Research Paper

Early Life/Childhood

Both Edward Irvin Scott and Clarence Scott were a big part of the Scott Paper Company. Edward Irvin Scott was born on the 13 of May in 1846 (“E. Irvin Scott”), in North Greenfield, New York (Harrell-Sesniak). He had five siblings, one of which included Clarence Scott, who was born on April 9, 1848: Thomas Scott, Myron Scott, Amanda Scott, and Cora Scott. His father, Alexander Scott, worked as a Justice of the peace; his mother, Sophronia Scott, stayed at home and took care of all her six children (“E. Irvin Scott”). E.I. Scott attended Juliet Garner’s Normal School, located in West Greenfield. He then attended Robb Boys’ Academy at Saratoga Springs, New York. For college, he attended Albany State Normal School for two terms, and shortly after, became a teacher (Harrell-Sesniak). But not only is this generation important for the company. Arthur Scott, Irvin’s son, was born in 1875.

Beginning of Career

Irvin Scott and his brother Seymour first started selling butcher paper on pushcarts but weren’t so successful. They owned a storefront named Seymour Scot and Bro. which also failed. In 1879, Irvin Scott borrowed $2000 from his father-in-law to start something new with Clarence Scott: The Scott Paper Company, which would soon earn itself to be one of the leading toilet paper manufacturing companies in the world (“E. Irvin Scott”). The Scott brothers didn’t have a specific influencer, but they did have a specific patent that led them to their success. When “the United States Patent Office issued Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York a patent entitled ‘’Improvement in Wrapping-Papers,” (utilized the idea of toilet papers situate), the Scott Brothers used it and, soon enough, headed to their road of success (Earley).

When the Scott brothers started selling butcher paper in 1879, they were successful, where numerous people attempted and failed. It manifested the first successful packaged toilet paper, and in the same year, the Scott Paper Company was founded. Since the Scott Brothers didn’t want to ruin their family name because toilet paper was seen as a “lewd product,” they sold it to drug dealers who re-sold them under numerous brand names. In 1902, they finally bought all their rights to the WALDORF® Trademark, which became their first-ever branded product (Earley).

Significant Accomplishments

When Arthur Scott, Irvin's son, was engaging more with the company, he discussed that the toilet paper should be its own Scott brand due to its best-selling properties (“E. Irvin Scott”). “Arthur’s idea was to make only a few high-quality products, to sell them at as low a cost as possible, and to keep them in the public eye with high-profile advertising” (History of Scott Paper Company). The first paper towels presented themselves in 1907 (“E. Irvin Scott”). This was due to the epidemic in 1909, when Arthur Scott witnessed two children blowing their nose with the same towel. This was seen as the first attempt to improve hygiene and the spread of germs (Bullock). Restaurants, hotels, and schools were the only places that had access to this product. It was up until 1931 when paper towels were available for home usage (“E. Irvin Scott”). He also presented the idea of selling toilet paper under the brand name ¨Scott Tissue,¨ in 1903. By 1910, thanks to Arthur Scott's promotion to sell six different brands, the six brands “provided 80% of the total sales of $726,264.09”(Earley). The company established a factory in Chester, and by 1925 (Earley), they became the world's largest technology-advanced tissue manufacturer, thanks to the increase of groundbreaking engineer-employment rates. In 1927, Thomas McCabe became president of the company and in order to ensure prosperous success, began acquiring factories and utilities (History of Scott Paper Company).

Since Arthurs generation was full of people of prudish behavior, he had to make his slogan seem proper and pompous. With people rejecting talk about their products and stores refusing promotion on display, advertising became a tough challenge for the Scotts. Fortunately, Arthur created their first potent slogan in 1925: Soft as old linen (Earley).

The Scott tissue paper became more accepted by the public due to its promotion of health, and soon enough, became a commodity that everyone needed in their household. Even throughout the Great Depression, the Scott Paper Company kept operating flawlessly, without furloughing any of its employees (Earley).

Impact on the World

The Scott Paper Company has left a greatly positive impact on not only America but the rest of the world as well. Thanks to the Scott brothers’ great idea to put toilet paper on rolls, toilet paper doesn’t have to be individually packaged and sold like it was many years ago. This changed the way toilet paper was made in many industries and has resulted in success. Since Scott's product was smaller and more adaptable to restrooms, it was easy to find people utilizing the product. The toilet paper was wrapped in plain brown wrappers branded with the slogan “soft as old linen.” Owning the tissue soon became "a sign of being upper-class" (The Scott Brothers and the Invention of Toilet Paper). The Scott Company was aiming towards a better future so they decided they would, “go green.” This meant using more eco-friendly products for their commodities. Soon enough, the company is able to reach and go far beyond the $100 million yearly retail sales, helping them become a leading eco-friendly product producer for paper towels and bath tissue (The History of Scott Brand Paper Products). The CEO of Kimberly-Clark signed a merger agreement with The Scott Company. This deal was highly advantageous and a plan to unite the two companies was established; this plan, however, did not make it through, and Scott values remained under Kimberly-Clark. Kimberly-Clark was able to keep flourishing Scott brands.Their hard work is clear to see, and their impression and impact should never be something that’s ignored.

Conclusion

Like most businessmen, the Scott’s meant business. Although they started off small, they eventually built their way to the top. Through tough challenges and prosperous executions, their extravagant products and maintenance of always getting to or being a top market industry made them easily superior and admirable to many companies in the same industry. Their unbeatable success was frightful. It’s easy for me to say that the Scott’s were hard-working, versatile, and outright thinkers, making them scary, yet admirable. Their hard work and dedication can be seen due to their knack for always improving their products, and not completely relying on newer products to save their industry. Because of this strategy for success, their company earned itself on the top charts of their industry. Nonetheless, the Scott’s have earned every right to be admired and respected.

Works Cited

Bullock, John. “Scott Paper Company.” Old Chester Pa, Graphic Details Publications, 15 Apr. 2007, oldchesterpa.com/scott_paper.htm.

Earley, Catherine Thérèse. “The Greatest Missed Luxury.” The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Fall 2010, Pennsylvania State U, pabook2.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/TP.html.

“E. Irvin Scott.” NNDB, Soylent Communications, 2019, nndb.com/people/881/000165386/.

Harrel-Sesniak, Mary. “Edward Irvin Scott,” Geni, 26 Feb. 2009, geni.com/people/Edward-Irvin-Scott/6000000018022648642

“The History of Scott Brand Paper Product.” Scott Brand, 2021 scottbrand.com/en-us/about-us/ourstory

“History of Scott Paper Company.” Reference for Business, 2021 referenceforbusiness.com/history2/86/Scott-Paper-Company.html

“The Scott Brothers and the Invention of Toilet Paper.” World History, 21 May, 2007, worldhistory.us/american-history/the-scott-brothers-and-the-invention-of-toilet-paper.php.