More Than a Hobby: How a $600 Startup Became America's Home and Craft Superstore

by David Green, Dean Merrill

More than a Hobby takes readers inside the mind of a low-key, likable Oklahoma entrepreneur who has created a unique shopping experience. How did his company go from a $600 loan to $1.3 billion in annual sales in just thirty-one years-especially when he wasn't groomed for this work either by heritage or by education? Green was willing to go against the tide, allowing faith to play a huge part in the business. More Than a Hobby describes how this wildly successful business was built not on business-school theory, but on the founder's own experience as a grassroots store manager.

Genres: Business, Biography, Nonfiction, Christian, Religion, Autobiography, Leadership

209 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Brad Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while researching perspectives on Faith and Work, knowing Hobby Lobby is an overtly Christian-owned business. To be honest, I expected this book to have some pretty poor theology of work, since, from what I had observed, Hobby Lobby is just another national craft chain that sells mass produced goods (from sweatshops?) that is “Christian” because they are closed on Sundays, sell decorations with Bible verses on them, and have some involvement in republican politics. I’m grateful to say my expectations were wrong!

The backstory on starting HL was interesting and relatively humble, and the business insights/advice seemed pretty practical (I appreciated his defense of some of HL’s unique inventory processes, i.e. not using bar codes [no, it doesn’t have to do with the anti-christ]). Most importantly, I was impressed by the thoughtful ways the author describes valuing his staff, the community, and their products. He even gave some time to discussing the issue of low-cost overseas labor, and I was relieved to learn that they are wary of cheap labor and give serious consideration to their sourcing.

I wouldn’t depend on this as a “how-to” guide for opening a business, but it has some good stories and insights, and I have more respect for HL as a business now.

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kinda funny because I don't even know why I found this book so captivating, but captivating it was. It was quite intriguing to hear how a big chain of stores is run - nothing like what I had imagined. It made me want to study mores bout retail, or maybe have a character who's family owned a store.

The book was a breeze for me to read through. I randomly picked it up one evening, then pretty much carried it around reading whenever I could until I finished it the next afternoon. It was so simple yet fascinating.

There is the fact that I'm a great fan of Hobby Lobby, so maybe that has something to do with why I found the book so enjoyable? But in reality I think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much even if I'd never heard of the store before.

For some reason I imagined the book would be more "religious", but instead I found that God and the Bible (etc...) was the worldview that the book took, but it never felt forced. Nor did it ever feel like he was talking about God because he felt like he needed to or it was expected. More like God being in his life was natural, so therefore of course God would also be talked about in his book. That was pretty cool.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was actually hard to put down, which is really weird because it's not a thrilling story, or adventure, or a mystery. It was just plain interesting. :)

[Michael Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was up and down throughout this book. I love biographies and business/leadership content. So I assumed I would love this book. At first it was great, then I got bored by the details and okay writing style - then I got back into it toward the end. Overall I gleaned some good nuggets and felt neutral - leaning positive on the book.

[Sarah]

well, I was board out of my mind. If I wanted to know how to run retail or wanted to see how Hobby Lobby was run 15 years ago, this would be a great book. As it was, I was just board. I have to much I want to read to continue.

[Danielle Sliepka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat book on how Hobby Lobby is ran. Enjoyed learning about the business!

[Sarah Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not normally a nonfiction reader; however, I devoured this book! I could not put it down. David Green is an amazing story teller. The book is all about how Hobby Lobby was started and how it has grown to where it is today. He talks about their faith and how they incorporate that into their business and how it affects their decisions. Hobby Lobby is a store I frequently visit and so being able to read about it and to see how it all started was very interesting. I also want to start my own business, so it definitely left me feeling inspired and empowered. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to start their own business, it is very inspirational, and it shows that anything is possible.

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short bio on the background and history of the Hobby Lobby craft store chain. Green explains how the company's business foundations come from the Bible.

[W. Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the man

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the internet summary plus my notes:

The retail industry has undergone enormous changes during the last fifty years.

But there is one retailer that not only has remained consistent in the fluctuating?even tenuous?market, but also has grown in the process.

More Than a Hobby takes you inside the story of David Green, the man who built the phenomenal success of Hobby Lobby. Green went beyond surviving in a competitive retail market to thriving, ultimately expanding his $600 start-up company into a $5 billion per-year enterprise with over 800 stores and 37,500 employees.

Green’s incredible accomplishments were based not on business-school theory but on his grassroots experiences as a store manager and his creative application of cutting edge ideas, including:


Allow managers to spend no more than thirty minutes per day on paperwork
Instead of paying a middleman, assemble as much of the product as possible in-house
Give buyers the freedom to purchase without restraint—but within the realm of common sense
Keep God and family first
More Than a Hobby is a practical field manual, filled with revolutionary ideas for all those who dream of success in the world of retail business.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started working for Hobby Lobby back in June starting with setting up the store and now promoted to Assistant Manager. I wanted to find out how it all started and after reading just a few pages I couldnt put it down. Not only has it helped me understand my job better but I can also truly appreciate the way he does business and also his families strong Faith. A quote I found empowering was "Language is the expression of thought. Every time you speak, your mind is on parade. Keep it clean." As a fellow Christian I am inspired by his business model and his ways of keeping his Faith 365 days a year. A must read!

