Hometown: Kansas city, MO

Facts Type: Privately owned Founded: 1910 Our founder: Joyce C. Hall Location of headquarters: Kansas City,MO Revenue:4.4 billion

when 18-year-old Joyce Clyde Hall stepped off a train in Kansas City, Mo., with nothing but two shoeboxes of postcards under his arm. He had little money – not even enough to take a horse- drawn cab to his lodgings at the YMCA – but he had an entrepreneurial spirit and the determination of a pioneer. Hall quickly made a name for himself with the picture postcards he sold.

J.C. Hall also was an innovator in marketing his cards. He was intrigued by the word "hallmark" used by goldsmiths as a mark of quality. Mr. Hall liked that it not only said quality, but also included his family name. So, in 1928, the company began marketing its brand by using the Hallmark name on the back of every card. That same year, Hallmark was the first in the greeting card industry to advertise nationally. J.C. Hall recognized the power of licensing when he signed Disney to a licensing agreement in 1932.

The burgeoning brand solidified its position in American history in 1944 with nine simple words. One of the most recognized slogans in advertising, "When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best," was born from a three-by- five-inch note card. By the time the company name was officially changed from Hall Brothers to Hallmark Cards, Inc. in 1954, the tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation started by J.C. Hall was deeply ingrained. First “hallmark card”

Under the leadership of Donald J. Hall, son of J.C., who became president and CEO in 1966, Hallmark grew and expanded its offerings. Hallmark introduced its quality products to global audiences when it formed Hallmark International. In 1986, the Hallmark Gold Crown® store program was formalized, bringing together a network of independently owned and operated retailers to build on the strength of the Hallmark brand and products. Hallmark produces cards in 30 languages distributed in 100 countries around the world.

When J.C. Hall passed away in 1982, Don Hall became Chairman. Hallmark began building for the future by acquiring complementary companies to reach new audiences and channels of distribution. Today those subsidiaries are known as: Crayola, maker of Crayola® brand crayons and art products; Sunrise Greetings, an innovative greeting card company; Image Arts, a boxed and seasonal card company; Day Spring, a leading producer of cards for Christian consumers. To keep pace with changing times, was launched as a website offering news and information, and soon moved into e-cards and e- commerce. The Expressions From Hallmark greeting card brand was introduced in mass channel retail stores, making the Hallmark brand available to people wherever they shopped.

Questions Q. Did he have problems when he first started? A. Yes, he didn’t even have money to pay for a horse and carriage ride to the Y.M.C.A. Q. What did he start off with? A. Two shoeboxes Full of postcards