Demco
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Library supplies, Educational supplies, Library software |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Democrat Printing Co. (Library Supplies Department) |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin , United States |
| Products | Equipment, furniture, supplies for libraries and educational institutions; library software |
| Owner | Wall family |
| Website | www |
DEMCO, Inc. operates out of Madison, Wisconsin and specializes in providing equipment, furniture, and supplies tailored for libraries and educational institutions.
History
Originally established in 1905 as the Library Supplies Department of Madison's Democrat Printing Co., DEMCO began by producing printed materials for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Library.
In 1931, ownership transferred to Norman D. "Smiley" Bassett, who rebranded the company as DEMCO Library Supplies, Inc. Bassett prioritized fostering strong relationships within the library sector and championed the support of library objectives. The company saw significant growth under John E. Wall’s leadership when he assumed the presidency in 1968. After Bassett retired in 1972, he sold DEMCO to George Banta Company, Inc., where he joined the board of directors. DEMCO operated as a subsidiary of Banta until 1978, when Wall and his management team completed a leveraged buyout. Wall became the sole proprietor in 1988 and later transferred ownership to his children in 2017.
DEMCO’s growth strategy included strategic acquisitions: it took over Gaylord’s supplies and furniture division along with its brand in 2003, followed by the acquisition of Highsmith from W. W. Grainger, Inc. in 2010. To enhance its offerings beyond tangible products, DEMCO purchased Evanced Solutions—a provider of library software—in 2011 and Boopsie, known for creating mobile applications for libraries, in 2015. These technology-focused companies were unified under DEMCO Software in 2017, forming a specialized branch dedicated to digital library solutions.