Checker Distributors

What Checker Distributors does

Checker Distributors (legal entity: Checker Notions Company Inc., dba Checker Distributors) is a family-owned, wholesale-only distributor of quilting, sewing, and craft supplies headquartered in Maumee, Ohio. Founded in 1948 by Bob Krieger and Jerry Van Walbeck, the company sells to independent quilt shops and online retailers — explicitly not to chain stores — with 125,000+ SKUs sourced from 1,000+ suppliers and 50+ fabric brands. Revenue is generated through transaction-based wholesale orders subject to account minimums ($250 opening and per-order; $1,500 rolling 12-month purchase requirement), with payment via major credit cards and credit terms requiring ~2 weeks for approval.

The business runs on a single 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse equipped with a warehouse management system, RF equipment, 55,000+ barcoded items, and five carousel units supporting a same-day shipping guarantee for orders placed by 2:00 PM ET. Go-to-market is a hybrid model combining USA-based traveling field sales representatives (who carry samples and visit independent shop owners) with a 24/7 B2B e-commerce platform (checkerdist.com) offering real-time inventory, a ratings-and-reviews forum, a Hang Tag reorder program using wireless scanners, and live chat. International reach is served through consolidated FedEx shipping to the EU and UK (3-day transit, no VAT on EU shipments) and a UPS-based Canadian program averaging 42% shipping savings.

The company is in its third generation of Krieger family leadership, with Brad Krieger as President (since 2017) and Rob and Gina Krieger as active Officers. Its competitive positioning is built on exclusive distribution rights for branded product lines (Creative Grids since 2000, The Gypsy Quilter since 2013, Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Quilting Products acquired in 2023, plus Cut Loose Press, Callie Del, and Batting By The Bolt), a "Niche" program flagging products not carried by chain stores, MAP/IMAP pricing enforcement, and free ground shipping on most notions, thread, books, and patterns. The company celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023 and has not raised institutional capital.

Name

Checker Distributors

Legal name

Checker Notions Company Inc.

Website

https://checkerdist.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Maumee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution of Quilting and Sewing Products: Checker Distributors generates revenue through wholesale distribution of quilting, sewing, and craft supplies to independent retailers. The company sells fabrics, notions, threads, patterns, batting, books, and crafts at wholesale prices. Revenue is transaction-based, driven by order volume from retail customers who must meet minimum order requirements ($250 opening order, $250 minimum per order, $1,500 annually to maintain account).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Checker Distributors is a wholesale-only distributor of quilting, sewing, and craft supplies, carrying more than 125,000 SKUs from over 1,000 suppliers and exclusive brand lines such as Creative Grids, The Gypsy Quilter, Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Quilting Products, Cut Loose Press, Batting By The Bolt, and Callie Del. The company sells exclusively to qualified registered independent quilt shops and online retailers, operating a 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Maumee, Ohio that ships orders received by 2:00 PM Eastern Time the same day and serves U.S., Canadian, EU, and UK customers through field sales reps and consolidated international shipping.

Product overview

Checker Distributors is a wholesale distributor specializing in quilting and sewing supplies. The company operates as a single unified e-commerce platform distributing products from multiple manufacturers including fabrics (Andover, Benartex, Island Batik, Northcott, Robert Kaufman), thread (RJR, Threadware), and various quilting accessories. The product portfolio consists of quilting fabrics, sewing thread, and quilting supplies sourced from multiple brand partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creative Grids USA: Non-slip quilting rulers with trademark grip and accurate markings, distributed exclusively through Checker for the western hemisphere.
• The Gypsy Quilter
• Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Quilting Products
• Cut Loose Press
• Batting By The Bolt
• Callie Del

