About Ann Clark Ltd.

Humble Beginnings

Back in 1989, Ann Clark started out with little more than a pig-shaped Christmas ornament and a dream. After years of painting and creating small gifts for her children to give away, she set up shop in her garage and turned a hobby into a business. In 1991, armed with a small amount of start-up cash and unbridled enthusiasm, Ann tackled her first trade show, setting up a booth at the Philadelphia Gift Show with six cookie cutter designs and several other hand-made crafts. She came home with $3,500 in orders, and Ann Clark, the person, became Ann Clark, Ltd., the company.

Thirteen years of love and labor later, Ann’s creative flair and love for baking has produced a broad product line of handcrafted cookie cutters and associated giftware, making Ann Clark, Ltd. the largest cookie cutter company in the gift industry. With accounts throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, “The Cookie Cutter People from Vermont” are invited into the kitchens of consumers worldwide.

A Family Affair

With the success of Ann Clark, Ltd., cookie cutters became a family affair. Although very supportive from the outset, Ann’s late husband, John, was promoted to the more official role of Vice President in 1996. Her late son, John Jr., also served as a key player when he moved back to Vermont in 1996. Daughter Elizabeth joined the team as Sales Manager around the same time, and son Ben came on board as General Manager in 1998. Even granddaughters Margaret and Rebecca lend their services as cookie tasters, eagerly approving of Ann’s special butter cookie recipe handed down from her mother.

Handcrafted in Vermont

The life of every Ann Clark, Ltd. product begins in the artistic mind of Ann Clark herself, from the inaugural “Piggy” shape to the latest cookie cutter designs. After carefully gathering inspiration from a variety of different media, Ann creates a series of cutter sketches that culminate in a final hand-drawn “blueprint” for each cookie cutter. This blueprint is then turned into a hand-bent prototype for each new cutter, which Ann approves before production can begin.

Meanwhile, Ann is also instrumental in the artwork that appears with all Ann Clark, Ltd. products. Her talented hand decorates the recipe card attached to every cookie cutter, and she meticulously paints the vibrant watercolor scenes that accompany our gift sets, making sure each pleases her own critical eye prior to printing.
Ann’s creativity is turned into reality with the help of approximately 20 full-time employees.

When the company outgrew Ann’s garage in Mendon, we moved to 12,000 feet of factory space just down the road in Rutland, Vermont. Here in the beautiful foothills of the Green Mountains, all Ann Clark, Ltd. cookie cutters are handcrafted out of tin-coated steel or copper. Strips of metal are first cut to length according to each specific cookie cutter design, and then made into rings. These rings are then molded into the correct shape using a manually-operated forming process. Finally, sturdy handles are attached, and recipe cards, hand tied with a piece of kitchen twine, add the finishing touch.

“Make More Cookies”

As the standard closing to corporate communications will attest, the sales pitch at Ann Clark, Ltd. is both simple and inviting: “Make More Cookies”! Our products continue to be successful in a variety of diverse markets, including gift shops, coffeehouses, bookstores, gourmet shops, and pet stores, as well as a number of direct mail catalogues. Thirteen sales representative organizations provide an extensive network of sales expertise for the company throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, Ann Clark, Ltd. advertisements can be seen in all major trade publications in the gift industry, including Giftware News, Gift & Dec, and Country Business.

Ever since Ann collected her first significant orders as a result of the Philadelphia Gift Show in 1991, trade shows have been an important ingredient in Ann Clark, Ltd’s recipe for success. Ann, in particular, considers the feedback she receives from talking with store owners at trade shows to be invaluable. The company has extensive trade show experience, including participation in the New York International Gift Fair. Ann Clark, Ltd. also participates in all regional gift shows and showrooms through our nationwide sales representative network.

Your Logo as a Cookie Cutter

Ann Clark, Ltd. launched a separate corporate division early in 1997 specializing in custom cookie cutter designs. From alumni associations and historical societies, to restaurants and casinos, companies tired of the same old pens, coffee mugs and magnets treat their customers to a custom-designed cookie cutter in the shape of their logo or mascot. Custom recipe cards, complete with corporate logo and contact information, can also be included with the cutter, ensuring that our client’s message will reappear for years to come as families make cookies together. Noteworthy projects have included the Pillsbury Doughboy, the John Deere “Deer”, the McDonald’s Arches, and the NBC Peacock.