Our Story

In 1970, David and Barbara Green took out a $600 loan to begin making miniature picture frames out of their home. Two years later, the fledgling enterprise opened a 300-square-foot store in Oklahoma City, and Hobby Lobby was born. Today, with more than 1,000 stores, Hobby Lobby is the largest privately owned arts-and-crafts retailer in the world with over 46,000 employees operating in 48 states.

Hobby Lobby is primarily an arts-and-crafts store but also includes hobbies, picture framing, jewelry making, fabrics, floral and wedding supplies, cards and party ware, baskets, wearable art, home decor and holiday merchandise.

Corporate headquarters include over 12 million square feet of manufacturing, distribution and an office complex in Oklahoma City.

Mardel Christian and Education Supply, an affiliate company, offers books, Bibles, gifts, church and education supplies as well as homeschooling curriculum. Hobby Lobby also maintains offices in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Yiwu, China.

What began as a $600 start-up, continues to grow and expand–enabling customers across the nation to Live a Creative Life®.

“We believe it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, we trust Him for our future.” – David Green

Core Values

From the beginning, the company’s core values have formed a foundation to guide decision making, establish the corporate culture and determine how business is conducted. Hobby Lobby’s values include:

  • Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating in a manner consistent with Biblical principles
  • Offering customers exceptional selection and value
  • Serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals and nurture families
  • Providing a return on the family’s investment, sharing the Lord’s blessings with our employees and investing in our community

While retail strategies change, Hobby Lobby’s core values remain. These values led to the decision to close all stores on Sunday allowing associates time for family and for worship. They were also instrumental in the decision to give store employees pay raises well above the national minimum wage.