How To Find Old Registered Family Brands Wisconsin

20 Big Brands Names That Came Out of Wisconsin

Here at WhooNEW – we're all virtually local, pocket-size businesses and the value they add to our community.

Merely let's not forget that every business organization starts small – and there's nothing wrong with dreaming big.

There are quite a few household names that got their first in Wisconsin. You'll recognize all of the companies on this list – and we're willing to bet that quite a few will surprise you.

Wisconsin businesses accept contributed a lot to America. Some are even ingrained in our culture. Let's take a look…

i. Harley-Davidson

Harley Davidson While this list is in no particular society – we had to put Harley-Davidson at the top. Afterwards all – information technology may be the company for which our state is best known.

Graphic designer Steve Lovelace chose Harley to illustrate Wisconsin in his viral illustration The Corporate States of America. And rightly and then…

Non many companies have customers who dear them so much that they'll tattoo the logo on their bodies. Only Harley-Davidson definitely does. People all over the U.South., and even around the globe, are devoted to this brand'southward motorcycles and anything with the Harley name on it.

In 1901, a xx year-old William South. Harley put together plans for a pocket-size engine that could be used on a cycle. Harley and his childhood buddy, Arthur Davidson, would work on their motor-cycle within a Milwaukee auto store for 2 years.

The commencement version couldn't go far up a colina unless you used the pedals. Just the immature men didn't give upwardly.

Now Harley-Davidson can avowal yearly revenue of more than $5 billion. Bang-up for a couple of kids who liked to tinker with engines. Got a Harley that needs some practice? Check out these 10 Wisconsin Motorcycle Rides!

ii. Trek Bicycle Corporation

Trek Bike - Wisconsin Based Company Of class, one of the virtually well-known brands of good one-time-fashioned pedal bikes come from Wisconsin too.

Dick Burke and Bevil Hogg started manufacturing steel frames for touring bikes in Waterloo, Wisconsin during the mid 1970s. Today, Treks are some of the most pop bikes in the world for racing and recreation.

Trek Bicycles even makes bike riding audio just every bit absurd every bit jumping on a motorcycle. The company'south website explains why they "believe in bikes."

"The bicycle is the most efficient form of human transportation. It can gainsay climatic change, ease urban congestion, and build homo fitness. It brings us together, yet allows us to escape. And information technology takes us places we would never encounter any other way."

Tarnished bicyclist Lance Armstrong rode Expedition bikes at the height of his career. In 1999 Armstrong became the first American to win the Tour de France while riding an American-Made cycle.

Of course, Lance Armstrong'southward victories were rescinded because of doping violations. Merely his wheel never took any functioning enhancing drugs whatsoever!

3. Schneider National

Schneider National We see those big orange semi-trucks all over the place around here. Sometimes we get a little impatient when we're stuck backside one on the on-ramp as they endeavor to go up to speed.

Just folks in Green Bay should have some pride in the fact that the country'due south largest privately-owned trucking company calls the city home. Schneider National is also the fifth largest overall trucking organization in the nation.

The USA isn't the only identify you'll run in to those orangish trucks. Schneider now has a presence in China too. They are the only American trucking company given permission to practice so.

It all started in 1935 when AJ Schneider sold his family'southward car so he could buy his starting time truck.

4. Culver'southward

Culver's The Green Bay area is habitation to some great places to get what'due south known every bit a "butter burger." That includes Kroll's W and Kroll'south East as well every bit Zesty'southward in Allouez.

But one Wisconsin-based restaurant chain is taking butter burgers and other Wisconsin favorites (like our cheese) all over America.

Culver's is mainly constitute in the Midwest, but it's apace expanding with dozens of new stores opening every yr. You can now dine at Culver's in many mountain states similar Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

The Culver family unit opened their first restaurant in Sauk City, Wisconsin in 1984 inside an old A&W. Patriarch George Culver, was the son of a cheesemaker who once worked as an inspector on dairy farms and owned various restaurants.

Information technology was his son Craig who had the thought of combining his mom Lea'south homestyle burgers with frozen custard. Non on the burger – I mean every bit a concept for a restaurant. Culver's also has it's own brand of root beer.

Read about other Wisconsin Root Beers here on WhooNEW

5. Cousins Subs

Cousins-Subs Some other recognizable eating place founded in Wisconsin is Cousins Subs. But the sandwich shop actually came about considering of something that was missing in Milwaukee.

Beak Sprecht moved to the Brew Urban center from Atlantic Urban center, New Jersey in the sixties. He found himself missing the kind of sandwiches he'd swallow in his old home.

