Submitted by the Redmond Historical Society

Few businesses in Redmond are as busy as Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames, but did you know it once was part of a national chain? Or that it specialized not in crafts and frames, but variety items like Pampers, Folger’s Coffee, Aqua Net hair spray and even motor oil?

That unusual history, and business evolution, will be shared by owners Bob and Shirley Ferguson at the Redmond Historical Society’s Saturday Speaker Series program from 10:30 a.m. to noon May 14 at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, located at 16600 N.E. 80th St. There is a suggested $5 donation for non-members.

Opened four decades ago in 1975, the store originally was part of an organization of Ben Franklin stores whose operators included a certain Sam Walton (before he went on to found Wal-Mart).

“There was a Ben Franklin in our neighborhood when we lived in Hawaii from 1968-1975,” says Shirley. “Bob was working for Woolworth’s at the time, but was seeking something with less of a corporate atmosphere. He contacted the district manager of Ben Franklin, who offered him a franchise opportunity.”

Redmond was one franchise option and while the Fergusons were reluctant to visit “due to the perception of always being rainy,” they “fell in love with the area after visiting Redmond in June of 1974.”

“We sold a little bit of everything,” says Shirley, “most of which we no longer carry. Some of these items include Folger’s Coffee, Pampers, cases of Coca Cola, stationary, pantyhose, Aqua Net hair spray, and motor oil. We also had a key-making machine, a bath shop, and even a popcorn machine.

“A few items that we sold in the beginning that we currently still have are Elmer’s Glue, Coats & Clark Thread, Super Saver Yarn and Crayola Crayons,” she adds. “Out of some 45,000 plus items we currently merchandise, fewer than 1,000 of those items were in inventory in 1975.”

Today, the Ferguson’s sons Neil and David manage most of the business, which employs more than 80 people. The boys started working there as teens, sweeping floors and counting inventory, and helped out even while in college.

Bob and Shirley started shifting to crafts in the early 1980s and eventually broke away from the Ben Franklin Corporation because it “couldn’t keep the crafting pipelines filled with product,” Shirley says. Since then, “we’ve continued to chase the trends in the crafting world over the years to keep things new and exciting.”