CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--School Specialty, LLC., a leading provider of learning environments, supplies and curriculum materials for the pre K-12 education market, has acquired Chicago-based SchoolKidz, a provider of school supply kitting solutions for elementary and middle school students, typically in partnership with parent-teacher (PTO/PTA) and charitable organizations. The transaction enables School Specialty to make the SchoolKidz brand of education and wellness kits more accessible to school children throughout the nation.
Since 1995, SchoolKidz has sourced, assembled and marketed kits consisting of school and personal care supplies, serving more than 500,000 students in 2022. As a result of the acquisition, SchoolKidz is now operating under the School Specialty umbrella. According to School Specialty, the experience for existing customers is expected to remain seamless.
School Specialty President and CEO Ryan Bohr stated, “The acquisition of SchoolKidz enables us to significantly expand our support of students and educators across the country.” He continued, “Our customers are faced with unprecedented staffing and operational challenges and have a greater need for efficient, bundled solutions than ever before. This acquisition directly enhances our ability to provide simplified solutions to educators and further their efforts to achieve greater equity and accessibility to the students who need it most.”
President of SchoolKidz, Jim Mulder added, “At SchoolKidz, we have worked hard to drive engagement and enhance our product offering and now we have a significantly larger platform to continue these efforts. School Specialty has unmatched school relationships along with an extensive product portfolio comprised of proprietary and leading national brands that will enable us to greatly increase what we can offer to schools and non-profit organizations.”
About the SchoolKidz Programs
SchoolKidz offers two primary programs:
- Teacher Tailored: The School Kidz Teacher Tailored Program has provided millions of school supply kits to parents and serviced thousands of schools nationwide for the past 25 years. This team works with Parent Teacher Organizations/Associations (PTO/PTA) to develop customized lists of school supplies, then sources the products, and assembles them into branded kit boxes for students. This program simplifies the back-to-school supply process for parents, while fundraising for the schools.
- Kits for Kidz: Serves school districts as well as an array of non-profit organizations, including care agencies, faith-based organizations, and relief groups. Organizations select Kits for Kidz to help provide essential items for both educational and humanitarian purposes, such as school supplies, hygiene products and clothing for the children they serve.
About School Specialty, Inc.
With a 60-year legacy, School Specialty is a leading provider of comprehensive learning environments for the pre K-12 education marketplace in the U.S. and Canada. School Specialty believes every student can flourish in an environment where they are engaged and inspired to learn and grow. In support of this vision to transform more than classrooms by improving learning outcomes and district performance, the company applies its unmatched team of subject-matter experts and designs, manufactures and distributes a broad assortment of name brand and proprietary products to deliver upon its unique value proposition. This includes essential classroom supplies, furniture and design services, educational technology, science curriculum, supplemental learning resources, professional development, funding assistance and more. For more information, go to www.schoolspecialty.com.