Since he hated his job anyhow, Bill called up his cousin, Jim Sheppard, and the two brought East Coast-style submarine sandwiches to Milwaukee.

The cousins found a local bakery to aid them brand high-quality staff of life for their subs, and that'southward been Cousins' recipe since 1972.

6. Erbert & Gerbert'due south

Erbert_and_Gerbert's Information technology's the sub store with funky names and quirky stories for all of its sandwiches.

Erbert & Gerbert'southward opened its first shop in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1988.

Babyhood stories were the inspiration for this eatery's unique theme. Founder Kevin Schippers named his business afterward two characters his father made up. Each sandwhich is named after the adventures Erbert and Gerbert have and other characters they run across.

Some other unique aspect of the food is known as "the guts." When you order a sub, they scrape out some of the breadstuff to fit in the meat, cheese and veggies. Then they give y'all the chewy bread guts on the side. The company has even turned those guts into a character. (Check out the video below).

Recently Erbert & Gerbert's Sandwich shop as well added a large choice of gluten-costless items.

Read our commodity nigh Gluten-free Restaurants in Green Bay

7. Schreiber Foods

Schreiber_Foods Schreiber Foods is one of the biggest employers in Green Bay. But I even so couldn't become an interview for a marketing position. Then that MUST mean that only extremely awesome people get to work there.

The food Schreiber specializes in, no surprise – is dairy – all sorts of cheeses, yogurts and other stuff. Y'all know those slices of cheese that come on top of your favorite fast nutrient burger? In that location's a proficient gamble it's made be Schreiber foods. They supply processed cheese slices to 17 of the top twenty hamburger chains.

What's more – they are the second biggest producer of cream cheese in the nation. So spread that on your bagel and eat it.

eight. OshKosh 'BGosh

Whether you grew up in Wisconsin or non – in that location'southward a good chance your parents put yous in a pair of OshKosh B'gosh overalls when you were a kid.

And then cute – only so difficult to become out of when you need to pee.

OshKosh B'gosh once tried making clothes for adults – but that didn't really piece of work out. Ironically, the whole reason for making kids' overalls in the first place was and so that parents could dress their children to look similar their blue-collar dads.

OshKosh B'gosh opened in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (surprise, surprise) in 1895 and is one of the oldest Wisconsin-founded companies on this list. Just things didn't really take off for the clothier until 1960 when its overalls appeared in a mail order itemize from Miles Kimball – another Oshkosh-based company.

Carter'south – a rival kids clothier – purchased the visitor in 2005 for $312 million. While OshKosh B'Gosh no longer makes its clothes in Wisconsin, it still has its corporate headquarters in Oshkosh.

9. Kohl's Department Stores

Kohl's fifteen%, xx% or 30% off? Don't even bother unless you get the 30%. Am I correct, or am I right?

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Kohl'due south has go a pretty big deal in the world of department stores. In February of 2013, it surpassed JC Penney'southward to go the concatenation with the largest number of stores.

Kohl'south actually began as a grocery store chain. Maxwell Kohl – father of retired Wisconsin U.S. Senator Herb Kohl – opened Kohl'southward Foods in 1946. The first section store opened in 1962.

Max Kohl wanted Kohl's stores to exist somewhere in betwixt loftier-finish department stores and discounters. That's pretty much what Kohl'southward still is today. It's also a Fortune 500 visitor with stores in every state simply Hawaii.

In 1972, the British American Tobacco Company purchased a controlling involvement in Kohl's. The Kohl family stopped managing the visitor in 1979.

10. Shopko Stores

Shopko Shopko, which used to be ShopKo and was originally Shopco – is Northeast Wisconsin'due south very own discount retailer. At one fourth dimension – nosotros also had Prange Fashion, but Shopko basically put them out of business.

James Ruben, a pharmacist from Chicago, moved to Dark-green Bay and brought with him a vision for a store that focused on quality, convenience and value. But I'll e'er remember information technology as the identify where kids shoplifted baseball cards. Other kids – not me.

The start Shopko opened on Military Artery in Green Bay in 1962. The company was publicly traded on the NYSE for xiv years. Then Sun Capital Partners caused information technology in 2005 – making information technology private over again. In 2012, Shopko merged with Pamida and added 170 new locations. Today in that location are 330 Shopko stores in 21 states.

They've as well had some adept slogans over the years – only never seemed to be happy with just 1. "Say Hi to a Practiced Purchase at ShopKo" was priceless – merely new marketing execs need to make their mark, I guess.

