Standing tall, Hallmark Corporate provides a space for creative minds. “[Hallmark] is a company that really does make decisions based on a mission to enrich peoples lives and help people connect,” Hallmark Visitor Center supervisor Ron Worley said.

 Dark, vacant shops line various malls and shopping centers. Stores that were once bright and lively sit alone acting as a grave for what once was. With the economy fluctuating and trends constantly changing, running a successful business is no easy feat but it is an accomplishment Hallmark has been able to achieve. For the past 114 years, Hallmark has been a long-lasting light for so many people. 

   Ron Worley is the Hallmark Visitor Center supervisor and has worked with Hallmark for 27 years. 22 of those years were spent in Kaleidoscope, a space where Hallmark has allowed children to make their own creations and think outside the box.

   “That spirit is everywhere in Hallmark,” Worley said. “That spirit of being creative and enriching your life and connecting with people. Even the corporate aspect of Hallmark is still fun [and] still creative.” 

   Creativity is one of the main qualities that makes Hallmark so notable. Offering a different work environment has had a positive impact on various employees, including Worley. 

   “[Hallmark] has heavily influenced who I am and that is just going to be intrinsic,” Worley said. “Everything that has been part of my job here I’ll carry with me and when I come up with obstacles I’ll have all those tools that I’ve learned here.”

   With the growth of Hallmark, many gifts have been given back to the community. One of those gifts is the Crown Center shopping mall. The mall has not only offered a space for the general public but also a space for businesses to flourish. Shop Local KC is run by store manager Kierra Washington and offers a wide variety of souvenir items. 

   “Hallmark and Crown Center in general really hones in on local [businesses],” Washtington said. “So a lot of the shops are locally-owned businesses which is a really cool and unique thing to have in a mall-type atmosphere.” 

   From corporate companies to family homes, Hallmark has made a lasting impression on so many people.