Woodcraft
TypeCorporation
IndustryRetail
Founded1928
Founder
  • George Eaton
  • Richard Merrill
Headquarters
West Virginia
,
U.S.
Number of locations
72
Area served
Worldwide
Websitehttp://www.woodcraft.com/

Woodcraft Supply, LLC operates woodworking specialty retail stores across the United States (including 34 of 50 U.S. states). It also publishes a woodworking industry magazine, distributes consumer catalogs (in all 50 U.S. states and 117 countries)[1] and operates an ecommerce website.[2] The stores, catalogs and website combined sell about 20,000 products covering wood working tools, raw materials, instructional media and project kits.[3][4][5][6]

History

Woodcraft was founded in 1928 by George Eaton and Richard Merrill in Boston, Massachusetts.[7]

In the 1960s, Roger Wells bought Woodcraft and moved the headquarters to Woburn, Massachusetts. Woodcraft moved into a warehouse and corporate office after the success of its initial printed ads which led to creation of its catalog. Sam Ross, founder of SBR Inc., bought Woodcraft in 1972 and used his retail experience to build new stores and grow the company. In 1992, Sam Ross moved Woodcraft headquarters to Parkersburg, West Virginia.[8][9]

In May 2012, Jody Garrett was promoted to president of Woodcraft. Previously Garrett held the position of vice president of marketing and merchandising and publisher of Woodcraft Magazine.[10][11]

In July 2018 Jack Bigger was named president/chief operating officer. Bigger was previously vice president of sales and marketing at Woodcraft.[12]

Woodcraft opened a new Boston area corporate location in Walpole, Massachusetts in 2013. That same year, Woodcraft and the Swiss toolmaker Pfeil celebrated 50 years as international business partners.[13]

In 2014, Woodcraft implemented new enterprise resource planning software to optimize order processing and business processes.[14]

Operations

Online

Woodcraft operates several domain names. The main retail website includes instructional support material in addition to ecommerce.[15]

In 2010, Woodcraft acquired the WoodcraftPlans.com business. Woodcraft Plans, which in spite of its name, had no previous relationship to Woodcraft, added 1,200 new woodworking project plans to the Woodcraft offering that already included Woodcraft Magazine’s Classic® Project Plans.[16][17]

The domain woodcraft.com attracted 4,636,000 visitors in 2014 according to a Compete.com survey, with a peak in December of over 5,000,000.[18]

Magazine

Woodcraft Magazine, a bi-monthly publication first published in November 2004, features professionally designed projects, woodworking techniques and tools. A.J. Hamler was the founding editor of Woodcraft Magazine.[19][20]

In 2007, Woodcraft took measures to enhance Woodcraft Magazine by hiring Jim Harrold, previous executive editor of Wood magazine,[21] to become editor-in-chief of Woodcraft Magazine.[22]

In 2014, Woodcraft launched a publishing venture focused on the magazine’s 10th anniversary. The magazine was delivered with additional paper and digital formats featuring the first five years of content.[23]

In 2015, Jim Harrold retired and Tim Snyder succeeded Harrold, directing a major redesign of Woodcraft Magazine and woodcraftmagazine.com.[24] Snyder’s previous experience included executive editor of American Woodworking magazine, executive editor of Fine Homebuilding magazine, and a book division editor of Taunton Press.[25]

In 2007 Chad McClung became Editor-in-chief. Chad started working with Woodcraft Magazine as a freelance graphic designer in 2007. He was later hired full-time as the assistant art director, then became art director in 2009. Chad spent 2016 as a managing editor before taking the helm in 2017. [26]

Exclusive Brands

Woodcraft exclusively carries some brands, including:

Sponsorships

In 2010, Woodcraft became the sole sponsor to Rough Cut – Woodworking with Tommy Mac, which aired nationally on public television stations and the CREATE cable channel beginning in October 2010. Rough Cut was produced by WGBH-BOSTON, which also developed how-to television shows such as The Victory Garden and The New Yankee Workshop.[30][31]

In 2015 Woodcraft entered a partnership with Black Dog Salvage, a Roanoke, Virginia architectural salvage firm that is featured on Salvage Dawgs, a DIY Network TV reality series. This was an effort to promote Woodcraft’s upcycling program that encourages reclaiming and repurposing items such as wood furniture.[32]

Philanthropy

In 1985, Woodcraft began participating in the Partnership in Education tutoring program with Wood County, West Virginia public schools.[33] In 2003, Woodcraft was an initial partner in the Results-based Business Partnership Program that focuses on improving student achievement in West Virginia middle schools and high schools.[34]

Woodcraft Turn for Troops program began in 2004.[35] It provides free pen kits to retail stores for customers and employees to turn the wooden pens, which are then distributed by Woodcraft corporate employees to US soldiers who are actively deployed or in rehabilitation facilities.[36] By 2012, Woodcraft distributed 97,717 hand turned wooden pens.[37][38]

Woodcraft began supporting the Blennerhassett Hotel Festival of Trees to Benefit Easter Seals in 2012. Woodcraft employees provide handcrafted ornaments and tree stand base for a Christmas tree that is donated for auction.[39][40]

