Hobby Lobby's Humble Beginning:
A miniature frame company started in 1970 by founder David Green lasted two years before it became Hobby Lobby, a store specializing in arts/crafts supplies and picture frames. In 1972 they had a whopping 300 square feet of retail space!
A Year Later:
The company tripled the retail space to 1000 square feet in northwest Oklahoma City when they relocated to an old house. Merchandise included craft stuff like beads and sequins, along with the miniature frames.
Thirty-Two States:
From that modest beginning, today's stores average 60,000 square feet and are in thirty-two states. Products carried include art supplies, crafts frames, candles, needlework, fabric, baskets, floral, paper party, home decor pieces, accent furniture, scrapbook supplies, jewelry supplies, as well as their famous seasonal products.
Collectible Stuff:
Although Hobby Lobby doesn't usually sell stuff labeled "collectible", they sell stuff we love to collect. Such as the holiday goodies -- ornaments, cookie jars, salt and peppers, as well as Santas and snowmen of every description.
The middle section of the stores are filled with ceramic accents of every description, nearby are aisles of baskets, along with crafts supplies to enhance one's collection.
Crafts, Etc.:
Interested in Crafts? Now you can order supplies online from Crafts, Etc. a Hobby Lobby online store. Shipping is free on orders over $25, plus 5% of each sale benefits Harbor House, a home for troubled teens.
Holidays:
Hobby Lobby can easily be called the holiday store, with tons of stuff for every holiday and season from Valentine's Day through Christmas. Lights, ornaments, tabletop, paper, name it and they offer it for sale. Want a new Christmas tree? There are always plenty of traditional trees, but also new fun styles for sale.
And if you're smart, you'll visit the store about a week or so after the holiday when prices can be slashed to as much as 75% to 80% off any merchandise that is still left. One time I filled two carts filled with items discounted 90%, paid about $100. for merchandise that originally retailed for $1000.
The Cookie Jars:
Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for Hobby Lobby cookie jars. Each season will have several fun designs of jars that are hard to resist, even though I try my best. And unlike other stores they will often carry jars for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, patriotic, Halloween jars and Christmas. Although the jars are usually not exclusives to the store, they buy in such huge quantities, you won't find them elsewhere. And the prices are always reasonable, even before the sales happen.
Best of All -- Everyday Sales:
If you wait a few weeks, it will go on sale. Not only does Hobby Lobby have great merchandise (which is competitively
and reasonably priced), their sales are legendary. Everything goes on
sale about once a month. So if there is something you want, but can wait a while, watch the newspaper ads and most likely it will wind up being on sale for 50% off. If it's not on sale, every second week there is (usually) a newspaper and Internet coupon for 40% off any item at regular price. Coupons can be cut out of the paper or printed by your computer and used one per day per customer.
More Stores in the Hobby Lobby Family:
Mardel is a chain of stores devoted to Christian education supplies, toys, and educational supplies.
Hemisphere is a furniture store for the person looking for both large and ornate furniture for their home. It's not for the family looking for modern or minimalist furniture, nor for the timid! As with their other companies, nice sales help with the bottom line on the invoices.
Bottom Line:
From a humble beginning to a huge family enterprise today, Hobby Lobby is an adventure in shopping. There is always something to look for and usually something to buy. As my tastes have changed, so has the company. Although they have never lost sight of their beginnings and still have the largest, most complete crafts supplies anywhere, they have also evolved into a store for those that are no longer doing those crafts.
It's been there for me when I was painting t-shirts, doing simple jewelry, a sewing project or working on doll houses. And it's still carries those supplies for folks who enjoy those projects, but it's also a place to go to find great accents for the home, scrapbook supplies or wonderful yarn for the newest poncho.
But the store really shines when it comes to the holidays and seasonal collectibles. Their Christmas section is fabulous, aisles of ornaments, trees of all sizes and shapes, lights, Santas, Snowmen, as well as large selections of Nativity sets and table-top items. So don't think it's only about hobbies -- it's more about a lifestyle.
