company history
hook & ladder printing co. was born in 1963 when the company's founder, Janet, then a six year old with a box of 64 Crayolas and a surplus of free time, began making cards for her dad. In 2001, at the urging of friends and family who assured her there were others who hankered for similarly silly notions, hook & ladder ventured thoughtfully into the retail marketplace.
In 2006, Tracy jumped in feet first. It was Tracy who made the astute observation that the worst thing about getting older was that your friends were all too busy to come out and play while Janet wondered why all the really good stuff was squandered on children rather than lavished on well-deserving adults. The "why" of those two statements quickly led to the more important question, "why not?" and at that moment they agreed to join forces to create products which celebrate the value of friendship at any age. 
personal history
Janet wakes up every morning determined not only to build a better mousetrap but to build one that sparkles. For fun she contemplates puzzlers such as, you are stuck on a deserted island with only a roll of double-sided tape and a jar of jalapenos – how will you rig up a satellite communication system? She doesn't have any kids but readily admits that her golden retriever has worked tirelessly to answer each and every one of her maternal urges. Inexplicably popular with the under 10 set she reports that the best compliment she ever received was "even though you're older than my mom, you play like an eight year old." Yankee ingenuity combined with an overactive imagination and the inability to sit still has landed her smack dab in the middle of where she is today. Her husband knows to leave well enough alone when she is in the studio – on his behalf she would like to extend her appreciation to ESPN and the soccer channel.
Tracy will tell you that having it all will bring you to your knees oh, about 200 times a day. Kids, dogs, cats, birds and ferrets make for a house that resembles an urban petting zoo and everyday she is grateful for the fact that the horses board across town. So, how does she do it? Frankly, nobody really knows though we suspect it has something to do with an around the bend creative mind, loads of Southern charm (hello, Memphis!) fueled by gallons of a name brand diet cola. Luckily, hook & ladder's studios are just a hop, skip and a jump away when new ideas are sparking. She also lays claim to the world's most understanding husband, a former NBA player and head coach, who she says has taught her everything she knows about how to use her hands.
Both are united in their resolve NOT to take up golf until it becomes a three hole game and in complete agreement that they will stop at nothing short of a book deal and their own TV show.