G . F Smith
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1885
- HeadquartersKingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
G . F Smith firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- G . F Smith
- Legal name
- GF Smith & Son (London) Limited
- Website
- https://gfsmith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1885
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
G . F Smith industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Paper Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (45941), Books Printing (323117)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paper & Printing Grades Distribution (Printing/Writing, Newsprint, Specialty) (IMAMAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Office Supplies Retail (CRALABAA), Business Forms, Labels & Shipping Supplies Retail (CRALABAI), Personalized, Custom & Monogrammed Gifts Retail (CRALAJAC)
Keywords
Where G . F Smith is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston upon Hull
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
G . F Smith business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Paper Product Sales: One-time purchase model for specialty papers sold through e-commerce and global distribution partners. Includes Colorplan, 50/50, Extracted collections, Gmund, Munken, and other specialty papers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard paper orders with low minimum |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Student and graduate discount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
G . F Smith product offering
Product offeringCore offering
G.F Smith manufactures and distributes premium specialty papers — most notably the flagship Colorplan collection (50 colors, 25 embossings, 10 weights made sustainably in Great Britain for 80+ years) — alongside the 50/50, Extracted, Wild, Geltex, and Zen ranges. Products are sold directly via shop.gfsmith.com to UK customers and through a global network of 100+ exclusive distribution partners serving customers across seven continents. The company complements paper sales with Paper Consultant advisory services, bespoke Make Book book-making, and dedicated Trade and Student Services programs.
Product overview
G.F Smith is a UK-based paper company offering specialty papers through both direct-to-consumer e-commerce and a global distribution network. The core product is the Colorplan collection (50 colors, 25 embossings, 10 weights), supplemented by the Wild, Geltex, Zen, and 50/50/Extracted ranges. Through partnerships, GF Smith also distributes Munken Design (Arctic Paper), Gmund papers, Neenah Environment papers, and Peregrina Majestic specialty papers. The Make Book service provides bespoke book-making capabilities. Products are available globally through international partners and directly via the online shop, with dedicated trade and student services offering specialized support, low minimum orders (25 sheets), and educational programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Colorplan: Signature paper range featuring 50 colours, 25 embossings, and 10 weights, made sustainably in Great Britain for over 80 years.
- Make Book
Products and services
- Colorplan GF Smith's flagship specialty paper collection featuring 50 colors, 25 embossings, and 10 weights, manufactured sustainably in Great Britain. Used for applications ranging from business cards and packaging to record sleeves and luxury brand collateral.
- 50/50 Collection A specialty paper collection available through GF Smith's global distribution network alongside the Colorplan and Extracted ranges.
- Extracted Collection A specialty paper collection available globally through GF Smith's international distribution partners.
- Make Book A bespoke book-making service that allows customers to create customized books using online design tools, uploading photographs, images, and text to produce personalized products.
- Wild A paper range within the GF Smith collection featuring natural and textured papers, including Wild Clay used for premium packaging applications such as Assembly Coffee's limited edition sleeves.
- Geltex A specialty paper product featured in the GF Smith collection and Explore section.
- Zen A paper range including Zen Pure White, used for premium applications such as gift cards and stationery.
- Munken Design A paper range from Arctic Paper distributed by GF Smith, including various weights and finishes such as Kristall, Polar, Lynx, and Pure in smooth and rough textures.
- Gmund Papers Premium papers from Gmund, including Gmund Cotton and Gmund Heidi, distributed through GF Smith. Gmund Cotton is noted for letterpress printing with a soft, pillow-like impression.
- Peregrina Majestic A specialty metallic paper range available in shades including Petal, Real Gold, and Moonlight Silver.
- RK Burt A company within the GF Smith group, producing digital papers and specialty paper products including the Droplet Range.
- Neenah Environment Environmentally-focused papers from Neenah, including Birch 90gsm used for gift wrapping.
- Colorplan Carabiner A paper swatch display accessory showcasing the entire Colorplan Collection; can be clipped to bags, desks, clothes, or hung in studios for easy reference.
- Paper Consultant Services Expert advice from GF Smith Paper Consultants covering the creative journey, including guidance on paper selection and finishing techniques like multiplexing and embossing.
- Trade Services Trade-focused services with a unique minimum order of 25 sheets, allowing orders to increase by the sheet to minimize waste and maximize budgets, supported by expert paper consultancy.
- Student Services Services for students including free paper samples (up to 10 A4 sheets), 20% student and graduate discount, paper lectures, sponsorship schemes, and school visits by GF Smith Paper Consultants.
Companies that use G . F Smith
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
G . F Smith technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
G . F Smith partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Papersmith & Son (South Africa)coreExclusive distributor for GF Smith papers including Colorplan, 50/50, and Extracted collections in South Africa. Contact: [email protected], +27 11 240 6900.
- Legion Paper (USA)coreExclusive distributor for GF Smith papers in the United States. Contact: [email protected], +1 (212) 683 6990.