They also should accept kept the spokeswoman we all called "The ShopKo Lady." Whatever happened to her?

11. Menards

Menards Dissimilar Shopko – Menards knows how to stick with a slogan. When you hear the words Save Big Money – you automatically think – at Menards.

The Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based habitation comeback store got started because founder John Menard Jr. noticed a demand. In 1959, he was edifice postal service-frame buildings to finance his higher education. Customers started asking about ownership lumber, and the rest is history. The kickoff Menard's hardware store opened in 1972.

If you're wondering what happened to "The Menard's Guy" who appeared in the store's commercials for many years – he retired. His proper name is Ray Szmanda, and a cartoon likeness of him all the same appears on ads.

Wisconsin musician Gary Shaw performed that tell-tale banjo music used in Menard's commercials. Here'due south what he has to say about the feel of recording it…

"I just started playing on it and they said, 'That's perfect; that's exactly what nosotros need.' Took me a one-half an hour. I got $50 for a one-fourth dimension fee, and I've had to listen to that commercial every twenty-four hour period for 20 years."

12. Kohler Visitor

Kohler Chances are – you've urinated and defecated all over this company's merchandise.

Of course, that'due south because top-of-the-line toilets and urinals are two of The Kohler Company's most well-known products. They also make other plumbing products as well as other stuff for the kitchen and bath.

Just most importantly – Kohler is the reason why folks in Wisconsin telephone call drinking fountains bubblers. (Read our article to notice out more about Why We Phone call it a Bubbler – and who else does too)

John Michael Kohler

Austrian immigrant, John Michael Kohler, founded the company in 1873 after purchasing the Sheboygan Union Iron and Steel Foundry.

Kohler started making stuff out of steel – similar castings for piece of furniture and decorative crosses for cemeteries. But and so the visitor had its "aha moment".

John Michael applied enamel to an atomic number 26 horse-trough and made the company's first bathtub. They've stuck with plumbing products always since.

Another matter The Kohler Company has stuck with all these years is family. The company was led by Walter J. Kohler Sr. and Jr. Both male parent and son also served as governor of Wisconsin. The current Kohler Company president is the founder's grandson – Herbert V. Kohler Jr.

Detect out more about Kohler's History

13. Carmex

Carmex Chapped lips and Wisconsin wintertime weather go hand in hand. That'due south why it makes so much sense that this company was built-in in the Badger State.

The first batch of Carmex was mixed upwards in the 1930s on a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin family's stove.

At first, inventor and entrepreneur, Alfred Woelbing was just trying to come up with something to assistance him with his ain cold sores. But Woelbing realized he had something anybody could use.

So – he began driving around with a trunk full of Carmex in those familiar little jars with the yellow lids. Woelbing made sales calls to local pharmacies and drug stores. So – slowly but surely – word of oral cavity nearly the product spread.

As of 2008, the company had sold more than than 1 billion jars. Now you lot can go Carmex in squeezable tubes, the typical sticks of lip lotion, and there's fifty-fifty flavored varieties.

Alfred Woebling lived to be 100 years old and was still involved with Carma Labs up until his death in 2001. His grandsons now run the visitor.

14. American Family Insurance

American Family Insurance Here's another Fortune 500 visitor that calls Wisconsin home. And I know you can hear voices singing the jingle in your caput correct now…

American Family Insurance began as Farmers Mutual Insurance Company in 1927. That's when an insurance salesman named Herman Wittwer opened his own company in Madison.

Wittwer started with elementary car insurance made for farmers. That's because he thought farmers would be low-risk. The name was changed to American Family Insurance in 1963.

Today the insurance company is still headquartered in Wisconsin and still involved in the state. In 2003, AmFam donated 10 million towards the structure of UW Children's Hospital.

15. The Onion

The Onion What started equally a goofy satirical newspaper has grown into a multimedia company and i of the about recognizable, also equally controversial, names on the cyberspace. Information technology all came from the minds of two creative UW Madison students.

The Onion jokes that it take started in 1765 – founded by an immigrant named Friedrich Siegfried Zweibel. The paper's original moto was Tu Stultus Es, Latin for "You are Stupid".

In reality, The Onion was the abstraction of friends and UW juniors Tim Keck and Christopher Johnson. They started publishing their satire in 1988. As the story goes, the name The Onion was suggested by Johnson's uncle who saw the pair eating onion sandwiches. Manifestly, the guys were so bankrupt, all they had left to eat was white bread and an onion.

