Ben Franklin Stores were originally named Butler Brothers stores. The company was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1877. The company had more than 100,000 customers at the turn of the century. The company founded the Ben Franklin name in 1927 and the chain was sold in 1959.
The founder of Walmart, Sam Walton, began his retail chain inside of a Ben Franklin location, as well as the creator of Michael’s Craft Stores, Michael Dupey, who converted a Ben Franklin store into his first retail location.
The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996. Some locations were sold to their franchise owners, others closed permanently.
Today, the company is owned by Promotions Unlimited, which was the supplier of many of the craft items sold at Ben Franklin stores. Promotions Unlimited operates 209 craft stores and 123 variety stores. Some Ben Franklin locations also contain pharmacies, others provide clothing. Most locations are found in small towns across the United States.
Ben Franklin StoresBen Franklin Stores were originally named Butler Brothers stores. The company was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1877. The company had more than 100,000 customers at the turn of the century. The company founded the Ben Franklin name in 1927 and the chain was sold in 1959.
The founder of Walmart, Sam Walton, began his retail chain inside of a Ben Franklin location, as well as the creator of Michael’s Craft Stores, Michael Dupey, who converted a Ben Franklin store into his first retail location.
The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996. Some locations were sold to their franchise owners, others closed permanently.
History
Today, the company is owned by Promotions Unlimited, which was the supplier of many of the craft items sold at Ben Franklin stores. Promotions Unlimited operates 209 craft stores and 123 variety stores. Some Ben Franklin locations also contain pharmacies, others provide clothing. Most locations are found in small towns across the United States.
Hello,
My mom purchased an East of India small porcelain jug, with the saying ‘happieness is homemade’ for me at a Ben Franklin store in Oconomowoc, WI. Sadly, I chipped the small pitcher. I contacted the Oconomowoc retail store to see if they were still selling this pitcher, sadly they were not. Do any of the Ben Franklin stores still sell this item? I would like to replace this small pitcher. Please let me know if I can order one from another location. Thank you! Karen
On Tuesday October 10th, 2017, at approximately 3:30 PM a friend and I were shopping at the Ben Franklin store located in Easton, Maryland. We both bought the same items, knitting yarn and went to the checkout together but paid separately. The charge was the same on both sales. The amount was $6.28. My friend paid cash and received the correct change. I followed and gave the clerk a $10 bill and $.28 cents cash. She gave the the receipt and $1.00 in change.
When I asked for the rest of my change, she said what I received was correct.I said “No, you gave me only one dollar” which was still in my hand with the receipt. She immediately suggested that I look in my purse and that the $3 was in there!! Suggesting that the error was mine not hers! The clerk called for supervisory help and two other persons showed up.
At that time they decided that they had to recount all cash in the register. this took a about 5-10 minutes with many items being entered into a hand held calculator and figures written on pieces paper. Most annoying was also the fact that during this time the three young ladies covered their mouths and conversed in whispers about what was going on.. In the end they insisted that the register balanced and that I was given the correct change, which I had not! I felt insulted that they implied that I was trying to get an extra $3.00.
My husband and I owned and operated a retail establishment in Queen Anne”s County for 12 years and our success had a lot to do with making sure the customer was always satisfied. Obviously, Ben Franklin does not share that philosophy!
In the end the clerk said she would not refund my money because according to her the register balanced. At that point I told her I had never been treated that way before and that I would make sure that I would never return and that none of my friends would either..
Jackie Urlock
I own a commercial building in Jennings Louisiana. I would like to know if I could become a Ben Franklin 5 and franchise
I can not read the date on my receipt, however, I shopped at Ben Franklin in Fergus Falls, MN. I purchased 14 items that day. When I got home I opened the packing tape and command strips I had purchased. Much to my demise neither were what I expected them to be. I returned to the store and presented the items to the clerk..She said she could not accept the items back as they were not purchased at that store. I did not have the receipt and asked to speak to the manager, Kevin. Kevin reiterated in front of several customers that I probably stolen them. I, of course had not. I questioned him regarding that statement and he walked away. When he returned he told me there were no identification tags to show he ever carried those items . Again he accused me of stealing them and that I had not purchased them there. I was so humiliated. Customers were starring at me suspecting that I was indeed a thief. I returned the next week with the receipt. I received the same treatment. This time all the employees including Barb the mail clerk were raising their voices and refused to take the items back as they had been opened. I said to Barb that any other store in town would have them taken them back and she replied, “good for them.” It was not a pleasant experience. Once again, I was humiliated and left in tears. I have not returned to that store to purchase anything. And it be known, a disgruntled customer will tell 10, those 10 will tell 5 and so it goes. I believe this incident occurred sometime in the month of February. I still have the receipt and expect the Ben Franklin Corporate office to reprimand these employees in the proper fashion. I am not the only one that has had this type of experience in the Ben Franklin Store in Fergus Falls, MN.
My wife returned from shopping at Ben Franklin here in Bonney Lake Washington and she is resolved never to shop there again. I have had similar experiences and I agree the way the staff interacts with the customers is not acceptable.
The employees spoke openly in front of her as she was asking for help, pointing out to each other about “watching” specific people shopping in the store for no other reason than their appearance.
The employees were not knowledgeable about what items were returnable or why. When my wife asked about something specifically she was read the return policy instead of responding to the question about a specific item with an answer. When she asked about the item specifically she was told at first that they didn’t know, then the assistant created a reason that due to “copyright” and that the item could be photocopied that it was not returnable. The item had a dice in it. This is a brush off answer and not accurate.
The return process at Ben Franklin quite frankly is horrid. Do you deliberately make it extremely inconvenient, even when the customer has the receipt as a method to deter legitimate returns? The fact that Ben Franklin continues to use outdated carbon copy paper ledgers for gift certificates and a complicated process for redeeming makes transactions lengthy and XXXXbersome. The process reflects that of a store stuck in the 1960’s.
Simply put, we don’t need your store, the questionable attitude the staff displays regarding the customers in the store and the gossip about customers potentially having motives other than shopping, and the lousy service from untrained and un-knowledgable staff.
We will use Michael’s for our needs moving forward.
Steven Kovacs
Hello,
I live in Sandstone, MN. There used to be a Ben Franklin store here, I have shopped there and was sad to see it close. A new store is opening in the same spot as the old one and is called `Franklin’s Ben Franklin’ but dose not have the same logo as your other stores. I was wondering if this new store is true Ben Franklin store as they are claiming to have arts, crafts, fabrics and more.
Thank you in advance for any information and I look forward to shopping at Ben Franklin again.
Steve White