Ed Hoy's International

What Ed Hoy's International does

Ed Hoy's International is a privately held, specialty art glass supplier founded in 1970 and headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois. The company operates a dual retail and wholesale distribution model, with a single physical retail showroom at 27625 Diehl Road and an e-commerce website that supports account management, wishlists, bulk order pads, and product search. Its catalog spans sheet glass (art glass and fusible glass across 90, 96, and 104 COE), accessory glass (bevels, frit, dichroic, murrini, stringer), tools/equipment/kilns, fusing supplies, art glass supplies (metals, chemicals, mosaic supplies), and flameworking materials (boro rods/tubing, 104 COE rods from brands such as Bullseye, Oceanside, Effetre Moretti, Creation is Messy, Northstar, Schott, and Simax).

The business serves three primary segments: individual glass artists and hobbyists engaged in stained, fused, flameworked, and mosaic work; wholesale/glass businesses, studios, and resellers purchasing under a tiered program (Tier 1: $500 initial order / $600 annual minimum; Tier 2: $1,200 initial / $1,500 annual, with schools and non-profits exempt from the initial order); and educational institutions. The company claims to inventory the largest collection of art glass and supplies in the world and has served the community for over 50 years.

Ed Hoy's monetizes through one-time retail product sales, wholesale transaction volumes, and professional services revenue from classes, workshops, open studio sessions, and group events. Pricing is set per unit at retail with $15 flat-rate shipping on orders over $125 and a 99¢ Spee-Dee shipping option in a defined delivery zone; wholesale accounts follow an annual minimum purchase requirement. The company layers customer retention mechanisms (a Boro Club loyalty program, wholesale Loyalty Rewards) and educational content (blog, video library, featured artists) on top of the transactional model, and reaches audiences through email, Instagram, TikTok, and industry events including the Midwest Glass Art Expo and Glass Craft & Bead Expo. No external investors, parent company, or public listing is indicated.

Name

Ed Hoy's International

Legal name

Ed Hoy's International

Website

https://edhoy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ed Hoy's International is a privately held specialty art glass supplier founded in 1970, operating a retail showroom and e-commerce site in Warrenville, IL, plus a tiered wholesale program. It serves glass artists, hobbyists, resellers, and schools across North America with sheet glass, accessory glass, tools, kilns, fusing supplies, flameworking materials, and educational classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Glass Supplies Distribution

NAICS

Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (45942)

akta.pro primary industry

General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Crafts & DIY Hobby Supplies Distribution (CRAOAMAE)

Keywords

• Art glass supplies
• Wholesale glass distribution
• Flameworking materials
• Stained glass supplies
• Glass art education

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Direct sales of art glass supplies, tools, equipment, and glass materials to hobbyists and individual artists through online store and physical retail location in Warrenville, IL
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale accounts for businesses with tiered requirements (Tier 1: $500 initial order, $600 annual; Tier 2: $1,200 initial order, $1,500 annual). Requires business license and resale certificate.
3. Education and Classes: Provides glass art classes, workshops, open studio sessions, and group events for skill development and community building

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ed Hoy's International distributes and sells art glass supplies through both a retail store in Warrenville, IL and an e-commerce website, plus a wholesale program. Product assortment includes sheet glass, accessory glass, tools, kilns, fusing supplies, and flameworking materials from manufacturers such as Bullseye, Oceanside, Effetre Moretti, Northstar, and Creation is Messy (CiM). The company also offers classes, workshops, open studio sessions, and a video library for glass art education.

