Carlson Craft’s founders, Bill and Betty Carlson, started the company in their family room in Mankato, Minnesota as a part-time business venture in 1948. With little more equipment than a Remington typewriter, the couple mailed out 50 letters to local business firms and individuals to promote the Carlson Letter Service. Very quickly they decided they wanted to be a wholesale supplier of wedding stationery.
“From 1945 I had the “American Dream” of someday having my own business. After investigating several possibilities the idea of a letter shop seemed the most logical one. (The U.S. Dept. of Commerce had numerous plans for returning servicemen to “start a small business” after WWII.) Betty and I had typing and mimeographing experience, so we started a “Part-Time Venture” in our home.” – Bill Carlson