- TAKEO Co., Ltd. (Japan)coreExclusive distributor for GF Smith papers in Japan. Contact: [email protected], +81 3 3292 3611.
- Ball & Doggett (Australia)coreExclusive distributor for GF Smith papers in Australia. Contact: [email protected], +61 2 8863 1200.
- Pressision (UK)coreProduction partner for Colorplan Vinyl record sleeve project in Leeds, UK. Provided guidance on specification and production processes.
- father (Music & Sound Design Studio)flagshipCollaborative partner for Colorplan Vinyl project - created a soundscape inspired by the 55 colors of the Colorplan range, composing pieces of music on a 12" vinyl album exploring the 'music of colour'.
- Future Icons (UK)flagshipCollaboration for London Craft Week 2023 exhibition at Oxo Tower Wharf's Bargehouse, featuring paper artists Fung + Bedford, B C Joshua, and NAT MAKS.
- Arctic Paper (Sweden)coreAnnual collaboration on Munken Agenda project - a design project providing year's worth of inspiration while highlighting Munken Design paper quality.
- Manchester School of Art (UK)flagshipStudent collaboration for Colorplan Vinyl project - BA (Hons) Graphic Design students created cover art for the 12" vinyl album exploring the music of colour.
- Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design (Germany)flagshipStudent collaboration for Munken Agenda 2025 - students designed the year's worth of inspiration calendar using Munken Design paper range.
- RK BurtcorePart of GF Smith group of companies, operating as a related distribution entity.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
G . F Smith competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arctic Paper: Sweden-based specialty paper manufacturer that produces the Munken Design range GF Smith distributes. Direct peer in premium uncoated and design paper for creative and publishing applications.
- Fedrigoni: Italian specialty paper group and one of the largest premium paper producers globally, offering comparable colored, textured, and fine papers for luxury packaging and print. Explicitly featured alongside GF Smith in creative content.
- Mohawk Fine Papers: US-based manufacturer of premium fine and specialty papers for design, print, and packaging. Closely comparable in product positioning, brand-led marketing, and creative-community engagement.
- Gmund Papier: German premium paper maker of Gmund Cotton, Gmund Heidi, and other specialty ranges that GF Smith distributes. Directly comparable as a design-led, color-and-texture-focused mill serving luxury packaging and print.
- Favini: Italian specialty paper manufacturer known for sustainable, textured, and effect papers used in luxury packaging, labels, and fine stationery. Directly comparable product mix and customer base.
- Cordenons: Italian luxury paper mill producing premium colored and felt-marked papers for stationery, packaging, and publishing. Strong overlap with Colorplan in luxury packaging and creative applications.
- Lecta: European specialty paper group producing coated and specialty papers for labels, publishing, and packaging. Comparable in scale, multi-mill footprint, and premium product positioning.
- Neenah Paper: US-based premium and sustainable paper manufacturer whose Environment range GF Smith distributes. Comparable in fine-paper heritage, sustainability positioning, and luxury/creative customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Stora Enso: Global pulp and paper incumbent with extensive specialty and packaging paper operations. Broader portfolio and scale than GF Smith but overlaps in premium printing and packaging papers.
- UPM-Kymmene: Large European forest industry group with significant specialty, label, and communication paper businesses. Adjacent incumbent providing competitive context for premium uncoated paper categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
G . F Smith social profiles
Digital presenceG . F Smith financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
G . F Smith leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
G . F Smith subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
G . F Smith funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
G . F Smith M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about G . F Smith
What does G . F Smith do?
G.F Smith manufactures and distributes premium specialty papers — most notably the flagship Colorplan collection (50 colors, 25 embossings, 10 weights made sustainably in Great Britain for 80+ years) — alongside the 50/50, Extracted, Wild, Geltex, and Zen ranges. Products are sold directly via shop.gfsmith.com to UK customers and through a global network of 100+ exclusive distribution partners serving customers across seven continents. The company complements paper sales with Paper Consultant advisory services, bespoke Make Book book-making, and dedicated Trade and Student Services programs.
Is G . F Smith a public or private company?
G . F Smith is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was G . F Smith founded?
G . F Smith was founded in 1885. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is G . F Smith based?
G . F Smith is headquartered in Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does G . F Smith make money?
One revenue line is on record: paper Product Sales.
Who are G . F Smith's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arctic Paper, Fedrigoni, Mohawk Fine Papers, Gmund Papier, Favini, Cordenons, Lecta and Neenah Paper. Broad incumbents are Stora Enso and UPM-Kymmene.
Does G . F Smith have an API?
No public API is recorded for G . F Smith.
What industry is G . F Smith in?
G . F Smith's product category is Specialty Paper Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAIAF, Paper & Printing Grades Distribution (Printing/Writing, Newsprint, Specialty), with a secondary code of CRALABAA, General Office Supplies Retail. Its NAICS code is 45941 and its SIC code is 5110.