When You Care Enough - Transcript
Segment
in QT | Segment in Real
[NARRATOR]
Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or even Valentines Day, one name has become synonymous with celebrating these special occasions. We’re all familiar with Hallmark stores . . . they’re located in almost every major city. What many don’t realize is that this greeting card giant has very humble beginnings right here in Nebraska.
Meet J.C. Hall born August 29, 1891 in David City, Nebraska. His mother named him Joyce after a Methodist bishop named Isaac W. Joyce had visited the small Nebraska town that very same day.
JC Hall learned the importance of a hard work ethic at a very early age. His father left the family when J.C. was only 7 - - leaving the 3 Hall boys to support their younger sister and mother who had become bedridden with ailing health.
[JC Hall]
“I remember him leaving us one fall. There was no supply of food in the locker and telling my mother that she needn’t worry about the kids – that the Lord would provide for us. Well, I found out that same winter that the Lord needed a little help on a deal like that.”
[NARRATOR]
JC’s older brothers, Rollie and William, found themselves working part time at a notions store while JC did everything from farm work to selling sandwiches to train passengers in David City. At the ripe old age of 9, JC began peddling products for the California Perfume Company – later known as AVON.
JC salesmanship progressed when his older brothers purchased a bookstore in Norfolk. One evening in 1905 a salesman walked in to the bookstore a moment that may very well have changed JC Hall’s life. He convinced the youngest Hall brother of the importance of written communication. JC believed this to be true and shortly after the Norfolk postcard company was born. In December of 1909 after years of selling cards both in the store and on Rollie’s candy route JC decided it was time to expand once again. Looking toward Omaha as the next logical market for his postcard business, the young Hall was detoured by a cigar salesman from Kansas City. And on January 9th, 1910 at the age of 18, JC boarded a train heading for Kansas City.
[Kansas City song]
[Mollie Cage]
“He did get off the train with 2 shoeboxes full of postcards arriving here with the idea of starting a mail order postcard company. He didn’t have any money of course so he took room in the 4th floor of the YMCA and actually started a small mail order company right out of that room.
[NARRRATOR]
At first JC Hall called on drugstores, bookstores and gift shops and then expanded to other Midwestern towns. Business was promising enough that Rollie joined him the following year. The young men opened a specialty store in downtown Kansas City dealing in post cards, books and stationery.
The popularity of postcards began to diminish as Americans expressed concern over the lack of privacy. Hall brothers adapted by shifting their operations towards greeting cards, complete with ceiled envelopes.
As the company found itself submerged in World War I, JC Hall feared that this would be the end of his young business. While the war did result in the closing of many other companies, Hall Brothers Incorporated proved to be successful.
[Mollie Cage]
“Particularly during the years of the war, really the company saw a boom during that time because people were writing to their loved one who were abroad.”
[NARRATOR]
To say that the company grew by leaps and bounds would be an enormous understatement. JC saw Hall Bros. Inc. through the depression and the Second World War – Hall Brothers. Cards seemed to always come up with the right sentiment. Hall’s employees were well taken care of . . .which resulted in high productivity.
In fact, JC Hall even brought in fresh dairy milk from the family farm to rejuvenate his employees. This would later come to be known as the “coffee break.”
[NARRATOR]
Over the years, the work of several celebrities and famous artists has graced the covers of Hallmark Cards. Winston Churchill, Walt Disney, Grandma Moses, Norman Rockwell.
Hallmark has also had the distinguished honor of printing several Presidential Christmas cards.
[Mollie Cage]
“That tradition began with President Dwight Eisenhower and has continued through today. In fact, this past Christmas we just did the second Christmas card for the Bush family.”
[NARRATOR]
Hallmark currently has over 20,000 employees worldwide and is in over 100 countries using 30 different languages in their cards.
[Mollie Cage]
“I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone who is not familiar with the Hallmark card or Hallmark product. No matter where they are from – even if they can’t speak English, they know about Hallmark.”
[NARRATOR]
Not bad for a young man who boarded a train in Norfolk, with only a couple shoeboxes full of cards and a strong sense of ambition.
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