Product overview

Ed Hoy's International is a B2B and B2C art glass supplier with both wholesale and retail operations. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of glass art products organized into six main categories: Sheet Glass (Art Glass and Fusible Glass in various COEs), Accessory Glass (bevels, frit, dichroic glass, murrini, and more), Tools/Equipment/Kilns (grinders, kilns, soldering irons, hand tools), Fusing Supplies (chemicals, molds, paints, enamels, glazes), Art Glass Supplies (metals, displays, chemicals, mosaic supplies), and Flameworking materials (boro rods, 104 COE rods, torches). Key branded product lines include Bullseye, Oceanside, Creation is Messy (CiM), Effetre Moretti, Northstar Glassworks, and Thompson Enamels. The company also provides educational services through classes, workshops, and a video library, operates a wholesale program with tiered pricing, and offers clearance merchandise. Ed Hoy's positions itself as serving artists at all skill levels from beginners to professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sheet Glass Flat glass products including Art Glass (Architectural, Artisan Glass Collection, Bullseye Non-Fusible, Chroma, Clear Textures, Monarch Glass, Oceanside Non-Fusible, St. Just, Van Gogh, Wissmach, Youghiogheny, ShimmerCoats) and Fusible Glass (90 COE, 96 COE, Bullseye, Effetre Moretti, Oceanside, Wissmach 96, Youghiogheny 96), sold to glass artists and studios.
• Accessory Glass Supplementary glass materials including Bevels, Billets, Bullseye Rods, Confetti, Dichroic Glass, Frit, Gems/Nuggets/Pebbles, Jewels, Murrini, Noodles, Oceanside Rods, Precut Clusters/Kits/Shapes, Ribbons, Rondels, Stringer, and Trichroic Glass.
• Tools, Equipment & Kilns Equipment including Coldworking, Grinders, Kilns (such as Hot Shot 12in Clamshell Kiln with Tap Control), Sandblasting, Saws & Sanders; Hand Tools including Brushes & Pens, Glass Cutters/Cutting Systems, Soldering Irons & Accessories; and Replacement Parts for belts/discs/pads, grinder bits, kiln furniture, and saw parts.
• Fusing Supplies Supplies for glass fusing projects including Decals & Fusible Paper, Fusing Chemicals, Fusing Molds, Fusing Tools, Glass Tattoo, Hotline Products, Jewelry Accessories, Shelf Paper/Board & Fiber Blanket, and Paints/Enamels & Glazes from brands like Bullseye, Fusemaster, Glassline, Reusche, Thompson Enamels, and Vitrea Color.
• Art Glass Supplies General art glass supplies including SG Chemicals (Adhesives, Cement & Putty, Cleaners/Coolant/Polish, Cutting Fluid & Flux, Etching & Sandblasting, Patinas), Metals (Came, Copper & Silver Foil, Solder), Displays, ColorMagic Paints, Paint Pens, Art Glass Kits, Books & DVDs, Mosaic Supplies, Pattern & Stencil Paper, and Safety Gear.
• Flameworking Flameworking/lampworking supplies including Boro Rods & Tubing (Lenz Ground Joints, Northstar, Schott, Simax, TAG), Flameworking Tools & Supplies (Beadmaking Kits, Boro Tools, Torches/Annealers/Bench Burners), and Rods 104 & Accessories (CiM - 104 COE, Double Helix - 104 COE, Effetre - 104 COE, Millefiori & Murrini).
• Clearance Products Discounted items across multiple categories including Clearance Fusible Glass, Clearance Accessory Glass, Clearance Tools & Equipment, Clearance Fusing Supplies, Clearance Art Glass Supplies, and Clearance Flameworking.
• Education & Classes Educational offerings including Classes & Events, Featured Artists, Open Studio sessions, Group Events, Glass Techniques instruction, and Video Library for skill development and community building among glass artists.
• Wholesale Program Wholesale pricing program with two tiers: Tier 1 requires $500 initial order and $600 annual purchases; Tier 2 requires $1,200 initial order (waived for schools/non-profits) and $1,500 annual purchases. Requires business license and resale certificate. Includes Loyalty Rewards Program.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hot Shot Oven and KilncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHot Shot Oven and Kiln presents the Midwest Glass Art Expo, an event that brings together artists, makers and glass art enthusiasts in the Midwest. Ed Hoy's International is connected to this event through collaborative promotion and presence.
• Bullseye GlasscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor supplier of glass materials including Bullseye rods, fusible glass, ThinFire shelf paper, color line paints, and screen printing paste. Products available through Ed Hoy's extensive inventory.
• Oceanside Glass & TilecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of Oceanside rods, fusible glass, and OG Sampler products. Major accessory glass and sheet glass vendor for the store.
• Effetre MoretticoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian glass manufacturer providing 104 COE rods, tubing, and specialty glass products. Extensive Effetre product line including moretti soft glass for flameworking.
• Creation is Messy (CiM)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of 104 COE glass rods in vibrant colors specifically designed for flameworking. Wide variety of opaque, transparent, and special effects colors available.
• Northstar GlassworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor supplier of boro rods and tubing for flameworking. Products include frit, rods, and specialty colors for lampworking projects.
• Thompson EnamelsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of enamel powders for copper, gold, and silver work. Products include 80 mesh enamels in various colors for medium temperature applications.
• Double Helix GlassworksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of specialty 104 COE glass rods with unique color effects for flameworking projects.
• Diamond TechminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of stained glass kits and craft products for hobbyists including Highland Cow, Monstera Leaf, and Raindrops design kits.
• SchottminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of boro tubing and specialty glass for scientific and flameworking applications.
• SimaxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of borosilicate glass tubing and rods for flameworking and laboratory applications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Michaels Companies: North America's largest specialty craft retailer carrying general craft, hobby, and art supplies. Competes at the entry-level/hobbyist end of Ed Hoy's customer base but does not match depth in specialty art glass COE-specific products.
• Blick Art Materials (Blick): One of the largest U.S. art supplies retailers with broad assortment across painting, drawing, ceramics, and craft categories. Overlaps with Ed Hoy's on glass art supplies but as part of a much wider portfolio serving hobbyists, students, and institutions.

