Esther Howland was born 1828 in Worcester Massachusetts Her father was a store owner who sold books and writing stationary. She attended Mount Holyoke College and graduated in 1847. Shortly after that, one of her father's business associates gave her an English Valentine's Day card. She really liked the card and decided to try and make some on her own. She ordered the paper, lace, and roses from England and made a few sample Valentine's Day Cards and sold them through her brother who was a salesman. She also ran an ad in the local newspaper. She received $5000 in orders! People loved her cards and her business took off in no time. She named her company "The New England Valentine Company". By the time she retired in 1881, her company was grossing $100,000 a year.
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