Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired

What Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired does

Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IBVI) is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization founded in 1952 that manufactures products and supplies federal agencies through the AbilityOne program, a congressionally mandated initiative requiring U.S. government purchasers to source qualifying goods and services from nonprofit agencies employing blind or disabled workers. The company produces SKILCRAFT-branded writing instruments, brooms and brushes, tactical gear, and custom tool kits — including the Vertical Skills Engineer Construction Kits (VSECK) for the U.S. Army, the largest AbilityOne product contract in the program's 85-year history — alongside proprietary kitting, distribution, and 'We Found It' sourcing services for hard-to-find items.

IBVI operates from roughly 198,000 square feet of combined manufacturing space in West Allis and Menomonee Falls, plus a Janesville facility, supported by adaptive manufacturing technology, a JAWS-compatible e-commerce platform (IBVISupply.com), and assistive devices such as OrCam MyEye that enable blind and visually impaired workers to perform precision tasks and customer service. ISO 9001:2015 certified processes underscore the manufacturing capability, and the company runs 18 Base Supply Center (BSC) retail stores on U.S. military installations and federal buildings across nine states. Approximately 51% of its 237-person workforce is blind or visually impaired, fulfilling the program's labor requirements and reinforcing the mission-driven operating model.

The business generates revenue primarily through U.S. government product sales via AbilityOne and GSA contracts (sold through IBVISupply.com, FedMall, and GSA Advantage), custom kitting and supply chain services for military customers (VSECK, DRAK, Disaster Relief, Evidence Collection, MMTS), distribution and direct fulfillment, and on-base retail at BSC stores. Pricing is quote-based against GSA schedules; commercial sales (e.g., 20 million pencils to Walmart) have occurred opportunistically but are not the primary revenue engine. Distribution is national and exclusively domestic, anchored in U.S. federal procurement.

Name

Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Legal name

Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.

Website

https://ibvi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IBVI) is a Wisconsin nonprofit, founded 1952, that manufactures SKILCRAFT products and provides custom kitting, distribution, and on-base retail to U.S. federal and military customers through the AbilityOne program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Supply and Contract Manufacturing Services

NAICS

Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing (332216)

SIC

Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950), Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB)

Keywords

• Adaptive manufacturing services
• Government supply services
• Custom kitting solutions
• AbilityOne contract services
• Base supply centers

Headquarters

HQ city

West Allis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Product Sales: Sale of manufactured products (SKILCRAFT brand pens, brushes, tools, office supplies, tactical gear, cleaning supplies) to U.S. government agencies and military through AbilityOne program and GSA contracts. Products sold via IBVISupply.com, FedMall, and GSA Advantage.
2. Kitting and Supply Chain Services: Custom kitting services for military and government customers, including kit design, strategic sourcing, supply chain planning, warehousing, and logistics. Major contracts include VSECK (Vertical Skills Engineer Construction Kits) for US Army.
3. BSC Retail Store Operations: 18 retail stores (15 BSC's, two COCESS's and one COPARS) located on military bases providing one-stop shop for office supplies, Jan-San supplies, MRO, clothing and tactical gear. Payment options include GPC Program, Customer AR Account, WAWF, DLA/TLS Milstrip Program.
4. Distribution and Fulfillment Services: Direct fulfillment capabilities eliminating customer need for warehousing and inventory management. Also offers 'We Found It' sourcing service for rare and hard-to-find items.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IBVI) manufactures SKILCRAFT brand products including pens, brushes, brooms, and tool kits while providing custom kitting, supply chain management, distribution, and retail services. As an authorized AbilityOne provider, IBVI supplies federal government agencies and military installations with office supplies, tactical gear, cleaning supplies, and specialized mission kits, while employing blind and visually impaired workers who comprise more than half of its workforce.

Product overview

IBVI operates as a manufacturing and supply organization offering a unified portfolio of products and services. The core offerings include Manufacturing Services, Kitting & Supply Chain Management, IBVI Made (SKILCRAFT brand products), IBVI Custom (custom merchandise), Distribution Services, IBVI Supply (online e-commerce store), and BSC Stores (Base Supply Centers at military bases). IBVI manufactures SKILCRAFT brand products including pens, brushes, brooms, and tool kits. Their kitting division produces specialized kits for military applications including VSECK construction kits, Evidence Collection Kits, Direct Response Aid Kits, and Disaster Relief Kits. The IBVI Supply online platform serves as the e-commerce channel for office supplies, tactical gear, cleaning supplies, and AbilityOne products. All services support the company's mission to create employment for blind and visually impaired individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SKILCRAFT: Brand of products manufactured by IBVI, including wall painting supplies, brooms, brushes, pens, and tool kits.
• IBVI Supply
• IBVI Made
• IBVI Custom
• BSC Stores