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic story of rags to riches due to a clear vision and hard work. David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby started sweeping floors in the local 5 & 10 store for high school credit which allowed him to graduate. His love for retail merchandising drove him to start his own frame-making business in his garage with a $600 loan from the bank. His business principles are simple but sound and he is a stickler for organization, a necessity in his stores that can carry over 40,000 different items for sale. He is one of the few who have taken a garage start-up to a billion dollar industry and has managed to keep his family involved starting and the bottom and moving up to the corporate office.

[Kevin Eikenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Green started with $600 and created Hobby Lobby – the large chain of home and craft stores.

A person who has had that kind of success is someone you could probably learn something from, and in this very readable book from 2005, you can.

While I believe there are many management and leadership lessons in these pages, including tactical ideas about simplicity, empowerment, focus and mission, there are two groups of people who will likely get the very most from this book.

Read more...

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some favorite quotes:
"We are not looking for a perfect method for every task; we are looking for the realistic method. And usually, that's the simplest one."
"I'm not about to insult God by running a sloppy retail company." Col 3:23
"Language is the expression of thought. Every time you speak, your mind is on parade. Keep it clean."
"Only one life; twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."
"Crisis prayer is okay but daily prayer is better."
"Institutions rise and fall. What counts for eternity, on the other hand, is a whole different matter."
I love how he explained his thinking transition from success to significance.
"No matter your job, the 'so what?' question of life is vitally important. Some things matter forever while others will fade. Align ourselves with God's purpose and thereby impact eternity."

[Jacquelyn Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! It isn’t the back story of Hobby Lobby but the God inspired business model of David Green. and Hobby Lobby. Many secular/private businesses could take note of the simplicity of this business model to help grow their businesses. It is amazing to see when you have God in the picture much can be done and grown. One word that stood out to me throughout the entire book was SIMPLE. Definitely a must read!!

[Emma Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. David Green is a very "down to earth" author, and he is very easy to understand.

This book details the success behind Hobby Lobby, and the leading up to her widespread reach today. It was more than just a successful business for Green though, it was also about glorifying God through his work.

Excellent book that I highly recommend for those with any interest in Hobby Lobby.

[Patricia Mayne-Schlachtun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've always respected how Hobby Lobby runs their business by not opening on Sundays so employees and their families can attend church together or simply to spend the day together. Most people don't stand up for themselves and their values. If more of us did, the world would be a better place. I didn't realize the company is privately owned. I learned alot about the retail business from the book. I'd highly recommend it.

[Jsteedly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hobby Lobby has been successful at building their organization and there are certainly lessons to be learned. Some things that they do don’t seem to make sense, but they have made it work. A few highlights was figuring out simple ways to incentivize their employees that also benefits the company. An interesting idea was making recognizing the employee to their family. Recognition is important and letting one’s loved ones know they are doing well is a good idea.

[Kara Rull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Very clear writing style, easy to read—read it in one day. I learned a lot about Hobby Lobby by reading this book. It was published in 2005 so I will be reading more by David Green that has been written more recently. I am a Christian, so reading that Hobby Lobby buys adds for Christmas and Easter to let people know about Jesus was a blessing. I knew that Hobby Lobby carries Christian-themed decor but also learned recently that it carries Dayspring cards!

[Rokaiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really fascinated by his story. He built a multibillion-dollar business from nothing and was also able to maintain healthy family relationships, have a huge impact on the people around him, and live by his principles. I loved his passion and the details he shared about the retail industry. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the retail industry or successful business stories.

[Sheryl Kloehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational story of David Green's humble beginnings to his method of doing business. He shares principals of business with a strong Christian foundation that does not waiver. His ideas can be applied throughout other areas of life. Good to read on how one individual came across their nitch and how blessed they became as a result of tapping in to their talents.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

The majority of the book is teaching retailing which is somewhat interesting. Green does speak about his Christian values and how God has worked in the company but from a very broad perspective. I was expecting a more in-depth story or stories about how God was intimately involved with the creation of Hobby Lobby. Overall, an okay read.

[Todd Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the business insights Mr Green offers. The power in his concepts stem from their simplicity and common sense.

While this is a Christian-centric book non-religious readers and anti-capitalists would find it difficult to argue against the philosophical core of this book which from my perspective = the Golden Rule.

[Kevin Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good manual on smart merchant supply line tactics. I can see this book being a bit preachy for some I’m sure, but you know what your getting into with a store that stays closed on Sundays. I’ve never worked retail and never plan too, but for those who do this book could be a tactical read with sound morality.

[Nicky Billou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorited business books. David Green is an American success story, the founder of Hobby Lobby, and a Christian businessman. He has amassed a $5 billion net worth, as CEO who lives values like integrity, honesty, and family and ensures they are present in his company. I learned a lot from reading this book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick and fascinating read about the nitty gritty details of the inner workings of this Christian company. I appreciated the author's Frank discussions about how one standard can affect many applications. I have great respect for him and for the leadership of hobby lobby.

[Jim Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read

This book touched me in a way that most business books don’t. Too often we look at life as temporal versus eternal. Looking forward to meeting David one day if the lord is willing and if not he touched me.

[Robert Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

How refreshing in a dark world

Starts slow but really helped me see clearly now business should be God honoring. what an example of Christian business practices David Green lived out for us to learn from.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very impressed with the values and standards expressed by David Green in this book. Not only are they effective as successful business practices, they can be effective in one’s personal life as well.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be a "How I Made It Big" kind of book. It, like the company Hobby Lobby, was so much more. It was how a merchant, a man with a real talent for retailing, glorifies God and lives his Christian faith in a secular world.

[Marion Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good to hear how





Very good to hear how strong the authors conviction was when it came to his standards nice to hear about family business