At twenty-nine years of age, Miles
Kimball went into business for himself with a single
idea: a Christmas card with a verse that spelled out
the name "Johnson". With $500 of borrowed
money and the Twin Cities phone directory, Miles printed
and mailed samples of his card to every Johnson household
in the Minneapolis area. Response was so enthusiastic
that it provided enough seed money for Miles to produce
his first black-and-white Miles Kimball catalog.
That was over 70 years ago. Today,
the company is a leading direct marketer of gifts, cards
and household products with operations in Wisconsin,
Nevada and Colorado. The business now consists of distinct
catalog units: Christmas Cards by Miles Kimball, Miles
Kimball, Exposures, The Home Marketplace, and Walter
Drake. The diverse line of products ranges from affordably
priced gifts and household gadgets to photo storage
and display to accessories for the home.
Christmas cards - the idea that started
it all - are still designed and produced in Oshkosh,
along with dozens of exclusive stationery items including
calendars, address labels and photo products.