| Type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Promotional Products |
| Founded | Newark, New Jersey |
| Founder(s) | Andrew and Jacob Geiger |
| Headquarters | Lewiston, Maine, United States |
| Number of locations | 16 |
| Key people | Gene Geiger (CEO), Peter Geiger (EVP, SMG), Jeffrey Geiger (G5), Jo-an Lantz (EVP, PPG), Robert Blaisdell (CFO), Ronald Giard (EVP, MPG) |
| Owner(s) | Gene Geiger, Peter Geiger |
| Employees | 500 employees, 550 independent sales partners |
| Divisions | Promotional Products, Special Markets, Manufactured Products |
| Website | http://www.geiger.com |
Geiger is a 5th generation advertising specialties company with more than 500 employees and more than 550 sales representatives. It is the industry's largest family-owned and family-managed distributorship and is based in Lewiston, Maine.
Initially named Geiger Brothers, it was founded in Newark, New Jersey in 1878 spanning 5 generations and three centuries.
Generation 1. The company was founded in 1878, when brothers Andrew and Jacob took over their father’s two-room print shop in Newark, New Jersey. A staff of 4 -- the brothers, a printer, and a bookkeeper—produced a small line that included advertising calendars, fans, and greeting cards.
Generation 2. The second generation brothers, Frank, Charles, and George entered the company in the early 20th century. They added date books and diaries to their expanding line.
Generation 3. Frank’s two sons, Ray and Frank, joined the business in the 1930s. Frank led the firm into the distribution of advertising specialty products made by other companies. Meanwhile, Ray acquired the renowned Farmers’ Almanac becoming its 6th editor and tireless promoter for 60 consecutive years.
To meet the needs of a growing company, Ray and Frank moved the company to Lewiston, Maine in 1955. Since then, the Geiger facility has been expanded four times to its current 140,000 foot size.
Generation 4. Two of Ray’s sons manage the company today. Gene is CEO and President and Peter Geiger is Executive Vice President and editor of the Farmers’ Almanac. Under their guidance, the company has experienced unprecedented growth over the last decade and has earned numerous business and civic honors. Currently, it is leading the industry’s push toward e-commerce.
Generation 5. Gene's son, Jeffrey, joined the business in the late 1990s and is working as a technology liaison in Geiger's Marketing Department, and management in the West Coast Division.
The Farmers' Almanac is a compendium of knowledge on weather, gardening, cooking, remedies, managing your household, preserving the earth, and more. Published every year since 1818, it was founded by David Young, Philom. In 1949, Ray and Ann Geiger obtain the rights to Almanac Publishing Company/Farmers’ Almanac. Geiger Bros. has produced and distributed the Farmers’ Almanac ever since.
Peter Geiger succeeded Ray Geiger as editor in 1994 and is the current Philom.