Hester & Cook
Hester & Cook is a Nashville-based designer, wholesaler, and retailer of artist-designed paper tabletop products, stationery, and home decor, founded in 2005. It sells via hesterandcook.com, three company-owned Nashville-area retail stores, and wholesale to 3,000+ retailers across eight countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hester & Cook does
Hester & Cook is a Nashville, Tennessee-based designer, wholesaler, and retailer of artist-designed paper tabletop products, stationery, and home decor, founded in 2005 by spouses Robbie and Angie Hester Cook. The company's core product line consists of die-cut paper placemats, paper table runners, paper napkins, paper tableware, and honeycomb paper decorations featuring hand-rendered artwork from a roster of contracted independent artists including Vicki Sawyer, Elizabeth Foster, Janet Hill, Laura Stoddart, Roiann Ridley (LakeRabbit), Celeste Clark, Bewilderbeest, and others, plus a co-branded line with English pottery maker Burleigh. Beyond paper tabletop, the catalog extends to greeting cards, boxed card sets, notepads, notebooks, pencils, candles, glassware, dinnerware, art prints, tea towels, party supplies, and a recently launched lighting category (Hester & Cook branded plus Zafferano Lighting). A handmade felt collection is manufactured by artisans in Nepal, and the company acquired Bang Candy Company, a Nashville chocolate confections brand with its own downtown retail store.
The business operates a dual-channel distribution model. The wholesale channel ships to over 3,000 retailers across the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, New Zealand, Poland, and Switzerland through a dedicated sales team. The direct-to-consumer channel comprises hesterandcook.com e-commerce (free shipping on orders over $149, eight supported currencies, personalization options) and three company-owned retail locations in the Nashville metro: Franklin (340A Main St.), White Bridge (84 White Bridge Rd.), and Hillsboro Village, operated under the CARNIVAL by Hester & Cook banner (1708 21st Ave S.). Unit pricing ranges from $3.00–$6.00 for paper napkins to $11.00–$47.00 for candles and accessories, with paper placemats at $16.47–$32.95 and specialty table runners at $36.95.
Hester & Cook is founder-owned, with no outside venture or private equity capital disclosed, and has scaled from two founders to over 40 employees across design, sales, wholesale, retail, and operations. Customers are fragmented across individual home entertainers, gift buyers, event planners (weddings, corporate events, baby showers), and wholesale resellers; no individual customer concentration is disclosed. The company has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Southern Living, Cottage Journal, Nashville Scene, Nashville Guru, and Style Blueprint, holds the registered Little Notes® trademark, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025.
Hester & Cook firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hester & Cook
- Legal name
- Hester & Cook
- Website
- https://hesterandcook.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hester & Cook is a Nashville-based designer, wholesaler, and retailer of artist-designed paper tabletop products, stationery, and home decor, founded in 2005. It sells via hesterandcook.com, three company-owned Nashville-area retail stores, and wholesale to 3,000+ retailers across eight countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hester & Cook industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Home Goods and Stationery
- NAICS
- Stationery Product Manufacturing (322230), Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (45941)
- SIC
- Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950), Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Stationery & Office Paper Products (notebooks, pads, forms) (IMAMAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Greeting Cards, Gift Wrap & Party Paper Goods Distribution (CRAOALAJ)
Keywords
Where Hester & Cook is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Hester & Cook business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Retail Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through e-commerce website and three company-owned retail stores in Nashville, Tennessee area. Products sold at retail price points.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution to over 3,000 retailers worldwide through a dedicated sales team. Products sold at wholesale pricing to gift shops, specialty retailers, and department stores.
- Bang Candy Company: Acquired chocolate confections company with its own retail store in downtown Nashville, expanding product offerings beyond tabletop and stationery.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paper Placemats |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paper Napkins |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Candles and Accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Table Runners |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Personalization Options |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Hester & Cook product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hester & Cook designs and sells artist-designed paper tabletop products including die-cut paper placemats, table runners, napkins, tableware, and honeycomb paper decorations, along with greeting cards, boxed card sets, stationery, home decor, kitchen items, lighting, and party supplies. The company also distributes Bang Candy chocolate confections through its acquired brand. Products are sold via direct e-commerce, three company-owned retail stores in Nashville, TN, and wholesale to over 3,000 retailers worldwide.
Product overview
Hester & Cook is a retail brand offering gifts and thoughtful items for home, table, and celebrations. The company's core product line centers on artist-designed paper tabletop products including Paper Placemats, Paper Table Runners, Paper Napkins, Paper Tableware, and Honeycomb Paper decorations. Beyond tabletop, they offer Greeting Cards, Boxed Card Sets, Stationery (notepads, notebooks, pencils, bookmarks, calendars, enamel pins), Bags & Pouches, Home Decor (vases, candles, art prints), Kitchen Items (tea towels, serveware), and Lighting. They also provide Personalization options for placemats and runners, a Handmade Felt Collection crafted by artisans in Nepal, Gift Cards, Party Supplies (balloons, decorations, accessories), and Gift Wrapping products. Through acquisition, they carry Bang Candy chocolate confections. The company collaborates with multiple independent artists including Roiann Ridley (LakeRabbit), Celeste Clark, Vicki Sawyer, Bewilderbeest, Elizabeth Foster, Janet Hill, Laura Stoddart, and Maggie Vandewalle, as well as Burleigh Pottery. Products are available through their three Nashville retail locations, wholesale to over 3,000 retailers worldwide, and their online store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Paper Placemats
Quantifiable outcome
- Products available in 3,000+ retailers worldwide
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hester & Cook
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hester & Cook technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hester & Cook partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LakeRabbit (Roiann Ridley)coreCollaboration with artist Roiann Ridley of LakeRabbit for pressed petals and botanical designs. Ridley creates original designs from organically grown specimens and responsibly foraged discoveries, deconstructing and pressing them into artistic tabletop patterns.
- Celeste ClarkcoreFine artist and illustrator creating nostalgic work that merges watercolor, mixed media, and craft traditions. Designs featured in the Sweet Spring Story collection.
- Vicki SawyercoreWhimsical animal illustrator known for painting birds wearing hats. Her designs including Cherries, Watermelon, and Wild Berry stories have become best sellers for Hester & Cook.
- BewilderbeestcoreStationery line by married duo Iain Hamilton and Maddy Hamilton featuring absurd and whimsical illustrations including fish in top hats and other playful scenes.
- Elizabeth FostercorePainter, designer, and maker from Nashville, Tennessee creating colorful and imaginative paintings with sophisticated whimsy and charm. Featured in multiple collections including English Garden, Holiday Topiary, and Gingerbread stories.
- BurleighcoreIconic English pottery brand collaboration featuring Blue Willow and Black Willow patterns. Burleigh is the last remaining traditional pottery in England, producing authentic earthenware since 1851.
- Janet HillcoreArtist and writer from Stratford, Ontario creating elegant yet whimsical paintings often with underlying narratives. Features in High Kick and other tabletop designs.
- Laura StoddartcoreExclusive US distributor for Laura Stoddart's stationery, art prints and more. Known for exquisite outsized blooms held by miniature people with distinctive soft watercolor palette.
- Maggie VandewalleminorWatercolor greeting card artist depicting animals and their environments with realism, quirks, and humor.
- Catherine GreenupminorSpecializes in handmade gold leaf cards created with husband and business partner Carl Finley.
- Bang Candy CompanycoreAcquired chocolate confections company producing delicious chocolate treats. Has its own retail store in downtown Nashville, expanding Hester & Cook's product offerings beyond tabletop.
- America250minorPartnership with America250 and artist Elizabeth Foster for the 'America the Beautiful Story' celebrating 250 years of American heritage with patriotic tabletop designs.
- Gallup Bow CompanyminorPartner for Fourth of July pop-up event at the Franklin, TN retail location as part of in-store event programming.
- Nepal ArtisanscoreArtisan partners in Nepal who hand-make the felt holiday collection from 100% sheep wool, ensuring each item is crafted with care and attention to detail.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hester & Cook competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rifle Paper Co. Artist-designed stationery, paper goods, and tabletop brand offering greeting cards, journals, and home decor featuring original illustrations. Directly comparable to Hester & Cook on artist-led differentiation, paper tabletop focus, and stationery/greeting card retail.
- Caspari: Designer and publisher of paper tabletop, gift wrap, and stationery featuring licensed artist imagery. Closely comparable to Hester & Cook on artist-licensed paper placemats, napkins, and gift-wrap assortment distributed through gift stores.
- Sugar Paper: Stationery and lifestyle brand focused on greeting cards, personalized stationery, and desk accessories. Comparable to Hester & Cook on greeting cards, boxed sets, and customizable stationery sold direct-to-consumer and through specialty retail.
- Paper Source: Multi-channel stationery and paper goods retailer carrying greeting cards, boxed sets, gift wrap, and tabletop. Comparable to Hester & Cook across the stationery, greeting card, and party-supply categories and on DTC-plus-stores distribution.
- Punch Studio: Independent design studio producing artist-driven greeting cards, gift wrap, and stationery. Directly comparable to Hester & Cook on artist-led greeting cards and paper goods sold through specialty/gift retail.
Broad incumbents
- Anthropologie: Lifestyle retailer selling apparel, home decor, tabletop, and gifts through stores and e-commerce. Comparable to Hester & Cook across the tabletop, gift, and home decor overlap but operates as a broader incumbent rather than a niche artist-led paper brand.
- Crate & Barrel: Large-format retailer of home goods, dinnerware, glassware, and entertaining accessories. Comparable to Hester & Cook across dinnerware, glassware, and entertaining tabletops, though operating as a broader incumbent with proprietary and third-party brands.
- Sur La Table: Specialty retailer of kitchenware, cookware, and entertaining products including tabletop. Comparable to Hester & Cook on the entertaining/tabletop category and on a multi-channel (stores + e-commerce) operating model.
- Garnet Hill: Lifestyle brand selling home textiles, apparel, and gift items via DTC and catalog channels. Comparable to Hester & Cook on the lifestyle/gift positioning and multi-channel (DTC + curated retail) distribution, though with a broader apparel/home mix.
- Williams Sonoma: Multi-brand specialty retailer (Williams Sonoma, West Elm, Pottery Barn) in home, kitchen, and entertaining. Comparable to Hester & Cook on the entertaining/tabletop overlap, though operating at materially larger scale and broader assortment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hester & Cook social profiles
Digital presenceHester & Cook financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hester & Cook leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Hester & Cook subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Hester & Cook funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hester & Cook M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hester & Cook
What does Hester & Cook do?
Hester & Cook designs and sells artist-designed paper tabletop products including die-cut paper placemats, table runners, napkins, tableware, and honeycomb paper decorations, along with greeting cards, boxed card sets, stationery, home decor, kitchen items, lighting, and party supplies. The company also distributes Bang Candy chocolate confections through its acquired brand. Products are sold via direct e-commerce, three company-owned retail stores in Nashville, TN, and wholesale to over 3,000 retailers worldwide.
Is Hester & Cook a public or private company?
Hester & Cook is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hester & Cook founded?
Hester & Cook was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hester & Cook based?
Hester & Cook is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hester & Cook make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution and bang Candy Company.
Who are Hester & Cook's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rifle Paper Co., Caspari, Sugar Paper, Paper Source and Punch Studio. Broad incumbents are Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table, Garnet Hill and Williams Sonoma.
Does Hester & Cook have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hester & Cook.
What industry is Hester & Cook in?
Hester & Cook's product category is Home Goods and Stationery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAHAG, Stationery & Office Paper Products (notebooks, pads, forms), with a secondary code of CRAOALAJ, Greeting Cards, Gift Wrap & Party Paper Goods Distribution. Its NAICS code is 322230 and its SIC code is 3950.