Jones

Hallmark Stores
Media Kit
March 12, 2017



Press Release Contact: Briana Chernak

Feb. 3, 2017 561-927-7025
bchernak95@gmail.com

Jones Hallmark Stores moves HQ to Urbana
FORSYTHMary Ann Jones will move her corporate Jones Hallmark Stores headquarters

to the Sunnycrest Mall in Urbana this spring. Jones said 35 people, her entire professional staff,

will relocate from Forsyth. Jones is also opening a Jones Hallmark Store on Main Street in

downtown Urbana.

City officials said the move will benefit Urbana a. Elizabeth Libby Tyler, Urbana

director of planning, said the new jobs will create economic development. They will buy

houses, join congregations and clubs, enroll their kids in school and overall contribute to the

vibrancy and economic health of Urbana, Tyler said.

Jones said her 12-store business outgrew the Forsyth space and she wants to bring her

family closer to her parents. Rather than build new space there in whats becoming crowded

and expensive, I thought wed take a look at Urbana, she said. We did and we liked what we

saw.

Jones, a 1998 University of Illinois business graduate, founded the regional group of

stores in 1999. Jones Hallmark Stores is the largest single Hallmark distributor in Illinois outside

of Chicago. Her new store will be her 12th; it will open on Main Street Feb. 5.

###

About Jones Hallmark Stores: Mary Ann Jones founded her first Hallmark store in 1999 in

Forsyth. Today she has 12 locations throughout Illinois and is the largest Hallmark distributor in

Illinois outside of Chicago. The Jones Hallmark Stores HQ will be relocate to Urbana in spring

2017.


Fact Sheet

About Jones Hallmark Stores

Started in 1999 in Forsyth

HQ is in the Sunnycrest Mall in Urbana (2017)

Corporate staff made is 35 full time employees

In-house marketing and advertising group is entirely made up of U of I grads

Half of staff has been with her for 10+ years

Facebook page is JonesHallmarkStores

About Jones Hallmark-Urbana

12th Jones Hallmark location

Will open Feb. 5

At 123 W. Main St., Urbana

U of I faculty, staff and students will receive 10 percent discount with U of I

identification

Will be managed by Jones until new team is hired

Will have grand opening sale from Sunday, Feb, 5, to Sunday, Feb. 19

About Mary Ann Jones

DOB: 10/18/76

Graduated May 1998 from U of I

Married to 1996 U of I graduate William Sonny Smith since 2005

Two children with Smith: Kevin and Jessica Ann

Marathon Runner in the Midwest circuit



Photos
Mary Ann Jones in new Urbana location


























Jones inside a Jones Hallmark Store
















Photos continued

Inside new Urbana
location




















Storefront of new Urbana location







Map of Jones Hallmark Stores locations

Legend:
1. Urbana
2. Forsyth
3. Springfield
4. Peoria
5. Sterling
6. Mt. Vernon
7. Freeport
8. Sycamore
9. Vandalia
10. West Frankfort
11. Pekin
12. Litchfield

Quote Sheet

Mary Ann Jones:
I am so thrilled to be opening a Jones Hallmark Store on Main Street in Urbana. I spent
some of my best young years wandering around the downtown when I was a U of I
student. I grew up in Tolono and went to Unity High School but have been running my
business from Forsyth for the last decade. Im also happy to announce that I will move
the headquarters of all my stores to Sunnycrest Mall and will move my accountants,
business manager, assistant buyers and other employees here as well. All have agreed
to make the move. I will hire a full-time store manager for the new Urbana location
once the new store in launched, so probably in late spring. Ill need an experienced retail
manager; I also will be hiring floor workers. The new store will fit well with the mix of
retail in downtown Urbana and brings Hallmark back to town after being gone about 15
years and I am excited to be back.
We began to outgrow our offices in Forsyth and rather than build new space there in
whats becoming crowded and expensive, I thought wed take a look at Urbana. We did
and we liked what we saw.
Re: her running hobby: Im nothing special as a runner, she said, but it helps clear my
head, keeps me in shape and lets me take the family on little vacations. Sonny watches
and kids and after I run, we visit some local sites and have a nice meal wherever we are.
The kids have pretty sophisticated palates from visiting many different adult
restaurants.

Elizabeth Libby Tyler, Urbana Director of Planning:
This is a win-win-win for Urbana. The whole Jones staff is moving into the area over the
next few months. Most of them have families; they will buy houses, join congregations
and clubs, enroll their kids in school and overall contribute to the vibrancy and
economic health of Urbana. Its a white-collar enterprise that fits in well. Im especially
happy that Ms. Jones is renovating space in Sunnycrest, which has been a challenging
neighborhood for us.

Mayor Laurel Prussing:
The downtown will gain tremendously from the new Jones Hallmark Store and we are
happy to welcome Mary Ann Jones back to the community.

James Cobb, Urbana Chamber of Commerce Executive Director :
All the Urbana downtown businesses welcome Mary Ann Jones and the latest Jones
Hallmark Store to the center city. Its a win-win for shoppers and by adding the
excitement of a new retail option we hope people will want to come to our increasingly
attractive Main Street.



Contact Sheet

For further information please contact Briana Chernak at:
5619277025
bchernak95@gmail.com