Heritage Makers is a direct selling company that sells personalized hardcover books. It was founded in 2004 by through the merger of My Family Tales and Heritage Home Studios. Consultants are paid commissions and bonuses to conduct home party workshops where they sell a variety of products, including custom hardcover storybooks, greeting cards, and other printed products. The company is a member of the Direct Selling Association.

Heritage Makers
IndustryScrapbooking
Predecessors
  • My Family Tales
  • Heritage Home Studios
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
Founders
  • Sharon Gibb Murdoch
  • Candace A. May
  • Doug Cloward
Headquarters
Area served
Worldwide
Products
  • Custom hardcovers
  • Greeting cards
  • other printed items
Websiteheritagemakers.com

History edit

Sharon Gibb Murdoch and Candace A. May founded My Family Tales after successfully pitching a product idea for custom photo and memory books for babies to Saks Fifth Avenue in 2002.[1][2] My Family Tales merged with Heritage Home Studios—a company owned by Doug Cloward that created DVDs of photos and videos for consumers—to form Heritage Makers in January 2004,[1] partially funding the $3 million to $5 million through investment by a friend who owned a sprinkler company.[1] MyFamily.com purchased the company in September 2005.[3] In 2006, the company became a member of the Direct Selling Association.[4] A 2007 investment of $1.5 million allowed it to expand its electronic services.[2] A 2009 The Salt Lake Tribune article said that ABC's Good Morning America viewed Heritage Makers as "a good direct-selling company to join" and CBS's The Early Show saw it as "one of the best personalized gifts around".[5] In 2013, the company was sold to Youngevity International.[6]

Products edit

The company sells custom photo and memory hardcover books to consumers using direct sales online and through consultants who organize home-based selling parties.[2][7][8] Heritage Makers provides an online service allowing customers to upload photos, choose book layout styles, and access a clip-art library to create their own projects.[7][8] The company also sells greeting cards and other printed items.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Leong, Grace (April 25, 2005). "Springville's Heritage Makers captures family histories in storybooks". The Daily Herald. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d "Provo digital storybooking company gets $1.15M funding". The Daily Herald. July 28, 2007. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
  3. ^ "MyFamily.com, Inc. Acquires Heritage Makers". MyFamily.com. PR Newswire. September 21, 2005. Archived from the original on January 27, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
  4. ^ "DSA member companies directory". Direct Selling Association.
  5. ^ Gorrell, Mike (2009-12-23). "Heritage Makers earns attention". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  6. ^ "Youngevity International (YGYI) Announces Acquisition of Heritage Makers". Business Wire. August 8, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "All in the Family" (PDF). Photo Marketing Magazine. October 2006. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-23. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
  8. ^ a b Walquist, Tammy (February 16, 2007). "Heritage Makers a scrapbooker's dream". Deseret Morning News. Retrieved August 16, 2007.