Products and services

• Manufacturing Services Manufacturing services using adaptive technology to produce high-quality products meeting or exceeding industry standards. Produces SKILCRAFT brand products including pens, brushes, and brooms for federal government customers.
• Kitting & Supply Chain Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 pens manufactured per day
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBVI partnered with MCTS to provide safe, efficient transportation for IBVI employees. Partnership includes on-site bus shelter, Go! Pass program enabling visually impaired employees to ride to work independently. Expanded bus service to IBVI West Allis facility in June 2024 with buses running every 30 minutes from 6am to 6pm.
• eSightsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to work toward realization of wearable assistive device technology that allows the visually impaired to see. IBVI is testing ground for new technologies used in manufacturing and office professions.
• Vision ForwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBVI invested $75,000 in partnership with Vision Forward in March 2022. Provides free employee assessments, job-specific training, accessibility consultation, and individual staff development. Vision Forward offers up to 4 hours of individual training per employee in low vision, technology, daily living, orientation and mobility, braille, and support services.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBVI is a member of NIB and authorized AbilityOne provider. NIB helps shape policies and programs for vocational rehabilitation services. IBVI participates in Public Policy Day advocacy on Capitol Hill with other NIB agencies.
• Think Ability WisconsinsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide awareness campaign established to create employment and career opportunities for workers with disabilities. Funded through Workforce Innovation Grant from Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. IBVI CEO CJ Lange advocates for disability employment through this campaign.
• Wisconsin Rehabilitation CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBVI's Kevin Fortune serves on the council, appointed by Governor Tony Evers. Council approves budgets, ensures fiscal responsibility, and improves DVR programs for access to education, job training, and employment for visually impaired individuals.
• AbilityOne ProgramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCongressionally mandated public-private partnership that harnesses U.S. government purchasing power to create jobs for blind and disabled Americans. IBVI is an authorized provider selling products through AbilityOne.
• FlexSweepminorOthersCo-brand agreement for commercial broom products. FlexSweep product line features three broom types for different surfaces along with deck broom and floor squeegee.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• McMaster-Carr: Major industrial supply distributor with extensive tool, hardware, and MRO product lines serving federal and commercial customers. Represents the for-profit scale benchmark in adjacent product categories.
• SourceAmerica: SourceAmerica is the AbilityOne counterpart for people with significant disabilities (other than blind), running a parallel federal procurement program. Comparable as a sibling AbilityOne-designated nonprofit agency that supplies federal customers.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): NIB is the central nonprofit agency that coordinates the AbilityOne program and represents IBVI and other associated agencies. It is the natural umbrella peer and channel partner for IBVI's federal sales.
• W.W. Grainger: Large industrial MRO distributor serving federal and commercial customers with hand tools, janitorial, and office supplies that overlap with IBVI's SKILCRAFT product lines. A broad incumbent representing the for-profit competitive benchmark.

Direct peers

• Bosma Enterprises: Indianapolis-based nonprofit providing employment for people who are blind and other disabilities, offering manufacturing, assembly, and packaging services to government and commercial customers. Directly comparable mission and offering.
• Alphapointe: Kansas City-based nonprofit manufacturer employing people who are blind, producing SKILCRAFT products and military/government kits. A direct peer under NIB/AbilityOne competing in similar product categories and customer base.
• The Lighthouse for the Blind (Seattle): Seattle-based nonprofit employing people who are blind, deaf-blind, and blind with other disabilities in manufacturing, kitting, and government supply services. Closely comparable mission and AbilityOne orientation.
• Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind: North Carolina-based NIB-affiliated nonprofit producing SKILCRAFT products, kitting, and government supply services. Direct peer in size, mission, and product mix.
• Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind: Texas-based nonprofit manufacturing facility employing blind individuals, producing SKILCRAFT products and military kits. Direct peer under AbilityOne, comparable product/customer profile.
• Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Ohio-based nonprofit providing employment and rehabilitation services for visually impaired individuals, with manufacturing operations serving federal contracts. Comparable mission and customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ibvi_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ibmilw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibviorganization
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibviorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibvi_org

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired