What Hobby Lobby is and why its ownership matters

Hobby Lobby is a privately held craft retailer with over 900 stores across the United States, owned and operated by the Green family since 1972. Unlike most large retailers, Hobby Lobby remains a family business rather than a publicly traded company, which shapes decisions about store hours, employee benefits, and the products it sells. Understanding this ownership structure helps explain why Hobby Lobby operates differently from competitors like Michaels or Joann.

The company's private ownership means the Green family's personal values directly influence business policy. This affects everything from which holidays the stores close on to what health insurance coverage the company provides to employees. For shoppers and job seekers, these policies are worth understanding before you visit or explore for work.

Key Takeaways

  • Hobby Lobby is privately owned by the Green family and closed on Sundays and major Christian holidays, which differs from most national retailers.
  • The company provides health insurance to full-time employees but has faced legal disputes over which contraceptive methods it covers based on the owners' religious beliefs.
  • Hobby Lobby's supply chain has included items sourced from countries with labor concerns, leading to lawsuits and repatriation of artifacts.
  • Store hours and employment policies reflect the owners' religious convictions, so job candidates should review benefits and scheduling before accepting positions.
  • The company operates a for-profit business alongside a nonprofit foundation that funds Christian causes and educational institutions.

Store hours and holiday closures

Hobby Lobby closes every Sunday and remains closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Independence Day. This is a deliberate policy rooted in the Green family's Christian faith and their stated belief that employees should have time for family and worship. Most national craft retailers stay open seven days a week and operate on all federal holidays, so Hobby Lobby's schedule is unusual in the retail sector.

If you plan to shop at Hobby Lobby, check the store locator on their website before visiting on a Sunday or major holiday. The closure policy is consistent across all locations, so you cannot find an open store by calling a different branch. This matters most during peak shopping seasons like back-to-school or the winter holidays, when you may have fewer days to complete your project.

Employment and health insurance coverage

Hobby Lobby employs over 32,000 people and offers health insurance to full-time employees (those working 30 or more hours per week). The company's health plan has been the subject of legal disputes because it excludes certain contraceptive methods that the Green family's religious beliefs classify as abortion-inducing, even though medical organizations classify them as contraception. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. that the company could exclude these methods from its insurance coverage based on the owners' religious convictions.

If you work full-time at Hobby Lobby, you should review the specific contraceptive coverage in the health plan before accepting a position. The company also pays above the federal minimum wage and offers paid time off, but the religious restrictions on insurance coverage are a real consideration for employees whose medical needs include the excluded contraceptive methods. Part-time employees do not receive health insurance through the company.

Supply chain and artifact repatriation

Hobby Lobby has faced multiple legal and ethical challenges related to how it sources products. In 2017, the company agreed to pay a $3 million penalty and return thousands of ancient Iraqi artifacts that had been smuggled into the United States and sold to Hobby Lobby without proper documentation. The artifacts were later returned to Iraq. The company's purchasing practices had not included sufficient verification that items were legally exported from their countries of origin.

In 2021, Hobby Lobby also faced criticism over sourcing practices in countries with documented labor concerns. The company has stated it works to improve supplier standards, but shoppers concerned about labor practices in craft supply manufacturing should research the specific products they buy. Unlike some retailers, Hobby Lobby does not publish a detailed supply chain transparency report, so detailed information about where and how products are made is not publicly available.

The Green family's nonprofit and business interests

The Green family operates Hobby Lobby as a for-profit business but also runs the Hobby Lobby Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds Christian education, missionary work, and religious institutions. The family also owns the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., which opened in 2017 and displays artifacts from the Green family's private collection. These ventures reflect the owners' stated mission to integrate their faith with their business and philanthropic activities.

The distinction between the for-profit Hobby Lobby stores and the nonprofit foundation matters if you donate to the foundation or visit the museum. Purchases at Hobby Lobby stores do not directly fund the foundation, though the family's profits from the retail business support their philanthropic work. If you want to know how your money is being used, you can review the foundation's annual tax filings, which are public documents.

Comparing Hobby Lobby to other craft retailers

Hobby Lobby's main competitors are Michaels and Joann, both of which operate under different ownership structures and policies. Michaels is owned by Apollo Global Management and operates stores seven days a week, including holidays. Joann is also publicly traded and maintains similar seven-day schedules. Both competitors offer online shopping and shipping options that Hobby Lobby also provides, but their store hours are more flexible.

If you need craft supplies on a Sunday or holiday, Michaels and Joann are open, and both offer online ordering with in-store pickup or home delivery. Hobby Lobby's online store operates seven days a week, so you can order online even when physical stores are closed. The choice between retailers often comes down to product selection, pricing, and whether you need to shop on specific days when Hobby Lobby is closed.

What to know before shopping or working at Hobby Lobby

Before you shop or explore for a job at Hobby Lobby, understand that the company's policies reflect the Green family's religious values in concrete ways. Store closures on Sundays and major holidays are not negotiable across any location. If you work there, full-time employment includes health insurance with specific contraceptive exclusions based on the owners' beliefs. These are not hidden policies—they are public and consistent—but they are worth confirming before you commit time or money to the company.

Hobby Lobby also offers competitive wages and benefits compared to other retail craft stores, and many employees report positive experiences. The company's approach straightforward differs from most national retailers because it remains family-owned and operated according to the owners' stated principles. Knowing this in advance helps you make an informed decision about whether Hobby Lobby aligns with your needs and values.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order from Hobby Lobby online on Sundays?

Yes. Hobby Lobby's website operates seven days a week, and you can place orders online anytime. Physical stores are closed on Sundays, but online orders placed on Sunday will be processed and shipped according to the company's standard delivery timeline. In-store pickup orders placed online on Sunday will be ready for pickup on the next business day.

Does Hobby Lobby have a return policy?

Hobby Lobby accepts returns of most items within 30 days with a receipt. Items without a receipt can be returned for store credit. Some items, like clearance merchandise or custom orders, may have different return terms. Check the receipt or ask a store associate about the specific return policy for the item you purchased.

What is Hobby Lobby's position on the artifacts controversy?

Hobby Lobby stated that it made a mistake in its purchasing practices and agreed to return the Iraqi artifacts and pay the penalty. The company said it has since strengthened its procedures for verifying that items are legally exported. However, the incident raised ongoing questions about supply chain oversight that the company has not fully addressed in public detail.

Do all Hobby Lobby employees get health insurance?

Only full-time employees (30 or more hours per week) receive health insurance through Hobby Lobby. Part-time employees do not receive company health insurance. Full-time employees should review the specific coverage details, particularly regarding contraceptive methods, before accepting a position.

Is Hobby Lobby affiliated with any religious organization?

Hobby Lobby is not affiliated with a specific church or denomination, but it is operated according to the Green family's Christian beliefs. The family funds Christian causes through the Hobby Lobby Foundation and operates the Museum of the Bible, but the retail stores themselves are secular businesses open to all customers regardless of religion.