Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby is a privately-held retail chain of arts and crafts stores based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. David Green is the owner. The chain has 352 stores as of April 2005. The distribution and manufacturing center has over 2.6 million square feet (242,000 m²) in several buildings. The majority of goods are imported. Goods from China and India typically carry a markup of 4–500%. The companies history is hard to follow sometimes because partial owners, including one founder, disappear as the majority owner "buys" back their stock. The company gives a high percentage of it's profit to non-profits including homeless missions in Oklahoma City. The company originally brought in most of its management from the religious denomination of it's majority owner. As employment approached 16,000 however, more minorities entered as lower level employees. Labor unrest increased in the warehouse. A controversial program called Character First was introduced to develop employees character. The company has expanded into 37 states and its sales are now much more linked to the national economy. In 2004, as national retail sales struggled, the company had it's first downturn in sales in 20 years.

External links

• Hobby Lobby