CARSON, Calif., Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Lakeshore Learning Materials, a premier developer and retailer of children's educational products, today announced the 60th anniversary of the company's founding. In its six decades of service to teachers, parents and children, Lakeshore has revolutionized early childhood and elementary education, helping children reach developmental milestones and achieve their educational goals—while having fun. In celebration of its 60th year, Lakeshore kicks off this month with a special Anniversary Sale and a "60 Years of Learning" Event at stores nationwide on September 27 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
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Innovation has been the hallmark of Lakeshore's long-flourishing business, which has grown from a small toy store in Northern California to a global educational leader—with retail stores from coast to coast and a network of more than 85 distributors spanning 50 countries. Through the years, Lakeshore's products have made real connections with customers—with favorites such as The Allowance Game® and the celebrated People Colors® Crayons, which allow children of all ethnicities to draw pictures that look like them. In addition to developing its own materials, Lakeshore has also collaborated with many outstanding educational organizations to create materials for special education, health and nutrition programs and much more.
The company's success over more than half a century can be traced back to the remarkable vision of Lakeshore's founder. Family-owned and family-operated for three generations, Lakeshore was started in 1954 by Ethelyn Kaplan, a single mother from Omaha who packed up her family and headed west to California to realize her dream of opening a toy store. But when local schools began calling her for supplies, Ethelyn discovered a greater calling—serving teachers in the community. Soon, she sold the toy store and started Lakeshore Learning Materials. After years of steady growth, Ethelyn's sons, Charles and Michael, joined the business, expanding Lakeshore into a multimillion-dollar company. In 2007, Michael's sons, Bo and Josh, began leading the company, with Bo now serving as president and CEO and Josh as executive vice president.
"We're extremely honored to be celebrating such a major milestone in our company's history," said Bo Kaplan. "It is a huge testament to our people, our products and the loyal customers who have wholeheartedly supported us over the years. And, we are beyond excited about the future. We look forward to delivering the highest-quality products and service for many years to come."
Today, Lakeshore produces hundreds of new products every year for infants and toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-age children—covering all subject areas, from math and language to science, music and arts and crafts. To ensure products remain relevant and up-to-date, the company's product developers—all former teachers—continually visit classrooms around the country to learn the best ways to help children succeed in today's rapidly changing world.
In addition to its widely recognized catalog business and growing online marketplace, Lakeshore also has greatly expanded its retail footprint since opening its first storefront in West Los Angeles in 1969. Today, the company operates 59 stores in 28 states—with its 60th store opening this October in Albuquerque, NM. Renowned not only for their products, Lakeshore Learning Stores have also become a valuable part of the community, hosting Free Crafts for Kids and other family-friendly, year-round events with authors, folk singers and more. This October, they'll host a nationwide event in celebration of Jumpstart's Read for the Record®—a national campaign celebrating early literacy.
Sixty years after its inception, Lakeshore remains dedicated to providing outstanding educational materials that spark young imaginations, instill a sense of wonder and foster a lifelong love of learning. Although Lakeshore has grown substantially over the years, the company remains focused on the principles that have guided its success from the beginning—listening closely to customers and serving their needs.
For more information, check out The Lakeshore Story: A Simple Beginning and visit LakeshoreLearning.com.
About Lakeshore — Products Designed with Learning in Mind™
Lakeshore Learning Materials is a leading developer and retailer of top-quality materials for early childhood education programs, elementary schools and homes nationwide. Since 1954, Lakeshore has offered innovative learning materials distinguished by their quality, educational merit and safety. To learn more, visit LakeshoreLearning.com.
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