News from the creators of The Heirloom Registry™ and the Home History Book™ archival journal
Happy Birthday Houstory Publishing! Our first year in photos
By Dan Hiestand, Houstory Publishing Marketing Director
I was talking with a friend the other day about our business, Houstory Publishing. As we were chatting, a couple of things dawned on me during the conversation: (1) Houstory was about to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the “official” launch of our business (more on that later), and; (2) Just how fortunate I have been to be able to follow my dream with my best friend — who also happens to be my big brother and Houstory founder, Mike.
Mike and Dan Hiestand, taking a break while attending the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree this past June.
Okay, before you break out the tissue and think this is a, “Hallmark moment,” it’s not. I sincerely mean what I write. I just genuinely like the guy. What can I say? When we first started the company way back in 2007 (wow, starting a business takes ages!), and I heard his idea for the Home History Book archival journal, I was hooked right away. A couple of years later, when he came up with The Heirloom Registryconcept (yes, I didn’t come up with that idea, either, darn it!), again I became a believer. A big believer.
Essentially, our roles are these: He is the visionary. I am the implementer. This arrangement has actually turned out to be a great match. You never know what it’s like working with a best friend or a family member until you do it. That’s not to say it hasn’t been an at-times stressful year, or an experience filled with steep learning curves and unforeseen circumstances. But, looking back at how far we’ve come, it feels darn good to know we made the right decision.
We have wanted to go into a family-style business for as long as I can remember — ideally with our three other brothers in the mix as well — and we floated many ideas around (remember the bagel shop, Mike?) before we hit the jackpot with Houstory. It just felt right. And it still feels right today, more than ever. In fact, over the next couple of weeks, we are going to be rolling out some big announcements which we are very excited about.
Much of our success, we owe to you, our supporters and customers. We really couldn’t have made it this far without your help, so thank you! We hope you stay with us for the ride. We think its only going to get better.
And finally, thank you Tasi and Patty, — our understanding, courageous and supportive wives — as well as Mike’s daughters, Jessica and Ally. We love you all very much!
After more than four years working on weekends and weeknights to turn our “dream” into real-life products that we’d be proud to stand behind, we “officially” opened for business on Oct. 18, 2011, when we launched our social media. Below is a look at some of the highlights from that time until now. It’s been a very busy but exciting year!
After a year in business, I believe in two things more than ever: historical preservation, and conservation. What we do is steeped in these concepts. My belief is this: The more people know about something, whether a house or a family heirloom, the more likely they will take care of it. This means both the priceless stories and histories, as well as the physical materials, won’t just be discarded with trash. These are the things that drive me. Let us know what you think, and thank you again!
SEPTEMBER 2011: Dan and Mike, welcoming their first shipment of books at “Houstory World Headquarters” in Ferndale, Wash. 🙂
NOVEMBER 2011: The Home History Book archival journal visits the Oregon Coast.
DECEMBER 2012: This was the image used in our first media article in our hometown newspaper in Ferndale, Wash., published in late December. What studs! 🙂
MARCH 2012: Rick Read, a professional photographer and avid genealogist, wrote an article on fusing the past and present with house photos. It was very popular with our readers. What a cool shot, eh?
MARCH 2012: Our first trade show (The Mid-Atlantic Innkeepers Conference) and our first Home History Book customer who wasn’t a friend or family member! 🙂 Dan with the lucky No. 1, Sharon Bates! Sharon is the owner of the beautiful Caledonia Guest House in Mont Alto, Pa.
MARCH 2012: Dan with wife, Tasi, at the Mid-Atlantic Innkeeper show in Williamsburg, Va.
APRIL 2012: This was our very first review of The Home History Book, written by DC house historian Paul Williams. We had a chance to meet Paul in March, and his review was very kind!
MAY 2012: Dan and Mike at the Professional Association of Innkeepers International Conference in Cape Cod.
MAY 2012: MER-MAN, dad! MER-MAN! If you watched the movie Zoolander, you’d get this. 🙂 Mike clowning around in Cape Cod…
MAY 2012: Our little book has been from coast to coast. Here, it takes a break in Cape Cod.
MAY 2012: We had a chance to stop in and say “hi” to the folks at The Harcourt Bindery in Boston, the largest and oldest hand bindery in the country. It’s where our Premier Home History Book is manufactured. These are the fine folks that so lovingly create our art.
MAY 2012: One of the highlights of the year for us was FINALLY meeting Maureen Taylor and Marian Pierre-Louise. Maureen had helped us choose our materials for our Home History Book as we were building it, and Marian is, of course, a highly accomplished house historian.
JUNE 2012: Even on vacation in New Orleans, I can’t get away from cool houses!
JUNE 2012: Mike visited Austin for a few days, and Dan and he put together the storyboard for the Heirloom Registry video, “A 3-Minute Love Story.” Watch the final product here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S69zuPIw89s&feature=plcp
Mike and Dan Hiestand, taking a break while attending the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree.
AUGUST 2012: Dan travelled to Corpus Christi, Texas from his home in Austin to see the Antiques Road Show in person. He talked to folks about the provenances of their pieces, and even gave a few Heirloom Registry stickers away, too!
AUGUST 2012: Mike, with Maggie McLaurin, Jessica Hiestand and Gabby Hall, outside the Antiques Roadshow event at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. They passed out free stickers to attendees. The Antiques Roadshow even asked for some stickers!
AUGUST 2012: House historian and genealogy expert Marian Pierre-Louise wrote the first review of The Heirloom Registry. She had very kind words for our service in her popular blog, Roots and Rambles, which we were most grateful for.
SEPTEMBER 2012: Dan met with genealogy stars Thomas MacEntee and D. Joshua Taylor at FGS in Birmingham.
SEPTEMBER 2012: Dan had an opportunity to meet with respected genealogist Dick Eastman at the FGS Conference in Birmingham, Ala.
SEPTEMBER 2012: Mike won a HUGE award in September from the Society of Professional Journalists. Couldn’t have been more proud of him!
SEPTEMBER 2012: Mike, along with his gorgeous family (wife Patty, daughters Jessica and Ally)
SEPTEMBER 2012: Every house has a story. This one in Skagway, Alaska definitely has one.
SEPTEMBER 2012: Our mom and dad celebrated their 50th anniversary on an Alaskan cruise with the whole family!
It was a a great first year! So glad I was able to be a part of it!
Marian
Thanks Marian! It’s been a lot of fun working with you. And yes, you were a BIG part of it. Look forward to the future! 🙂
Happy Birthday to you both! I’m delighted to be a part of Houstory history too, and am making a wish for your continued success.
Thanks Denise! It’s so refreshing how welcoming the genealogy community has been. Mike and I are very fortunate to have connected with great folks like you over the past 12 months!
It was a a great first year! So glad I was able to be a part of it!
Marian
Thanks Marian! It’s been a lot of fun working with you. And yes, you were a BIG part of it. Look forward to the future! 🙂
Happy Birthday to you both! I’m delighted to be a part of Houstory history too, and am making a wish for your continued success.
Thanks Denise! It’s so refreshing how welcoming the genealogy community has been. Mike and I are very fortunate to have connected with great folks like you over the past 12 months!