Monograms Plus began in March, 1999, as a way for the owner, Margaret Hamm, to work from home while her two daughters were young. After purchasing a commercial embroidery machine, supplies and taking over her husband's workshop in the garage, Margaret began learning the art and science of monogramming with a machine, as opposed to the handwork she had been taught as a child by her grandmother. After three months, through her membership in Monograms America, she went to the Gift Market in Atlanta for the first time. Upon seeing all of creative uses of embroidery to create personalized keepsakes, Margaret and her husband came home, signed a lease for a storefront within a week, and opened on October 6, 1999, in Cullman's brand new Warehouse District. The retail journey began with 1200 square feet, one part time employee, and one machine.
Within 6 months, we were out of room and moved within our building to 2500 square feet, doubling our space and inventory. By January, 2004, the time had come again to expand, and we moved yet again within the Warehouse District to accommodate adding a third embroidery machine, other equipment, and more staff. Within a couple of years, we knocked out the first of many walls to bring our square footage to 5300, followed shortly by another addition that took us to 6500 feet of retail space. Along the way, we were honored with an industry magazine cover and article, were named as Small Business of the Year by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, and also by the Cullman United Way.
That brings us to the present, which finds us in the middle of one more wall demolition, which actually is an expansion into our former second retail space in the building; adding back 2500 square feet, for a grand total of 9000! This will accommodate the growth we've seen in our new full service invitation and printing department, The Invitation Place at Monograms Plus, along with the creation of a Life is good Shop-in-Shop, and expansion of several existing lines. After ten incredible years, Margaret is blessed with ten employees, three of which are full time managers! The daughters are grown; Sarah graduated from Auburn and married John in March. Ellen is currently working on her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing - her life's goal.
None of this would be possible without our amazing, loyal customers who continue to shop with us, both for personalized keepsakes, and for the brands offered nowhere else in Cullman - Vera Bradley, Pandora, Brighton, Life is good, Southern Belle, John Medeiros, Matt & Nat, and more. We truly appreciate our customers, and look forward to serving you for many years to come!
Please be sure to sign up for our email newsletters and event notifications. We neither sell nor share your information with anyone, and limit emails to a few each month. Hope to see you soon!
Margaret and the crew!
Monograms Plus of Cullman
103 First Ave NE, Suite 120
Cullman, Alabama 35055
Phone: 256-739-0631
E-mail: info@monogramsplusonline.com
