David Blumenthal

What do you do at Lion Brand?
I’m President and CEO.  I consider my most important job at Lion Brand to be offering a work environment where people can be happy and inspiring our associates to be their best.

When did you start working at Lion Brand?
October 1, 1969 was my first day. My father, Isidor, was President of the company from 1958 to 2003 but started working here when he graduated from law school.

What do you do when you’re not working?
I’m always working. Lion Brand is part of my life.  When I’m out of the office, I enjoy observing trends, and thinking about colors, fibers, and fashions.  I find inspiration everywhere from magazine articles to store windows, to catalogs in my mailbox, and I share these ideas with our associates who help bring them to life.

What is your earliest yarn memory?
Going to the office at 54 Canal Street, at the corner of Canal and Orchard Streets, where we had offices and a warehouse. It was the tallest building on the Lower East Side of New York. I was about 7 or 8 years old and I would sweep the floors and empty the wastebaskets. Going into the office with my father was a really big deal for me.

What does your workspace look like?
I have two offices: one in our corporate center in Carlstadt, New Jersey and one in our Design Center in Manhattan. They are both filled with history, memorabilia from my years in the business, family photos, and a lot of yarn and lion images. I have a collection of books about all aspects of yarn, binders with historical information, old advertisements and editorial features about Lion Brand. I have a 20 foot long bulletin board with photos of several of the Knit Outs that I started when I was president of the Craft Yarn Council 10 years ago, photos of our annual fashion show at the Craft and Hobby show with Vanna White, pictures of me with Barbara Bush, Elizabeth Dole, who was president of the American Red Cross, and several presidents and prime ministers. I also have a poster signed by Milton Glaser, who created the famous I love NY campaign and who has done design work for Lion Brand.