Hobby Lobby

David and Barbara Green borrowed $600 to make miniature picture frames at home. The manufacturing business preceded the Hobby Lobby retail stores.⁠[1]

The company’s LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry profile dates its first store to August 3 in Oklahoma City, with 300 square feet of retail space. Green later explained that the leased premises totaled 600 square feet, including 300 square feet for manufacturing at the rear.⁠[2][3]

In Green’s oral history, he left TG&Y and opened a 6,000-square-foot second store, expanding into departments including Christmas merchandise.⁠[3]

Green recalled a roughly $1 million loss during the oil downturn, pressure from its bank and a subsequent return to arts-and-crafts merchandise.⁠[3]

In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that the challenged contraceptive-coverage requirement violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as applied to the closely held for-profit corporations involved. The government had not established that it used the least restrictive means. The decision did not create a general exemption from insurance obligations or permit unlawful discrimination in the name of religion.⁠[4]

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced that Hobby Lobby agreed to forfeit antiquities and $3 million to resolve a civil forfeiture case. The announcement described false shipping descriptions and origin declarations, alongside commitments to improve cultural-property purchasing, import procedures and training. The company acknowledged inadequate oversight and misplaced reliance on dealers and shippers, stating that it had accepted responsibility.⁠[5][6]

Hobby Lobby opened its 800th store in Clearwater, Florida, announcing the milestone on January 10. Its stated intention to add 60 stores and approximately 2,500 employees that year was a plan at the time.⁠[7]

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that approximately 3,800 forfeited artifacts connected to Hobby Lobby were to be returned to Iraq that day, including cuneiform tablets, clay bullae and cylinder seals. This was the repatriation batch, not the total number originally purchased.⁠[8]

The company announced an exclusive Kinkeeping home collection with Korie Robertson, covering kitchen and table products, decor and fragrance, with a September 1 launch planned in stores and online. Its official shopping homepage displayed a Kinkeeping category when checked in October 2026.⁠[9][10]

In a Lead to Win interview, Green described approximately 1,100 stores and annual sales of roughly $10 billion, with 60% of profits directed to ministries. He and Bill High also discussed arrangements intended to prevent the family from treating the company as inherited personal wealth. These were interview statements, not independently audited figures or a complete account of the legal instruments.⁠[11]

School of Hard KnocksSchool of Hard KnocksSchool of Hard Knocks is a business-interview media brand founded in 2021 by James Dumoulin, Jack Dumoulin and Joshua Smith, based in Austin, Texas. Its street interviews, long-form videos and podcast explore guests’ careers and business experiences. It also operates content services and the School of Mentors community.Open the full entry published a visit with Green. The publisher’s description covered a headquarters tour, product selection and display, and difficulties associated with early debt-funded expansion, providing interview context for his operating philosophy.⁠[12]

Hobby Lobby announced a $21 minimum hourly wage for full-time employees, effective that day. The company also described health coverage, retirement-plan benefits and paid leave for eligible employees. The announced wage floor applied to full-time roles and should not be generalized to all part-time positions.⁠[13]

In his 2009 oral history, Green described buying within limits set by shelf space, selling periods and full-price sell-through targets, while replacing old products. A model store helped guide displays. These were his descriptions of operations at the time.⁠[3]

The official executive profile identifies David GreenDavid GreenDavid Green is an American retail entrepreneur and the founder and chief executive officer of Hobby Lobby. Starting with a home picture-frame business, he developed a chain selling craft supplies and home decor. His activities also include religious philanthropy, family wealth succession and books on leadership.Open the full entry as founder, CEO and merchandise buyer, and Steve Green as president. The company says it carries no long-term debt. Its stated Christian values are reflected in policies including Sunday closures. The absence of long-term debt does not establish the absence of operating liabilities such as trade payables.⁠[14][2][1]

Hobby Lobby: Official website: https://www.hobbylobby.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[10]

Hobby Lobby Newsroom: Official website: https://newsroom.hobbylobby.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[1]

Hobby Lobby X: Official website: https://x.com/hobbylobby (opens in a new window).⁠[1]

Hobby Lobby LinkedIn: Official website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hobby-lobby (opens in a new window).⁠[2]

Hobby Lobby YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: Official website: https://www.youtube.com/user/hobbylobby (opens in a new window).⁠[1]