Swiss Colony
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The Swiss Colony is a mail-order catalog gift company that is known for its cheese, chocolates, fruitcakes, and other confections. The company has been family-owned since 1926, when an entrepreneur from Monroe, Wisconsin, a town known for its Swiss immigrants and Swiss cheese, Ray Kubly adopted an idea from a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor.
The company sponsors the Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade in Green County, Wisconsin every September of even numbered years.
[edit] Brands
In addition to its namesake Swiss Colony brand, the company operates catalog businesses under the following names:
- Ashro (Afrocentric women's apparel and accessories)
- Country Door (home decor)
- Ginny's (general merchandise)
- Midnight Velvet (women's apparel)
- Midnight Velvet Style (women's apparel and accessories)
- Monroe and Main (women's apparel)
- Seventh Avenue (general merchandise)
- The Tender Filet (food)
- RaceTeamGear.com (Officially licensed NASCAR(r) apparel and accessories)
In August 2008, a Swiss Colony subsidiary purchased the assets of bankrupt retailer Direct Marketing Services Inc., giving Swiss Colony control of DMSI's direct-mail brands:
- Montgomery Ward (general merchandise)
- Charles Keath (home decor)
- HomeVisions (home decor)
[edit] Cultural References
- Eric Cartman sings a Christmas song about Swiss Colony Beef Logs in a South Park episode
