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Company type | Private |
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Industry | Manufacturing |
Founded | 1984 |
Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | North America and Eastern Europe |
Key people |
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Number of employees | 20 |
Divisions | 6 |
Vaillancourt Folk Art (VFA) is a brand and fine art studio recognized for its manufacturing and wholesaling of Christmas collectibes and operations of a retail gallery located in Sutton, Massachusetts. Co-founder Judi Vaillancourt is credited with having developed the process used to create the first contemporary use of chalkware, using a plaster-like substance with confectionery moulds. [1] [2] Vaillancourt Folk Art has over 3,000 antique moulds that date back as early as 1850. [3]
The company was initially created as a store that sold holiday and folk art items and operated as Vaillancourt Folk Art & Friends. In 2007, following a relocation, the name was shortened to Vaillancourt Folk Art, and the company re-focused on their branded chalkware and ornament collections. The VFA lines have since been carried in stores within major cities across the United States, Canada, and Europe. [4]
Gary Vaillancourt and wife Judi Vaillancourt founded Vaillancourt Folk Art in 1984 after Gary had given Judi three antique chocolate molds for Christmas. Judi, a classical illustrator, first poured these molds with chocolate, and later with beeswax, [5] before developing a process to create solid chalkware figures. [6] [7] During their first year in business, Gary and Judi were asked to participate in a folk art show by Chicago-based promoter Judy Marks, who had discovered the Vaillancourts from an article on historical reproductions by Early American Life. [8]
In 1985, Gary left his position as President of Mitchell Management Systems to join Judi as they started what is now known as Vaillancourt Folk Art. By the end of that year, they had hired 15 employees and converted their home's basement into a production studio. [9] In 1987, Vaillancourt Folk Art & Friends moved their location to a farm house. In 1992, Nordstroms carried the Vaillancourt Chalkware line. In 1995, the first annual Collector's Weekend was started. [10] Vaillancourt Folk Art later launched its website in 1998.
In 2007, Vaillancourt Folk Art moved to a 10,000-square-foot location in a 19th-century mill. [11] [12] The US Postal Service modified its ZIP codes to ensure that Vaillancourt Folk Art could still be considered "made in Sutton" rather than the village of Manchaug's unique zip code. [13] Vaillancourt Folk Art also dropped "& Friends" from its name. In 2008, it introduced the Et Cetera line, a line that incorporated Judi's designs and art work on everyday items. The "Nantucket Santa Series" was introduced during the Event Under The Tent show by Friends of Nantucket. [14]
In the winter of 2009, Vaillancourt Folk Art completed the construction of Blaxton Hall, "named after William Blaxton, the first European settler in Boston and Rhode Island". [15] The hall was created to host Gerald Charles Dickens (the great great grandson of Charles Dickens) for his American Tour of A Christmas Carol in 2009. [16] In 2010, Vaillancourt Folk Art was nominated to be the official Christmas ornament and collectibles maker of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. [17] In 2015, Vaillancourt Folk Art introduced a Dickens-themed glass ornament line: the A Christmas Carol collection. [18] In 2016, Luke M. Vaillancourt assumes the position of Vice President of Operations. [19] A year later, Luke M. Vaillancourt represented Vaillancourt Folk Art in Washington, DC, joining Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) to a Small Business Week Constituent Roundtable. [20] [21] [22]
In 2018, Vaillancourt Folk Art redesigned their logo, removing the text "Folk Art" and replacing it with "Made in Massachusetts". The new logo has a Victorian Christmas tree, stating it is meant that their retail gallery will include Christmas decorations throughout the year. [23] Vaillancourt launched a Christmas Blend Coffee and limited edition [24] Christmas Wine, [25] which are sold within their retail gallery in Sutton. [26] In 2018, Vaillancourt's retail business accounts for nearly 60% of business revenue, "with most of the retail sales occurring online." [27]
In 2019, Vaillancourt Folk Art celebrated their 35th anniversary by releasing a book titled It's Hard To Tell When A Traditions Begins: A Vaillancourt Christmas. [28] Luke M. Vaillancourt named the new president to "take over Gary's role, with Gary moving into an advisory position." [29] The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of events like the Christkindlesmarkt, in which around 1,100 people were in attendance for the 2-day Christmas festival. [30] [31] Later, Vaillancourt introduced a series of outdoor Mini German Christmas Wine Markets. [32] In 2024, Vaillancourt Folk Art celebrated their 40th anniversary with a year-round theme of "Cherish." The celebration opened with collectors from around the country attending a Premier Number Opening Party in April. [33]
Vaillancourt Design Group was led by Luke M. Vaillancourt. Designs have included acrylic coasters for Worcester Academy, enamel coasters for College of the Holy Cross, and metal ornaments for Old Sturbridge Village. Gorham Silver was the first manufacturer to license Judi's designs, manufacturing ornaments in Taiwan under the name Vaillancourt Folk Art for Gorham in 1986.