Products and services

• Quilting Fabrics (Wholesale)
• Sewing Thread (Wholesale)
• Quilting Notions and Supplies (Wholesale)
• Batting (Wholesale)
• Books (Wholesale)
• Crafts (Wholesale)
• Gifts (Wholesale)
• Interfacing (Wholesale)
• Needle Art (Wholesale)
• Patterns (Wholesale)
• Zippers (Wholesale)
• Creative Grids Rulers (Exclusive Wholesale Line)
• The Gypsy Quilter Products (Exclusive Wholesale Line)
• Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Quilting Products (Exclusive Wholesale Line)
• International Consolidated Shipping Program (EU/UK)
• Canadian Consolidated Shipping Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day shipping on orders received by 2PM Eastern Time
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KKB Perfect Products, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023KKB Perfect Products, LLC (Karen Kay Buckley brand) has adopted a MAP and IMAP policy for KKB Perfect Products listed on checkerdist.com. The policy applies to retailers worldwide reselling KKB products. Checker Distributors serves as the distributor enforcing MAP compliance.
• Karen Kay BuckleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, Checker purchased the Karen Kay Buckley® Perfect Quilting Products line. This adds another exclusive branded product line to Checker Distributors' portfolio of exclusive offerings for independent quilt shops.
• Creative Grids USA, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Creative Grids USA, LLC (CG USA) has adopted a Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) and Internet Minimum Advertised Price (IMAP) policy for Creative Grids products. CG USA is a separate entity from Creative Grids UK, and Checker Distributors serves as the sole North American distributor. The MAP policy is designed to preserve the brand's reputation and support for resellers.
• The Gypsy QuiltercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013During 2013, Checker gained exclusive rights to The Gypsy Quilter™ products, which include wool mats, the original Gypsy Gripper, sit upon, and various quilting tools. During COVID-19, The Gypsy Quilter brand sourced and sold millions of yards of elastic for face masks.
• Creative Grids UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000In 2000, Checker formed a partnership with Creative Grids UK to become the exclusive distributor for Creative Grids® Non-Slip Quilting Rulers for the Western Hemisphere. Checker maintained commitment to independents by insisting these rulers not be sold in chain stores. The partnership was expanded when Creative Grids USA, LLC was established, with Checker as its sole North American distributor.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Benartex: Quilting cotton fabric manufacturer whose product lines Checker distributes. Comparable as a key upstream supplier/brand partner and as a competitor for shelf space and brand attention in the same independent quilt-shop channel.
• Robert Kaufman Fabrics: Major US quilting cotton fabric manufacturer whose lines Checker distributes wholesale. Comparable as an upstream supplier/brand in the same independent quilt-shop value chain that Checker serves.
• Connecting Threads: Direct-to-consumer online retailer of quilting fabrics, threads, and notions. Adjacent comparable because it sells the same product categories Checker distributes (fabrics, thread, notions) but via a vertically integrated retail model rather than B2B wholesale.
• Moda Fabrics: Major quilting cotton fabric manufacturer and distributor whose brands Checker carries wholesale. Operates upstream in the same quilting-cotton value chain; comparable because it defines the product landscape and brand competition Checker's independent-retailer customers choose between.
• Hoffman California Fabrics: Long-established US quilting and batik fabric manufacturer whose lines Checker distributes. Comparable as an upstream supplier/brand in the same quilting-fabric category and same independent-retailer channel.
• Missouri Star Quilt Company: Major online quilting fabric retailer selling directly to quilters. Downstream customer-type competitor: while Checker sells to independents, Missouri Star competes with those independents for end consumers, shaping demand and channel dynamics in the same quilting market.
• Northcott Fabrics: Canadian quilting cotton manufacturer whose fabrics Checker distributes to independent US retailers. Comparable as an upstream supplier/brand in the same quilting-cotton category, with notable overlap on Canadian distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Coats & Clark: One of the world's largest thread, yarn, and sewing supplies manufacturers, and notably the former employer of Checker founder Bob Krieger. Sells sewing-thread products that Checker distributes at wholesale — an upstream supplier relationship that is also a broader incumbent in the same sewing-notions category.
• Clover Needlecraft, Inc. Established Japanese-origin manufacturer and distributor of sewing, quilting, and needlecraft tools and notions with global brand recognition. Operates in the same quilting/sewing tools space as Checker's exclusive Creative Grids and Gypsy Quilter lines, but at much larger scale and broader retail penetration.

Direct peers

• Brewer Distributing: Wholesale distributor of sewing and quilting supplies serving independent quilt and fabric shops across the United States. Closest direct competitor to Checker with the same B2B wholesale model, independent-retailer focus, and broad notions/fabric assortment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCw5gn2Z4Q0JZcMm36qZ4Q9w
• Facebookfacebook.com/CheckerDistributors
• Instagraminstagram.com/checkerdist
• TikToktiktok.com/@checkerdist
• Pinterestpinterest.com/checkerdist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Checker Distributors