Jimmy Beans Wool is an American yarn retailer. The company is headquartered in South Meadows, a neighborhood in Reno, Nevada.[1][2][3] Other physical locations include a yarn-dyeing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, a sewing team in Vietnam, and a manufacturing facility in India.[1] Jimmy Beans Wool ships to over 60 countries.[4]

History

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Laura and Doug Zander founded Jimmy Beans Wool in 2002.[4][5] Laura Zander became CEO of the company.[2][6] The original store in Truckee, California, located in a historic train depot, sold coffee and yarn. The company no longer sells coffee.[5][7][8] From 2004 to 2007, the company's annual revenue remained steady at $1.2 million.[5][9] By 2010, sales had reached $4 million.[3][9] Beginning in 2010, Jimmy Beans Wool created Beans for Brains, an annual scholarship for students who complete an original knit or crochet design. The scholarship is made possible through donations from Vogue Knitting Magazine, Red Heart Yarns, Universal Yarns, Lorna's Laces, and Knitter's Pride Needles.[10][11][12]

In 2012, the company partnered with Red Heart Yarns to sponsor seven-time X Games champion and Olympic silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis. Jacobellis' charity, "Hats 4 Hounds" produces hats for charity using only Red Heart yarn through Jimmy Beans Wool.[6][13][14] In 2012, “Knit Red: Stitching for Women's Heart Health” was published and included all red project designs. In 2013, "Sew Red: Sewing & Quilting for Women's Heart Health" was published.[11][15][16]

The company was featured on the Inc. 5000 list from 2009 to 2014.[17] Jimmy Beans Wool made $7 million in revenue in 2013 and $8 million in revenue in 2014.[6][18]

In 2019, the company acquired Madelinetosh, a hand-dyed yarn producer.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ a b Sabo, Rob (2022-08-15). "New HQ building continues Jimmy Beans Wool's growth". Northern Nevada Business Weekly. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  2. ^ a b Adriana Gardella (April 9, 2014). "Jimmy Beans Wool Decides to Get Back to Knitting". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Karite Morell (December 2, 2010). "Run Away Success Story: Jimmy Beans Wool". American Express. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Karin Kamp (February 7, 2013). "Knitter Turns Hobby Into a Multi-Million Dollar Business". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Brian O'Reilly (July 12, 2007). "Attracting the 'alpha mom'". CNN. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Teresa Novellino (November 21, 2011). "Keep Them in Stitches". UpStart. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  7. ^ Kimberly Weisul. "The Counterintuitive Cash Flow Strategy That Works". Inc. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  8. ^ Katherine Morris (January 2003). "Software engineer trades computer chips for knitting needles". Sierra Sun.
  9. ^ a b Mitchell York. "Online Yarn Store Spins Big Profits in a Competitive Industry". Entrepreneurs. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  10. ^ ""Beans for Brains" knitting and crochet scholarship promote craft futures". My News 4. March 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  11. ^ a b Melinda F. Emerson (February 6, 2013). "How Social Media Put a Tiny Yarn Shop on the Map". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  12. ^ Alison Bryant (June 23, 2011). "North Potomac resident knits her way to a scholarship". Gazette. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "Jimmy Beans Wool Teams Up With U.S. Ski and Snowbard And Lindsey Jacobellis to Promote Creativity". The Ski Channel. February 1, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  14. ^ "Jimmy Beans Wool Joins USSA In Helping Athletes Reach Their Dreams". U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  15. ^ Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood (May 6, 2013). "Stitching toward wellness: Crafters band together to join women's heart health campaign". Michigan Live. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  16. ^ "Campaighn Materials & Resources". National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  17. ^ "Jimmy Beans Wool". Inc. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  18. ^ Anh Gray (February 10, 2015). "Turning A Knitting Hobby Into A Multi-Million-Dollar Business: An Interview With Laura Zander". KUNR. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  19. ^ "Reno yarn retailer Jimmy Beans Wool purchases Madelinetosh". www.nnbw.com. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  20. ^ Hayhurst, Mark (2019-11-01). "Jimmy Beans Wool buys Madelinetosh". www.craftbusiness.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
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