Posted by Hero Arts
on April 19, 2019
Hero Arts is celebrating 45 years in business this year! What an incredible journey it has been. YOU are a wonderful part of our history, and now that our anniversary is here, we'd like to invite you to celebrate this milestone alongside us! In the next several weeks, join us for fun, contests, behind-the-scenes content, lots of giveaways, new products, and more. Let's get this party started, friends!
The start of it all? Flashback Fridays. Over the course of five Fridays, we'll be sharing the story of our five decades as a company.
The setting: Berkeley, California, mid-1970s. Let's hear about the earliest days of Hero Arts from our CEO, Aaron Leventhal:
"Hero Arts was founded in May of 1974, near the end of the school year, when my mother (Jackie) decided she would try out her hobby at local craft fairs. Early designs included funky cartoon images, irreverent messages, and drawings from friends and family, including Betty Boop, cartoon monkeys, a cow by 4 year-old Aaron, and more. Most of the stamps were handmade in our bathroom, where our vulcanizer sat, that pressed rubber. The rubber was then cut and assembled in Jackie's bedroom, before being sent out via mail or sold at fairs."
Wondering what the first catalogs looked like? Well, they were actually fold-out posters...
Here's a closer look at the inside and back of the 1978 Hero Arts product poster.
Aaron even found this photo showing an early craft show booth from the late 1970s!
If you're interested in hearing more of the Hero Arts story, grab a beverage and enjoy this interview from a few years ago, when Aaron sat down for an Online Card Classes Crafty Chat. We think you'll enjoy hearing this story directly from him!
When did you start stamping? Let us know in a comment below and we will pick one winner at random to receive a $25 Hero Arts gift card! Comment by Thursday, April 25 at 11:59pm PT and you'll be entered to win.
Tomorrow we'll begin sharing peeks from our upcoming 45th Anniversary Summer Catalog! That's right, this year's Summer Catalog is one big anniversary celebration that we can't wait to share with you.
Thank you for joining us today!
258 comments
I only started stamping in 2016 but my first order was from hero arts and I love it.
I am a pretty new stamper!!
I have been paper crafting for a long time, and accidentally purchased a set of embossing folders about six months ago. After figuring out what do do with them, I purchased a big shot. Then I needed some dies. Of course, after that I needed to start stamping too! So I ordered a set….and another…..and then several dozen more!
I haven’t been able to stop stamping since :)
Just a little bit more than a year (im still not 45). Im so new in this theme bout just love it more and more
I started stamping in 1997, and I still have some vintage Hero Arts from back then! Congratulations on your anniversary!
I was introduced to stamping 16 years ago by my sister who brought them to my house and said “Look what I found. You have to try these and make your own cards” and thats how my stamping obsession began. Thank you for all you do and for going greener too! It’s an incredible feat to survive 45yrs these days and to carry on your moms dream and continue to be a family run company is something pretty amazing! And the type of company I like to support. Happy 45th Anniversary and cheers to 45 more!!!