Herff Jones

Herff Jones is an American company that manufactures and sells educational recognition and achievement products and motivational materials, and has been in continuous operation since 1920. Herff Jones maintains production facilities across the United States as well as in Canada, and has a network of over 700 independent sales representatives.

Herff Jones, LLC
TypeSubsidiary
IndustrySchool services and recognition products
FoundedJanuary 6, 1920
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana
Key people
Harry J. Herff - founder,
Randall H. Jones - founder,
Herff Jones, Steve Down - CEO
ProductsHigh school & college class rings, graduation caps and gowns, school yearbooks, graduation frames and announcements, champion and cheer jewelry
OwnerVarsity Brands
Number of employees
4,000 employees and 700 sales representatives
ParentBain Capital
WebsiteHerff Jones official site

The company and its subsidiaries have also been involved in top-level college football and professional sports, having manufactured the Heisman Trophy (via acquired company Dieges & Clust),[1] and championship rings for the Indianapolis 500,[2] the 2007 Indianapolis Colts,[3] and the San Antonio Spurs[4] among others.

History

Harry J. Herff and Randall H. Jones founded Herff Jones in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 6, 1920. The company manufactured insignia jewelry and class rings.[5]

1973: Herff Jones was bought by Carnation Company and operated as a division of that company for 11 years.[5]

1980: Acquired Dieges & Clust[1]

1985: Herff Jones bought their assets and liabilities from the Carnation Company and became an independent company.[5]

1989: established an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), becoming a 100% employee-owned company by 1995.[6]

2011: sold the Photography Division to Lifetouch.

In 2011, Herff Jones merged with Varsity Brands, owner of the cheerleading and school spirit company Varsity Spirit. In 2013, the company acquired uniform manufacturer BSN Sports. In 2014 the company rebranded itself under the Varsity Brands name, with Herff Jones becoming a subsidiary.[7][8]

In July 2014, the Nystrom brand was sold to Social Studies School Service, a social studies company in California. The assets of Replogle Globes, part of the Education Division, were sold to Replogle Globes Partners in September.

References
  1. Breed, Donald (January 16, 2005). "Beating the field - Herff Jones, maker of the Heisman Trophy, thrives on class-ring sales". Providence Journal. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  2. Smith, Jeff (2008-05-24). "Indy 500 Race Countdown Begins With Public Drivers' Meeting". Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  3. Chapell, Mike (2007-06-13). "Colts receive Super Bowl rings in private ceremony". USA Today.
  4. "Herff Jones maker Varsity Brands explores sale: sources". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  5. "About Herff Jones".
  6. "Herff Jones Yearbook Division".
  7. Hirsch, Lauren (2018-06-19). "Bain to acquire Varsity Brands, a top maker of cheerleader uniforms and school spirit items, for roughly $2.5 billion". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  8. "Rebranding spreads Varsity name around". Memphis Business News. American City Business Journals. 2014-06-03. Retrieved 2020-09-30.


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