In 1991, the Starlight Children's Foundation made a presentation to the major gift companies of America, including Vaillancourt Folk Art. As of 2009, Vaillancourt Folk Art has granted 104 wishes and purchased 15 Fun Centers [34] for pediatric hospitals in New England. Vaillancourt Folk Art has been awarded from the Starlight Children's Foundation, Pediatric Division of University of Massachusetts Hospital, Retailers Association of Massachusetts, and other organizations. [35] [36]
In 1992, Gary Vaillancourt worked with the Worcester County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB) to create the "Chain of Lights", which was a multi-town program where local businesses would coordinate efforts to promote their services. [37] In 1992, it stretched as far north as Westminster Village Inn and extended through Worcester and Sturbridge Counties. It included a meet-and-greet with Tom Bergeron, then of WBZ-TV. [38] Since 1992, with one trolley and four stops, today there are several trollies connecting towns, forming a "Chain of Lights" in Sutton. [39]
On January 24, 2010, History Channel's TV show American Pickers [40] featured a photograph of the Abraham Lincoln chalkware piece that was created for several museums, including Gettysburg, Ford’s Theatre, and The Lincoln Museum. Judi and Gary Vaillancourt unveiled the Abraham Lincoln piece, along with a Civil War Santa, on September 4, 2010, at the Gettysburg NMP Bookstore [41] [42] after being asked by the museums to create commemorative figures based on the drawings of 1860s artist Thomas Nast. [43] In 2014, Vaillancourt Folk Art created the first Las Vegas Santa made exclusively for Wynn Las Vegas.
In 2010, Massachusetts State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing that would designate Vaillancourt Folk Art as the official state Christmas collectible maker. [44] [45] Vaillancourt Folk Art designed a limited edition Chalkware Santa for the Sutton 300 (300th anniversary of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts) and for the Millbury Bicentennial Celebration (Millbury, Massachusetts) in 2010. [46]
Vaillancourt Folk Art and Byers' Choice partnered in 2012 to introduce Byers' Choice Caroler, designed in collaboration with another company. [47] The piece, Custom Christmas Artist Caroler, was introduced during the 17th annual Collector's Weekend at the Vaillancourt Studio by Bob Byers, Jr., President of Byers' Choice. [48] [49]
In 1991, soap opera star Emma Samms and TV personality Tom Bergeron made their first appearance to the Vaillancourt studios. In April 26–27, author and illustrator Tasha Tudor spent a weekend at Vaillancourt Folk Art meeting fans and speaking on a panel about illustration and art. Tom Bergeron has made several appearances at the Vaillancourt Studios. [50] [51]
Worcester County is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 862,111, making it the second-most populous county in Massachusetts. It is also the largest county in Massachusetts by geographic area. The largest city and traditional shire town is Worcester. Worcester County is part of the Worcester, MA–CT metropolitan statistical area and the Boston-Worcester-Providence combined statistical area.
Millbury, officially the Town of Millbury, is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Located within Blackstone Valley, the population in Millbury was 13,831 at the 2020 United States Census.
Sutton, officially the Town of Sutton, is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,357 in the 2020 United States Census. Located in the Blackstone Valley, the town was designated as a Preserve America community in 2004.
Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, first colonized in 1662 and incorporated in 1727. It was originally part of the town of Mendon, and named for the Earl of Uxbridge. The town is located 36 mi (58 km) southwest of Boston and 15 mi (24 km) south-southeast of Worcester, at the midpoint of the Blackstone Valley National Historic Park. The historical society notes that Uxbridge is the "Heart of The Blackstone Valley" and is also known as "the Cradle of the Industrial Revolution". Uxbridge was a prominent Textile center in the American Industrial Revolution. Two Quakers served as national leaders in the American anti-slavery movement. Uxbridge "weaves a tapestry of early America".
