ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. — Foster-Stephens Inc., which produces storage solutions to preserve and protect wedding gowns and other family treasures, celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.
What started March 11, 1936, as a business selling posters of seasonal fashions to drycleaning stores eventually became a garment storage products company offering various archival products that best preserve textiles.
Owner Nancy Jones, daughter of founder Elmer Jones, says, “I am proud of how the company has weathered changes within the textile care industry and changed to fit the needs of our customers.”
In the 1940s, when dry cleaners started to offer wedding gown preservation, Foster-Stephens jumped into the business by providing wedding gown storage boxes, according to the company.
“We introduced our first wedding gown preservation box in 1947 at the first national trade show after World War II,” Nancy Jones notes. The company’s blue Keepsake Pak box was introduced soon after that, and other box types and sizes followed.
While sales of posters, advertising kits and various specialty programs continued for many decades, the company storage box business grew up. By the late 1980s, as the advertising portion of the business dropped off, the company added garment bags and liners.
After Elmer Jones died in 1983, his wife, Ruth Jones, took over the company. Today, at age 103, she remains chairman of the board. Nancy Jones purchased her mother’s shares in 2014, making her majority owner.
Looking to the future, Nancy Jones says, “Our major focus is on expanding internationally, mostly in Europe and South America. We are also looking into new products and services for our customers.”
“After 80 years,” she adds, “the second generation of owners is getting ready to pass on a strong company to the third generation.”
Jones says the company “looks forward to a rich and rewarding next 80 years as our line of acid-free, archival products continues to grow.”
Foster-Stephens plans to throw a private party for employees during the year to celebrate the anniversary.
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