apparel distributor serving schools, nonprofits, and businesses — competing with EPI in the imprinted/embroidered apparel and spiritwear category with broader catalog scale.
• Discount School Supply: Discount School Supply is a specialty retailer of school and classroom supplies for early childhood and elementary educators, with overlap to EPI's bulk supply catalog and the classroom-supply segment of EPI's customer base.
• Custom Ink: CustomInk is a major online custom apparel provider for groups, schools, and businesses, with no minimum order requirements — directly competing with EPI Custom Apparel, particularly for SMB and one-off orders that EPI's 12–36 item minimums cannot serve.
• Really Good Stuff: Really Good Stuff is a sister brand under Excelligence Learning Corporation that sells educational supplies, classroom resources, and teacher materials directly to teachers and schools — overlapping directly with EPI's bulk supply and supply pack offerings.
• School Specialty: School Specialty is a leading U.S. distributor of school supplies, classroom furniture, and educational products to K–12 schools and districts — the most direct head-to-head competitor to EPI in the bulk and customized school supply channel.
• Oriental Trading: Oriental Trading sells arts & crafts, school supplies, and fundraising products to schools, PTAs, and teachers, and is a meaningful competitor in the school supply and school fundraising program categories that EPI serves.

Emerging players

• National Pen: National Pen provides custom imprinted promotional products, apparel, and school-branded merchandise to businesses and schools — an emerging player in the custom school apparel and branded merchandise category where EPI competes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC32M4sM64OTaHgG2iXaXo9g
• Facebookfacebook.com/educational-products-inc-126195381566
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/educational-products-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/episupplies
• Xx.com/epi_supplies

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Educational Products