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With a mission and desire to keep the art of Norwegian Hardanger embroidery alive for future generations, Nordic Needle was born in 1975. Owners, Sue Meier and Roz Watnemo, have seen their business grow from a small (under 400 square feet) local needlework shop in downtown Fargo, ND, to its current location in Fargo, with customers all over the world. Nordic Needle has grown to a world-wide business specializing in not only Hardanger Embroidery, but counted cross stitch, silk ribbon embroidery, Brazilian embroidery, canvaswork, tatting, and many other fine embroideries as well. Sue and Roz are still active participants in the business; Roz is involved in creating 3 retail catalogs per year, researching and choosing new merchandise, writing e-mail newsletters, designing new Hardanger embroidery patterns, and answering daily customer e-mails, while Sue focuses on finding new products for the wholesale side of the business, creates 3 wholesale catalogs per year, and writes the sales e-mail newsletters.
During the first few years, Roz and Sue were Nordic Needle's sole employees, and it wasn't until Sue's first daughter was born in 1977 that Nordic Needle's staff grew. Within 3 years each family had two daughters. As the business (and their families) grew, more employees were added. Sue and Roz published their first book, Hardanger Embroidery Favorites I (now in its 20th printing) in 1977, and since then Nordic Needle has produced over 150 books and over 35 kits. Modest beginnings in smaller mailing order catalogs to both reseller store and direct mail-order consumers bloomed into the now tri-annual Nordic Needle mail-order catalog distribution, with a main January publication and two (spring and fall) supplements throughout the year. Our mail-order catalog reaches approximately 50,000 retail customers in over 60 countries and 900 wholesale customers' stores in more than 25 countries. Who knew such a tiny business would become so popular - and it's all thanks to our wonderful customers like you!
After being incorporated in 1980, Roz and Sue decided it was time to move. They bought land, designed and built our current building, and Nordic Needle moved house to its current location in Fargo in March of 1983. Our building, including offices, shipping, and warehouse, is 4500 square feet per floor, or 9000 square feet total, plus off-site warehouse storage - that's a lot of needlework items! In fact, we have over 19,000 different items, all of which can be found right here on our website. Staffing our great business, Nordic Needle employs 25 employees, 22 full-time.
In 1996, our website was created through the Women Entrepreneurs in Business program and has grown and changed over the years. It is updated almost daily with news and products, and is our most comprehensive database of what we currently offer at Nordic Needle. Through our website we maintain and send weekly e-mail newsletters to over 35,000 subscribers!
After all these years our company still carries the mission of bringing fine needlework to those who love it, and everyone here is so happy that our customers can continue doing these precious things that they enjoy with the help of Nordic Needle, for many years to come.
Thank you for choosing Nordic Needle for all your stitching needs! |
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