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The Hobby Lobby Arts & Crafts franchise has decided to raise its minimum wage for full-time employees ahead of Christmas in light of a “challenging” year.
“We have always worked hard to be a retail leader when it comes to taking care of our people,” Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green explained in a press release. “Because this year has presented so many challenges to our employees, we are very happy that we are able to provide pay increases to thousands of our associates before the Christmas season.”
On Sept. 14, Hobby Lobby announced its new full-time hourly wage of $17 per hour, stating that the new rate of pay will come into effect on Oct. 1. The increased hourly pay more than doubles the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
“From closing our stores on Sundays and at 8 p.m. the rest of the week, to providing some of the best pay and benefits in the retail industry, we are thankful that we are able to share our success with our valued employees,” Green continued. The family-centric company, he explained, wishes to preserve ample time for “rest, family, and worship” around work-related responsibilities.
This pay rise for full-timers represents the tenth time the company has raised its minimum wage since 2009, at which point Hobby Lobby was already offering a nationwide minimum wage above the federal minimum.
Investing in people, Green said, allows Hobby Lobby to attract and retain a “great group of associates” who, in turn, contribute toward the “wonderfully unique shopping experience” that Hobby Lobby’s loyal customers have come to expect and appreciate.
Hobby Lobby was founded in 1972 by David and Barbara Green after a successful experiment involving a $600 loan and handmade miniature picture frames two years previously. The first store, a 300-square-foot venue in Oklahoma City, soon became a thriving nationwide franchise.
As of 2020, there are 923 Hobby Lobby stores across 46 U.S. states, and faith remains a core value of the family-driven store.
“We believe it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured,” Green explains. “He has been faithful in the past; we trust Him for our future.”
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