References

  1. ↑ "B Green Innovations, Inc. Announces, WOODCRAFT Will Sell "VibeAway(TM)" Anti-Vibration Pad Made From 100% Recycled Pads Made From Scrap Tires". CNN Money. CNN. September 21, 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Woodcraft Supply, LLC Company Information". Hoovers. Dun & Bradstreet. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Company Overview of Woodcraft Supply, LLC". Bloomberg. Bloomberg. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Wilson, John (September 30, 2014). "First Tool Box By Woodcraft Grand Opening In Chattanooga Is Friday, Saturday". The Chatanoogan. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Woodcraft Supply to open new training center, retail store in Parkersburg". The State Journal. September 1, 1997.
  6. ↑ Heavens, Alan (April 13, 2003). "Build a box for Mom". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  7. ↑ King, Cassia (August 27, 2012). "Woodcraft Works". WV Living Magazine. No. Outdoors 2012. New South Media, Inc. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. ↑ King, Cassia (August 27, 2012). "Woodcraft Works". WV Living Magazine. No. Outdoors 2012. New South Media, Inc. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Ann, Ali (June 20, 2008). "Woodcraft Marks 80th Year, Brings Trade Show To Charleston". The State Journal.
  10. ↑ "Woodcraft Supply names Jody Garrett as president". FDMC. No. May 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Hohmann, George (November 3, 2003). "Window company finds niche, Simonton now 45th largest private employer in state". Charleston Daily Mail.
  12. ↑ "Woodcraft names Jack Bigger President/CEO". Woodshop News. July 3, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Woodcraft Expands in Boston and Reopens in Cincinnait". iFranchiseNews. Modern Franchises. April 30, 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Kruse, Jessica (February 12, 2014). "Woodcraft Partners with enVista for Microsoft Dynamics® AX ERP". enVista. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Demery, Paul (December 5, 2013). "Woodcraft.com: Hobbyist's heaven". Internet Retailer. No. December 2013. Vertical Web Media. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Woodcraft acquires WoodcraftPlans.com". Woodworking Network. Vance Publishing. August 15, 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  17. ↑ Hohmann, George (June 27, 2008). "Woodcraft executive says service is the key: ; Company based in Parkersburg has 87 retail stores across U.S.". Charleston Daily Mail.
  18. ↑ "Compete". Compete. Millward Brown Digital. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  19. ↑ Tedeschi, Bob (December 29, 2011). "Saying Shhh! to a Squeaky House". The New York Times. No. December 29, 2011, on page D7 of the New York edition. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Parkersburg company plans woodworking magazine". Charleston Daily Mail. August 9, 2004.
  21. ↑ Radomsky, Rosalie (January 9, 2011). "Maria Harrold and Jeremy Serkin". The New York Times. No. January 9, 2011, on page ST10 of the New York edition. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Jim Harrold: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek". Bloomberg. Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Magazine gives woodwork novices good start". Post Tribune. May 28, 2005.
  24. ↑ "Tim Snyder Named "Woodcraft Magazine" Editor". StreetInsider.com. StreetInsider.com. June 10, 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  25. ↑ "Tim Snyder named Woodcraft Magazine editor". FDMC. No. June 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "Woodcraft Magazine names Chad McClung chief editor".
  27. ↑ "Pinnacle". USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  28. ↑ "Highpoint". USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  29. ↑ "WoodRiver". USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  30. ↑ Kenney, Matthew. "Woodcraft signs on to sponsor Tommy MacDonald's WGBH woodworking show". Fine WoodWorking. Fine WoodWorking. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  31. ↑ "Woodcraft: "Rough Cut – Woodworking with Tommy Mac" Season 6 Focuses On Top Woodworkers in Master Showcase Series". Benzinga. Benzinga.
  32. ↑ "Black Dog Salvage Chosen to Expand Woodcraft Upcycling Program". The Roanoke Star. The Roanoke Star.
  33. ↑ Scott, Kimberly. "Local Students Intern at Woodcraft". News and Sentinel. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  34. ↑ Palmer, Hazel. "More Thank Just Pizza Parties". RCBI. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  35. ↑ "Woodcraft Supply sponsors Freedom Pens Project". Wood & Wood Products. July 1, 2004.
  36. ↑ "Woodcraft to host Turn for Troops woodturning event in November". FDMC.
  37. ↑ Milner, Lori. "Woodcraft Marks 10th Anniversary of the Turn for Troops National Turn-a-Thon". Franchising.com. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  38. ↑ "Woodcraft Hosting Fifth Annual Veterans Day Turn for TROOPS". Science Letter. November 4, 2008.
  39. ↑ Richards, Gretchen. "Annual tree auction raises $36,000 for Easter Seals". News and Sentinel. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  40. ↑ Nelson, Frank. "Woodcraft Joins Blennerhassett Hotel Festival of Trees to Benefit Easter Seal". Woodcraft Woodworking Adventures. Woodworking Adventures. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
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