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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!
I think you should bring back some of the original stamp designs. From just that brief section of an old catalog I see some stamps I’d buy today.
Happy Anniversary, Hero Arts!
I’ve only just started stamping and card making in the last couple of years. It’s addictive!! Can’t wait to see what other fun memories you have to share with us!
I started stamping in 1987 Hero Arts has always been a big part of my Hobby. So proud to have been a Hero Hostess and part of the Hero Arts Community!!! You Rock!!!!
i was a stamper since late 1980s early 1990s however i lost everything crafty in a basement flood im recovering from bilateral pulmonary embolism and stuck on bedrest so the only way i can restart my collection is by me winning anything or a very helpful company will to help a girl that getting bedrest boredom
I forgot to mention I started stamping and making cards about a year and 6 months ago. I was inspired by Cathy zilsky she was starting her journey in card making as well have being following her forever since I was a scrapbookers. Such a fun and funny lady.
So funny to hear about Aaron’s cow stamp at 4 year old. The entire family contributing to grow what is now one of my favorites companies.
I started stamping/crafting about 20 years ago when the first of my three children were born. HA has always been a favorite company of mine – you guys are amazing!
I started stamping in the very late 1990’s with shadow stamps from Hero Arts!
I have been stamping for over 20 years. Hero Arts stamps were some of the very first stamps I purchased and I still have most of them! Congratulations on 45 years! It is a wonderful milestone for one of my very favorite companies.
That’s quite a milestone, big congrats Hero Arts! Love seeing the old fold-out posters, so fun! I started stamping in 1993 and have been addicted ever since. Hero Arts was one of the first companies I purchased from and still do to this day. Thanks Hero Arts for making fabulous crafty supplies to keep us addicted to this hobby!
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