C. Tybring-Gjedde

C. Tybring-Gjedde was a Norwegian wholesale and cash-and-carry business founded in Oslo in 1918 by Carl Christopher Tybring-Gjedde. The company built its business around the distribution of paper goods, office supplies, household products, and other general merchandise. It began with an Oslo base and branches and subsequently expanded its presence across Norway, becoming a recognizable supplier to businesses and other customers seeking stationery, printed materials, and household-related goods. The company was family managed for much of its history. Carl Christopher Tybring-Gjedde founded the business, and his son Willi Harald Tybring-Gjedde later assumed leadership. Harald Tybring-Gjedde, who was also known as a businessman and art collector, took over as leader in 1990. He was the father of Christian Tybring-Gjedde, who later became a politician for Norway's Progress Party. The family connection is part of the company's documented history, although the business itself was a commercial wholesaler rather than a political organization. C. Tybring-Gjedde also had an involvement in printing. From 1969, it produced business cards, initially for corporate customers and later for private individuals as well. This extended the company's role beyond wholesale distribution and allowed it to provide a practical business service directly to customers. A defining feature of the company was its cash-and-carry operating model. Customers selected merchandise themselves in the wholesaler's premises and paid directly, rather than relying solely on traditional sales representatives or delivery-based wholesale purchasing. The stores operated with an age restriction that prevented younger children from entering, reflecting the company's warehouse-style commercial environment and its orientation toward adult business and household purchasers. During the 1990s, C. Tybring-Gjedde expanded outside Norway into Denmark and Sweden. The company later entered a period of consolidation. In 2001, it was taken over by the supermarket chain Binders. In 2005, it was combined with the family-owned company Rich. Andvord AS, creating Andvord Tybring-Gjedde, commonly abbreviated ATG. In 2006, ATG was acquired by the Dutch office-supplies company Buhrmann. Buhrmann was subsequently acquired by the United States office-supplies retailer Staples in 2008. These transactions ended the company's independent corporate identity and placed its business within larger office-products distribution groups. C. Tybring-Gjedde is therefore best understood as a historical Norwegian wholesale and office-supplies brand. Its principal significance lies in its long operating history, its family ownership and management tradition, its cash-and-carry format, its printing services, and its eventual integration into broader Nordic and international office-products businesses.

C. Tybring-Gjedde was established in Oslo in 1918 by Carl Christopher Tybring-Gjedde. It developed as a wholesale supplier of paper goods, office supplies, household products, and other merchandise. The company operated from Oslo through a main office and branches before expanding across Norway. The business was associated with the Tybring-Gjedde family for much of its existence. Carl Christopher Tybring-Gjedde founded it, and his son Willi Harald Tybring-Gjedde later became its leader. Harald Tybring-Gjedde took over leadership in 1990. He was a businessman and art collector and the father of Christian Tybring-Gjedde, who later became a Norwegian Progress Party politician. C. Tybring-Gjedde also operated in printing. Beginning in 1969, it printed business cards, first for companies and later for private customers. Its retail-wholesale format was based on cash and carry: customers selected products themselves from the wholesaler's premises and paid directly. The stores had an age limit, with younger children not permitted to enter. The company undertook an international expansion during the 1990s, establishing operations in Denmark and Sweden in addition to its Norwegian network. Its corporate independence ended in the following decade. Binders acquired the company in 2001. In 2005, C. Tybring-Gjedde was combined with Rich. Andvord AS, a family-owned business, to create Andvord Tybring-Gjedde, known as ATG. Buhrmann, a Dutch office-supplies company, acquired ATG in 2006. Buhrmann was then acquired by Staples in 2008. Through these transactions, the C. Tybring-Gjedde business was absorbed into larger office-products groups.

• 2008

  Buhrmann acquired by Staples

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  Staples acquired Buhrmann, the corporate owner that had acquired Andvord Tybring-Gjedde.

• 2006

  Acquired by Buhrmann

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  Buhrmann acquired Andvord Tybring-Gjedde.

• 2005

  Formation of Andvord Tybring-Gjedde

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  C. Tybring-Gjedde was combined with Rich. Andvord AS to form Andvord Tybring-Gjedde.

• 2001

  Acquired by Binders

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  The supermarket chain Binders took over C. Tybring-Gjedde.

• 1990

  Harald Tybring-Gjedde took over leadership

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  Harald Tybring-Gjedde assumed leadership of the family business.

• 1990

  Expansion into Denmark and Sweden

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1990s, the company expanded beyond Norway into Denmark and Sweden.

• 1969

  Business-card printing introduced

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  The company began printing business cards for corporate customers and later extended the service to private individuals.

• 1918

  Company founded in Oslo

  [1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  Carl Christopher Tybring-Gjedde founded the wholesale business in Oslo.

A Norwegian business-to-business wholesaler and cash-and-carry operator offering office, paper, printing, household, and related general merchandise.

• Wholesale merchandise

  Paper goods

  Paper goods formed one of the company's core wholesale categories. They were sold through the company's Norwegian cash-and-carry and distribution operations alongside stationery, office products, and other business supplies.

• Business supplies

  Office supplies

  C. Tybring-Gjedde supplied office products as part of its core wholesaling business. Its self-service warehouse format enabled customers to select merchandise directly and pay at the premises.

• Household merchandise

  Household goods

  Household goods were sold alongside paper and office products, giving the company a broader general-merchandise assortment than a specialist stationery supplier.

• Printing services · 1969

  Business-card printing

  Introduced in 1969, the printing service initially produced business cards for companies and later accepted orders from private individuals.

• 2006

  Acquisition by BuhrmannM&A

  Background

  Andvord Tybring-Gjedde became part of a larger international office-products group.

  Action taken

  Buhrmann acquired ATG.

  Aftermath

  Buhrmann was acquired by Staples in 2008.

  Source

• 2005

  Combination with Rich. Andvord ASM&A

  Background

  The business was reorganized together with the family-owned Rich. Andvord AS.

  Action taken

  The companies formed Andvord Tybring-Gjedde, abbreviated ATG.

  Aftermath

  ATG was acquired by Buhrmann in 2006.

  Source

• 2001

  Sale to BindersM&A

  Background

  C. Tybring-Gjedde entered a consolidation phase after operating as an independent Norwegian wholesaler.

  Action taken

  Binders acquired the company.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition was followed by the 2005 combination with Rich. Andvord AS.

  Source

• 1969

  Added business-card printingProduct launch

  Background

  The wholesaler expanded beyond merchandise distribution into commercial printing.

  Action taken

  It began printing business cards for companies and later for private customers.

  Aftermath

  The printing activity became part of the company's broader office-services offering.

  Source

• 2008

  Staples acquired Buhrmann[1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Buhrmann was acquired by the American office-supplies company Staples, extending the ownership chain that followed the creation of Andvord Tybring-Gjedde.

• 2006

  Buhrmann acquired Andvord Tybring-Gjedde[1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Dutch office-supplies company Buhrmann acquired Andvord Tybring-Gjedde.

• 2005

  C. Tybring-Gjedde combined with Rich. Andvord[1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  C. Tybring-Gjedde was combined with family-owned Rich. Andvord AS to form Andvord Tybring-Gjedde, or ATG.

• 2001

  C. Tybring-Gjedde was acquired by Binders[1]C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Norwegian supermarket chain Binders took over C. Tybring-Gjedde.

1. 1C. Tybring-Gjeddeen.wikipedia.org