Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Private American greeting card and consumer products company, owner of Crayola and the Hallmark Channel, controlled by the Hall family of Kansas City.
Company Type
private
Founded
1910
Headquarters
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Revenue
~$4B (estimated)
Employees
~27,000
Primary Market
North America
About Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Who owns Crayola?
Crayola is owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary called Crayola LLC. Hallmark acquired Crayola's parent company, Binney and Smith, in 1984.
Is Hallmark publicly traded?
No. Hallmark Cards is entirely private, owned by the Hall family. It has no public shareholders and does not report financial results to public markets.
History of Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Joyce C. Hall moved to Kansas City in 1910 and began selling picture postcards from a shoebox. His brothers joined him, and the business was incorporated as Hall Brothers Company, later renamed Hallmark Cards in 1954. The company pioneered the greeting card retail concept, establishing the Gold Crown specialty retail program and developing the giftwrap and ribbon categories alongside cards.
Hallmark acquired Binney and Smith, the manufacturer of Crayola crayons, in 1984 for approximately $200 million. Binney and Smith had manufactured Crayola crayons since 1903. The Crayola brand has remained within Hallmark's portfolio since the acquisition, operating with considerable autonomy as Crayola LLC.
The Hall family has maintained private ownership across more than a century and three generations of leadership, making Hallmark one of America's oldest and largest family-owned businesses.
Brands Owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Hallmark Cards, Inc. owns 0 brands in our database.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Who owns Crayola?
Crayola is owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary called Crayola LLC. Hallmark acquired Crayola's parent company, Binney and Smith, in 1984.
Is Hallmark publicly traded?
No. Hallmark Cards is entirely private, owned by the Hall family. It has no public shareholders and does not report financial results to public markets.
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