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One Christmas evening, a
group of friends set off to enjoy a dinner of
celebration at a small country inn nestled in a quiet
river town. As they rounded a bend in the road, they saw
the small, old-fashioned village decorated for the
holidays. The lights, like fairies, glowed and sparkled
amid the freshly fallen snow. All evening, the
conversation was full of Christmas memories and the
visions the tiny town had evoked. Amidst the jovial
banter and magical memories, the idea for a lighted
Christmas village was born. That spark of an idea became
a reality when, in 1976, Department 56 introduced a
series of six hand-painted, ceramic buildings. The rest
is history.
The company behind the villages.
Some twenty-five years ago, Department 56 began as part
of Bachman's, a premiere retail florist in Minneapolis.
Bachman's used a numbering system to identify each of
its departments. The number assigned to wholesale gift
imports division was, you guessed it, 56.
Now headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Department
56 has become a leader in the giftware, collectibles and
holiday decorating industry and is best known for our
hand-crafted lighted villages, Snowbabies™ figurines and
extensive lines of holiday and home decorative products.
The building of a village: An historic events calendar.
1976
The foundation of Department 56 took shape with the
introduction of six charming, lighted, ceramic
buildings. These six premiere items were the beginnings
of The Original Snow Village®.
1979
The original Original Snow Village designs were retired
in order to accommodate 12 new introductions as well as
the appearance of the first Village accessories.
1984
The concept of The Heritage Village Collection® was
developed. The first release was The Dicken's Village
Series®, a collection of seven nostalgic shops and a
church. All designed to capture the spirit of Christmas
in Victorian England.
1986
The New England Village Series and The Alpine Village
Series® were added to The Heritage Village Collection.
That same year, the world of Snowbabies™ bisque
figurines was introduced.
1987
The Heritage Village collection continued to grow with
the addition of the hustle and bustle of Christmas in
the City® and the inspiring Little Town of Bethlehem™.
1988
Department 56 reached $56 million in sales and found it
necessary to expand into a new 150,000 sq. ft.
distribution center.
1990
The legend of Santa became a part of the Department 56
tradition with the addition of The North Pole Series™ to
The Heritage Village Collection.
1991
On June 25, we opened our new corporate headquarters at
One Village Place in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
1992
Department 56 is bought by the New York investment firm,
Forstmann Little.
1993
In June of this year, Department 56 completed an initial
offering and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol "DFS".
1994
This year brought the introduction of The Disney Parks
Village Series™ and Snowbunnies®.
1995
Our first successful marketing program, "Homes for the
Holidays", encouraged new collectors to start a
tradition for themselves.
1996
We introduced our website which still serves as a
definitive source for product and retailer information.
1997
The 10th anniversary of Snowbabies was celebrated with
the creation of the Snowbabies Freindship Club™. The
Classic Ornament Series was also introduced, giving
collectors a new way to enjoy classic pieces long since
retired.
1998
The first year-round village, Seasons Bay™, makes a
splash onto the marketplace, representing a late
19th-century American resort town. Elf Land™, an
extension of the North Pole Series™, was also introduced
as a suburb where the elves lived and played after the
holidays.
1999
In May, the first-ever corporate retail store opened in
the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, a move
that enhanced both brand and product profile. And for
the first time, Department 56 introduced pieces that
included exquisite interior detail.
2000
Another big year for expansion. In October, we opened a
second retail store in the new Aladdin Hotel in Las
Vegas, Nevada. Our first magazine insert, Tablescapes,
also hit the newsstands. It featured new and imaginative
ways to use Village pieces, Snowbabies and general
giftware as a part of home décor.
2001
This year, Department 56 and The Original Snow Village®
Collection both turned 25. To commemorate those
twenty-five wonderful years, we invited all our friends
and collectors from across the United States and Canada
to a spectacular Silver Anniversary Celebration in St.
Paul, Minnesota. Many special edition pieces and limited
items were designed just for this momentous occasion. A
grand time was had by all.
Department 56 is a major force in the giftware and
collectible industry. As we look to the future, we plan
to actively explore new avenues for growth. Rest
assured, our artists are constantly busy coming up with
new and unique ways to pique your interest. And touch
the collector's heart in everyone.
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