Route 146 is a 20.99-mile (33.78 km) north-south state highway in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Spanning approximately 21 miles (34 km) along a south–north axis, it is a continuation of Route 146 in Rhode Island, which splits from I-95 in Providence. The southern terminus within Massachusetts exists in Millville, where it enters the state from North Smithfield, Rhode Island. Among several local roads, Route 146 intersects with the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) in Millbury and I-290 in Worcester before arriving at its northern terminus at the intersection of several surface streets in downtown Worcester. Most of the route is a freeway, except for a short section near the boundary between Millbury and Sutton where there is driveway access and at-grade crossings.
Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district is located in central Massachusetts, encompassing much of Franklin, Hampshire, and Worcester counties, as well as small portions of Middlesex and Norfolk Counties. The largest municipalities in the district include Worcester, Leominster, Amherst, Shrewsbury, and Northampton.
Old Sturbridge Village is a living museum located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, which recreates life in rural New England during the 1790s through 1830s. It is the largest living museum in New England, covering more than 200 acres. The Village includes 59 antique buildings, three water-powered mills, and a working farm. Third-person costumed interpreters demonstrate and interpret 19th-century arts, crafts, and agricultural work. The museum is popular among tourists and for educational field trips.
Chalkware is an American term for popular figurines either made of moulded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors. They were primarily created during one of three periods: from the late 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century, during the Great Depression, and during the 'mid-century modern' era as decorative lamps, figurines and wall decor from the 1940s-1960s. Those created during the earlier period were intended as a more serious decorative art, often imitating the more expensive imported English Staffordshire potteries figurines such as Staffordshire dog figurines; those during the second period, by contrast, were more typically somewhat jocular. Early chalkware was often hollow and is difficult to find unblemished.
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, or BVT for short, is a technical high school in Upton, Massachusetts, serving the thirteen towns of the Blackstone Valley. The school was established in 1964. The school offers eighteen technical programs that students can enroll in to learn more about that trade.
The Massachusetts Highway Department was the highway department in the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1991 until the formation of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) in 2009.
Stonebridge Press, Inc. is a privately held newspaper company based in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was formed October 27, 1995, to operate the newspapers acquired through the purchase of a various newspapers.
The Blackstone River Greenway is a partially completed 48-mile (77 km) paved rail trail defining the course of the East Coast Greenway through the Blackstone Valley from Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island in the United States.
The Oliver Wight House is a historic house located on Main Street in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Built in the 1780s, the house was first occupied by local cabinet maker Oliver Wight and his family. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Georgian style dwelling was operated as a motor lodge by Old Sturbridge Village until 2006, and again from 2012-2020.
Gerald Roderick Charles Dickens is an English actor and performer best known for his one-man shows based on the novels of his great-great-grandfather Charles Dickens. He was the President of the Dickens Fellowship from 2005 to 2007.
WorcesterScene.com (WorcesterScene) is an independently owned American website based in Worcester, Massachusetts founded by Luke M. Vaillancourt and an anonymous business partner in 2008. The site was founded as the first, directory-based resource containing the most up to date listing of all restaurants, entertainment venues, bars and galleries in Worcester Proper. The site's original mission was to "provide an accurate, comprehensive, and unbiased listing of all Worcester-based businesses that serve food, mix drinks, and further the arts;" it's focused on the "where" versus the "what."
B.T.'s Smokehouse is a restaurant that specializes in dry-rubbed and slow-smoked barbecue and is located in the downtown section of Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The restaurant smokes about 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of meat per week, with brisket being 2,000 pounds (910 kg) to 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) of that total. On a typical weekend, the smokehouse will serve 1,200 and 1,500 people in its 38-seat location.
Kelley Square is a square located in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the intersection of Massachusetts Route 122 and 122A, with ramp access to and from Interstate 290. It is named for Sgt. Cornelius F. Kelley, who died of wounds received in battle in Verdun, France, on October 13, 1918. With a complex convergence of multiple roads, the square has previously been ranked as the state's most dangerous intersection, and as of 2019 was ranked as the eighth-most dangerous intersection in Massachusetts.
Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. is a former justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court as an Associate Justice, having been appointed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2011 and serving until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2020. In addition to being an active member of the legal community in providing "…service on numerous Supreme Judicial Court and Bar Association committees, commissions[,]…task forces, [et al.]…," Justice Agnes has also been passionate about education, having taught at the Massachusetts School of Law for the past fifteen years, and continuing to do so currently. Agnes presently resides in Wayland, MA with his wife Eileen Agnes. They have four children and three grandchildren, boasting a passionate relationship with their extensive family outside of their legal careers.
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