They sold their paper to one-act author Scott Dikkers a year later for less than $xx,000 in grocery money. Dikkers is now VP of Creative Evolution for the media visitor. Johnson and Keck went on to publish other alternative newspapers separately.

In 2001, The Onion moved its offices from Madison to New York. It now has its own characteristic flick, various online spider web series and includes the non-satirical AV Guild.

The paper ended its printed version in December of 2013.

16. Leinenkugel'southward

Leinenkugels This is Wisconsin – and so a lot of breweries got started here. But Leinenkugel's is one of the beer-makers that was at the front end of what yous could call the craft brew revolution in the U.S.

I would call Leine'south a gateway beer – considering it'southward usually your first step from typical domestics to more circuitous brews.

But the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. has been effectually for a long time. Its founder started the Chippewa Falls operation in 1867. Jacob Leinenkugel brewed the beer while his partner John Miller delivered it. They were the brewery'due south only employees in the early years.

The lumberjacks in Wisconsin's logging industry made dandy customers. And during the Prohibition, Leine'south stayed alive by making most beer and soda water.

Wink forward all the manner to 1988 when SABMiller purchased Leinenkugel'southward. But even though it's at present owned by a big corporation the brewery has remained in Wisconsin and is yet family unit-operated. 95% of its beer is nonetheless brewed in Chippewa Falls. The residuum consists of specialty brews made at a Milwaukee brewery.

17. Miller Brewing Co.

Miller_Brewery When most people think Wisconsin beer – they think Miller.

Miller Brewing Company began in 1855 when Fredrick Miller purchased the small Plank-Road Brewery in Milwaukee. As legend has it, Miller fabricated his beer with yeast from Europe, which he carried over in his pocket.

According to the Wisconsin Historical Club, Miller learned the art of brewing from his uncle in France.

Subsequently a merger between SABMiller and Molson Coors in 2007 – the ii beer rivals joined forces to form MillerCoors.

eighteen. Pabst Brewing Co.

Pabst MillerCoors is also responsible for brewing the brands of beer continued to Pabst – including everybody's favorite cheap beer – Pabst Blue Ribbon.

The original proper noun for Pabst Brewing Company was The Empire Brewery. Legendary brewer, Jacob Best, began his Milwaukee operation in 1844. The son-in-constabulary of one of Best'southward sons, steamboat captain Frederick Pabst, became a partner in the company and information technology was afterwards named after him.

Other than PBR, Pabst Brewing Company is known for brands similar Filly 45, Schlitz and One-time Style.

China even has its own Pabst Bluish Ribbon, which is considered to be classy and expensive. If you want a PBR in Communist china – it may toll your more than than $40. Exit it to the Commies…

xix. SC Johnson and Sons

sc_johnson Fifty-fifty the very biggest businesses start small. Today SC Johnson & Sons is global with operations in 72 different countries. The corporation sells its products in well over 100 nations.

It all began when Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr. purchased a flooring business in Racine, Wisconsin and opened Johnson Wax in 1886. In the early days of radio and television, Johnson Wax sponsored programs like Fibber McGee and Molly as well as The Reddish Skelton Bear witness.

Since the days of floor wax, a lot of other cleaning products and household brand names have come from SC Johnson & Sons. They include – Windex, Pledge, Raid, Drano, Glade, Ziploc and many more.

Even though information technology's a huge company, SC Johnson & Sons remains privately owned and family unit-run.

20. Breadsmith

It wasn't that long ago that Breadsmith began baking in Milwaukee.

Dan Sterling opened upwardly shop in 1993 – and today you can find Breadsmith products in xiv states – as its franchising operations keep to grow.

Sterling learned about the art of European way breads while studying abroad in Norway. After graduating from Harvard Business organization School, he started working in accounting for a local bakery.

Just Sterling somewhen realized he wanted to outset making his dough by actually making dough and formed his ain baker. He retired from the company in 2001 to pursue his business ventures.

Breadsmith sells hand-crafted, made-from-scratch breads and other baker items from its stores and through grocers. Every store has a gigantic, stone hearth oven that can handle upwardly to 160 loaves.

Who Volition Be Side by side?

WhooNEW loves small businesses and entrepreneurs. Nosotros as well love to see them become successful.

If you've got a big idea for a new business, allow these 21 companies inspire you to become for it. You can find even more support from events like Startup Weekend Green Bay.

Read WhooNEW's story on the first Startup Weekend in Green Bay

It'southward exciting to imagine what the side by side success-story from our state volition be. Who has the next big idea?

Tell united states most your favorite local business or even your own ideas for changing the world in the comments below.

Trek Bike Image Credit Via Flickr.com