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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!
Congratulations on 45 years of creativity . I think it is very possibly 40+ years since I started stamping . At one time I had a small craft shop in my basement at the farm where I carried your stamps and taught classes. Nice to know that you are still going strong. .
Congrats! 45 is a really huge achievement! Thanks for sharing the story of how this great company was started. Looking forward to the rest of the series. I started stamping around 4-5 years back. I discovered Kristina Werner’s blog and got hooked!
Happy birthday Hero Arts!
I started stamping in 1996, most of my stamps were from PSX because I could get them where I lived at the time in Beijing, China. My friend Lorraine had some Hero Arts stamps that she had bought in Australia and I remember drooling over a catalogue she had. I still have and sometimes use my first Hero Arts stamps. Love your company!
Happy Anniversary! When I first started stamped 5 years ago I tried many different companies’ products but now my only choice for stamps is Hero Arts and especially My Monthly Kit! Thanks so much…..
I first started when my daughter was 6 months old that was 15 years ago. I love making cards with my mom and best friend.
You were part of my retirement gift that keeps giving. I started making cards and small books for family and friends and it just keeps going. I have so many of your images and other products that help make it happen. Just did a mini book for my sister’s 85TH. Birthday. Thank you for products and ideas.
I stamping in the late ’80’s. They didn’t really have a crafty store near me, so I would take the opportunity to check out the ones near my husband’s relatives when we went to visit.
1983ish? I may still have some old Hero Arts stamps!
13 years ago! I have lots of hero arts stamps
I didn’t know I was so late to the game! I believe I started stamping/collecting in 1995…but only dabbled while the kids were young. Now that we’re empty nesters I ink ‘me up as often as possible! ❤️
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