Print Solutions Magazine, February 2005 -- Off Hours

Like his grandfather, Kevin Wise is passionate about two things: growing the family-run company and his owl collection. Wise, CIO at manufacturer Wise Tag and Label Co. Inc., Pennsauken, N.J., grew up watching his grandfather Percival Wise collect owls from across the globe.

The owl concept started when Percival founded the company in 1956. He thought that an owl would work well as the company logo because it’s known for being wise. The logo, used even today, is of a “wise old owl” with a graduation-style cap that resembles a tag. Percival began collecting owls and his son, Sprague Wise, CEO, continued the tradition and has more than 100 owls in his collection.

The three owl collections are displayed in the company’s management offices, hallways and conference room. Over the years, vendors, current and retired employees, friends, family and business associates have presented owls to the Wise family. The Wise’s former landlord presented an owl to Percival, and in 1976 employees gave him a large copper-etched owl signed on the back. Over Sprague’s desk is a large-framed owl puzzle with bookcases on both sides displaying even more owls. At the receptionist’s desk is an owl that was hand-drawn on a napkin by a prisoner. The conference room displays Percival’s photograph hanging below the display shelves, as though he’s watching over his son, grandson, the company and his owl collection.

The owls are made of every conceivable material: papier-mache, alabaster, wood, plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, fabric, shells and hand-blown glass. One owl is even functional; it’s a radio.

Kevin’s fascinated with porcelain and crystal owls, and most of his collection includes gifts from business associates. His favorite is the one given by his grandmother when he was seven years old. She found a print of three owls, fitted it on a wood board and then laminated it. She also told Kevin that the old owl represented Percival, the middle-aged one was Sprague and the youngest one was Kevin. It hangs near the light switch in Kevin’s office. Others adorn the door, table and bookshelves in his office. “The owls that have been given as gifts are more special to me than the ones that I have collected myself,” Kevin says.

The three collections are unique because there’s no duplication, Kevin says. Most customers who visit the offices like the idea that the owls are a collection of three generations. Kevin’s bookshelf is already brimming with owls. The number of owls keep growing and he’s thinking of ways to increase the display space.

—Preeti Vasishtha

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Owls Just Keep Flocking Here Like his grandfather, Kevin Wise is passionate about two things: growing the family-run company and his owl collection. Wise, CIO at manufacturer Wise Tag and Label Co. Inc., Pennsauken, N.J., grew up watching his grandfather Percival Wise collect owls from across the globe. The owl concept started when Percival founded the company in 1956. He thought that an owl would work well as the company logo because it’s known for being wise. The logo, used even today, is of a “wise old owl” with a graduation-style cap that resembles a tag. Percival began collecting owls and his son, Sprague Wise, CEO, continued the tradition and has more than 100 owls in his collection. The three owl collections are displayed in the company’s management offices, hallways and conference room. Over the years, vendors, current and retired employees, friends, family and business associates have presented owls to the Wise family. The Wise’s former landlord presented an owl to Percival, and in 1976 employees gave him a large copper-etched owl signed on the back. Over Sprague’s desk is a large-framed owl puzzle with bookcases on both sides displaying even more owls. At the receptionist’s desk is an owl that was hand-drawn on a napkin by a prisoner. The conference room displays Percival’s photograph hanging below the display shelves, as though he’s watching over his son, grandson, the company and his owl collection. The owls are made of every conceivable material: papier-mache, alabaster, wood, plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, fabric, shells and hand-blown glass. One owl is even functional; it’s a radio. Kevin’s fascinated with porcelain and crystal owls, and most of his collection includes gifts from business associates. His favorite is the one given by his grandmother when he was seven years old. She found a print of three owls, fitted it on a wood board and then laminated it. She also told Kevin that the old owl represented Percival, the middle-aged one was Sprague and the youngest one was Kevin. It hangs near the light switch in Kevin’s office. Others adorn the door, table and bookshelves in his office. “The owls that have been given as gifts are more special to me than the ones that I have collected myself,” Kevin says. The three collections are unique because there’s no duplication, Kevin says. Most customers who visit the offices like the idea that the owls are a collection of three generations. Kevin’s bookshelf is already brimming with owls. The number of owls keep growing and he’s thinking of ways to increase the display space. —Preeti Vasishtha





		Percival Wise used an owl as the company logo in 1956 when he started Wise Tag and Label Co. Inc., a manufacturer in Pennsauken, N.J. He also started collecting owls, a tradition that’s being carried out by his son, Sprague Wise, CEO, (bottom photo) and grandson, Kevin Wise, CIO (top, left). The three owl collections are displayed in the company’s management offices, hallways and conference room.