Regional players

• The Corning Museum of Glass Shop: Museum-affiliated retail operation selling art glass, kits, tools, and educational resources with a glass-art focus. Overlaps with Ed Hoy's on educational positioning and curated assortment but draws foot traffic from museum visitors rather than wholesale channels.

Direct peers

• Delphi Glass: Delphi Glass is the closest direct competitor to Ed Hoy's: a multi-channel U.S. distributor of stained glass, fused glass, and art glass supplies serving both hobbyists and wholesale/B2B customers. Operates a similar assortment model across glass sheets, tools, kilns, and consumables.
• Cutting Edge Stained Glass Supplies: Online and catalog retailer specializing in stained glass supplies, tools, and accessories for hobbyists and studios. Overlaps directly with Ed Hoy's on stained glass categories, foiling, soldering, and pattern supplies.
• Glass Expressions: Stained glass supply retailer and education provider offering glass, tools, and classes. Directly comparable to Ed Hoy's in both product mix (sheet glass, tools, foils) and education-based community building.
• Whittemore-Durham Glass Company: Long-running stained glass and art glass supplies retailer with both retail and wholesale operations. Comparable assortment (glass, tools, fusing supplies) and similar dual retail/wholesale GTM to Ed Hoy's.

Emerging players

• Northstar Glassworks: Borosilicate glass rod and tubing manufacturer serving flameworkers; a key Ed Hoy's supplier that also sells direct to consumers. Comparable in flameworking segment and competes for the same end customer through direct channels.
• Bullseye Glass Co. Major U.S. manufacturer of fusible sheet glass, rods, and fusing supplies that also sells direct to consumers via its own website and a Portland, OR resource center. Both a key Ed Hoy's supplier and a partial competitor through DTC channels.
• Olympic Color Rods: Specialty boro and soft glass rod manufacturer focused on flameworking color palette. Operates upstream of Ed Hoy's distribution and sells direct; comparable in product category and end-customer overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EdHoysInternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/edhoysinternational
• TikToktiktok.com/@edhoysinternational
• Xx.com/Ed_Hoys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ed Hoy's International