Friday, April 10, 2015

Celebrating 30 Years In Business!

Welcome to our brand new cross-stitch and needlework blog!  Don't you think it's about time Hoffman Distributing Company stepped into the blogosphere?  We are looking forward to posting new design information, designer interviews as well as news and information from the cross-stitch and needlework world.  Who knows what else might appear on these pages?

Plus, we are celebrating our 30th year in business!   It's hard to believe time has passed so quickly!  We continue to serve many of the same shops who have been around from the beginning as well as many valuable customers who joined us along the way.

I, personally, have enjoyed 21 years of service at Hoffman Distributing Company but was still a young man in school when the company was born.

Thirty years ago, the only cross-stitch I had encountered was in home-ec class.  I stitched a little green turtle (and I'm pretty sure I got an A)!  Back then, I was much more interested in getting to the skateboard ramp after school, showing off my new parachute pants on Friday night, and doing my best to look cool in my knockoff Wayfarer sunglasses (whether or not I pulled off the cool look is up for debate to this day).

Meanwhile, just about 55 miles up I-59, Hoffman Distributing Company was opening for business under the leadership of Lane and Cheryl Hoffman.  There was a need in the industry for a wholesale source of counted cross-stitch books and leaflets.  Shops needed to be able to purchase from one central location and enjoy fast shipping and no minimums.  Hoffman Distributing Company filled that need and 30 years later we're still proudly serving independently owned needlework shops around the world!

There have been many changes over the years, including the transition from our massive print edition of the  "Hoffman Reference Catalog" to the online version now known as the "Online Reference Catalog", a vastly different trade show landscape, and the emergence of online commerce.  However, our core mission of serving shops with fast and efficient service remains unchanged.

We are very grateful for the shops who continue to give us their business and for the designers who entrust us with their inventory.  It is a privilege to be a part of such a wonderful industry.

As we mark our 30th anniversary, we hope you'll bookmark our website and our brand new blog for news on upcoming designs, fabric, threads, accessories and cross-stitch related announcements. 

Remember to support your local needlework shop and purchase your charts and supplies from them (either in person or online).  Thank you so much for your support of the cross-stitch industry and Hoffman Distributing Company, Inc!  Check our blog often for new products and previews!

Sincerely,

Michael Whatley
http://hoffmandis.com

7 comments:

  1. Congratulations!! Thirty wonderful years in an industry we love! May you all be blessed with many more!

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  2. Welcome to blogland! It's exciting that you're up and running, and I look forward to checking in often to see what's new.

    Thank you for all you do!

    Paulette

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  3. Congratulations on 30 years! Thanks for all your hard work in supporting us and promoting something which is truly beautiful.

    Any chance we'll see a future pic of that little green turtle? ;)

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  4. Congrats on 30 years! So excited to follow this blog.

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  5. Thank you, Hoffman, for starting a blog! I was sent here by Vonna Pfeiffer. I like the ability to see the designs, learn a bit more about them, and see the series together. Congratulations on 30 years and thank you for serving the stitching community!

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  6. Hang in there, blogging is a wonderful way of sharing and introducimg new products. I'm sure you will find it challenging, yet rewarding!
    I was also sent here by Vonna.

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  7. I am so excited you have joined the blogging world! Vonna, the Twisted Stitcher posted on her blog about you--she's a jewel! Will be so nice to drop in and see what's new in the stitching world!

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