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While driving thru Knab (sp?) Utah 4 years ago on our way to somewhere, can't remember, maybe Zion National Park or Lake Powell, we passed a big building with Stampin Up on it. It was in the middle of nowhere outside of town. I didn't really think much about it as I didn't use their products then. BTW, my husband got a speeding ticket in Knab while going just a few miles over the limit. It was my first trip out "west" so it struck me as odd to see this building in the middle of what I would call a desert outside of town. Anyway, just my ramblings here!
Noddy
S.U. was started all those years ago by Shelli and her sister LaVonne. They lived in Kanab, Utah, which is out in the boonies! I know, I grew up in a little town called Parowan, UT on the other side of the boonies! Our high school sports teams were rivals.
Anyway, I don't know all the details, but as the company grew, so did the need to move the headquarters to a bigger city. Salt Lake city was the city of choice.
It was a hard decision because SU employed a lot of people. I am glad that there is still part of them left there in Kanab.
Actually, I just got an opportunity to tour the Kanab facility, and you guys are right, it is out in the middle of NOWHERE!
They have about 100 employees that manufacture over 30,000 stamps A DAY on average, that is pretty cool!
The people who work at the plant really love their jobs, when you take all the employees the average time on the job is 6 1/2 years, so their turnover is very low.
They actually let us help them make stamps too! They took us into the very STINKY room where they mold the stamps (Ahh, the smell of scorched rubber!) and showed us the whole process.
Then we got to attach the stamps to the foam backing, then cut the stamps (very cool, I call the cutter the KACHUNK machine).
The most fun part was the 7 ladies who pick all the wood blocks and put the sets together. These girls have a lot of fun, you could tell, and when we got our chance to do their jobs I tried to imagine doing this 30,000 times a day. WOW! They were a lot faster than I was!
The best thing I experienced was when we would walk through the facility and tell them thank you, they would turn to us and say, "No, thank YOU! We have jobs because of you!"
They also showed us some surprises (all of you who miss Petal Prints will be very happy!) and we got to pick some Wire Works and Embossing Kit, and then they let us keep it! Cool! Then they gave us a new stamp set that is going to be in the Winter Mini.
Overall, very fun, and I hope I can go back next year and see them again!
Millette - what a cool trip that must have been. Thanks for sharing all that great information. I love the fact that SU makes it's own stamps! Also, thanks for the hint about one of our favorite stamp sets. Kendra
About Petal Prints: we were touring the plant and we met Maverick (yes, that is his name!) who makes the molds for the stamps. Someone was looking at his worktable and noticed Petal Prints and mentioned that it was retired. All he said was, "Oh really? Then why am I still making molds for it then?" and winked at us.
Not to get anyone too excited but La-Dee-Dah was on that table too!
It was so exciting, I can't imagine a kid touring Santa's workshop being more thrilled!
Last year I got to tour Mrs. Grossman's sticker factory in Ca, and I thought that was exciting... BUT to tour SU stamp making facility, would be like chocolate and ice cream without gaining weight.. :lol:
__________________ Gray hair is not the same as grey hares, one you earn the other just hoppins
Where are Stampin Up Stamps made?
Can't wait to start playing with it... I want to tour the place tooooooooooooooooooooooooo 
