Hobby Lobby Marks 40 Years of Helping Families Celebrate Life

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--What started in a garage in Oklahoma City 40 years ago has expanded into more than 450 arts and crafts stores nationwide. Hobby Lobby is now the go-to location for families looking for everything from furniture and vases to clocks, birdhouses and arts and crafts supplies. And yes, those picture frames are still for sale.

“I’ve always viewed retail as my calling”

“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green. “We started out making picture frames in a garage, and now we are expanding into places like California and New York.”

The retailer started as an outgrowth of Greco Products, a miniature picture frame company, founded by David Green in 1970. Hobby Lobby officially began operation Aug. 3, 1972 with 300 square feet of retail space located in north Oklahoma City. In January 1973, the operation moved, and retail space was increased to about 1,000 square feet.

Today, more than 18,000 employees across the nation work for Hobby Lobby, which passed the $2 billion annual revenue mark in 2009 for the first time in company history. The company remains closed on Sundays in order to allow employees time for worship and to spend time with their family. Hobby Lobby donates more than 10 percent of its income each year to charity.

As the company grew, members of the Green family became more involved. David’s son, Steve Green, serves as president. Another son, Mart Green, is founder and CEO of Mardel. David’s daughter, Darsee Lett, is vice president of the art and creative department.

In all, there are 12 Hobby Lobby-affiliated businesses. Those businesses are all headquartered at Hobby Lobby’s corporate office, which sits on a 4.2 million square foot manufacturing, distribution and office complex in Oklahoma City.

“The constant element throughout our 40 years of growth has been our loyal customers and our outstanding employees,” David Green said. “The foundation of our business has been and will continue to be strong values based on biblical principles, including integrity, service to others and giving back to those in need. We thank everyone who has contributed to our success during the past four decades and look forward to many more years of growth and service.”

Since starting its business, the Green family has given back to the community and ministries worldwide through numerous initiatives, including:

In April, the family announced it acquired one of the earliest-known, near-complete Bibles in the world. The so-called Codex Climaci Rescriptus includes the only surviving New Testament text in Jesus’ household language, Palestinian Aramaic. That Bible is just one of thousands of artifacts the family has collected, with plans to share the story of the Bible through a Bible museum.

In 2009, the family purchased land in Massachusetts from Northfield Mount Hermon School for the new home of a college to be established by the C.S. Lewis Foundation.

In 2007, the family helped pay off debt for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., allowing the school’s mission to continue.

Still, Hobby Lobby remains committed to its retail roots and its employees. It has implemented its own minimum wage of $11 an hour for full-time hourly employees and $8 an hour for part-time employees, and provides access to a campus health clinic for employees.

“I’ve always viewed retail as my calling,” David Green said. “Through our business success, we’ve been able to donate more than 10 percent of our income to charitable causes and employ more than 18,000 amazing people at stores across the nation.”

Please visit www.hobbylobby.com/40years to view a timeline on Hobby Lobby.

About Hobby Lobby Stores Inc.

Based in Oklahoma City, Hobby Lobby and its affiliates, including Mardel, Hemispheres and Crafts Etc.!, employ more than 18,000 individuals nationwide. The company has grown from one 300-square-foot store to more than 450 locations in 39 states. Hobby Lobby carries no long-term debt, is open only 66 hours per week and is closed on Sundays. For more information, visit www.hobbylobby.com.