History
DRG had its beginnings when Christian Muselman founded Economy Printing Concern in his hometown of Berne in 1925. In the late 1950s, his two sons, Carl and Art, bought the business from their father and continued to expand printing operations.
DRG's publishing/direct marketing history began in New England in 1947 with the founding of magazine publisher House of White Birches by brothers Ed and Mike Kutlowski of Seabrook, N.H.
In October 1985, the Kutlowskis retired and sold the business to the Muselman brothers, who moved HWB operations from Seabrook to Berne. The company rapidly expanded, undertaking aggressive direct-marketing campaigns to build the subscription side of the business. It also began to develop other areas, such as catalogs, book programs, continuities and wholesale sales.
In March 1994, the Muselmans added to their publishing/direct marketing base with the purchase of The Needlecraft Shop, which was located in Big Sandy, Texas. The Needlecraft Shop had its own fulfillment division, so in 1995, HWB fulfillment business was moved there.
In January 1996, the Muselmans purchased needlecraft publisher Annie's Attic, which was founded in 1975 in Big Sandy, Texas, and included continuities, magazines and catalogs. It also had its own fulfillment operations.
In the late 1990s, working closely with the second generation, the third-generation of Muselmans crafted a plan to move from owner-operators to owner-investors. Working on the change were Carl's two sons, John and Tom, and Art's son, Roger, and daughter, Karen.
In 1997, the company successfully merged the fulfillment operations of Annie's Attic and The Needlecraft Shop, forming SFG in Big Sandy.
In March 1998, the company consolidated the editorial, production, photography and business-office activities of its Texas and Indiana operations, and DRG was formed.
In April 2002 DRG acquired Clotilde, a sewing notions catalog, and in July 2002 it acquired American School of Needlework, a wholesale-oriented publisher.
In June 2012, all of the craft and nostalgia brands acquired by DRG, including House of White Birches, The Needlecraft Shop, Annie's Attic, Clotilde and American School of Needlework, were consolidated under the Annie's name.
The TV show Knit and Crochet Now!, joined the Annie's family in August 2012.
Country Sampler, publisher of the magazine of the same name, was added in October 2012.
Annie's acquired Just CrossStitch in December 2012.
Tom Muselman, DRG president (left), and Roger Muselman, DRG chairman, represent the third generation of ownership of the Muselman family business.
