History/About Us

Our Mission is simple:

 
 

Create quality wood products that encourage imaginations and enhance creativity in children and adults; add classroom and home accessories that help people stay organized; then provide fast, friendly and reliable service.

THE BEKA STORY

BEKA, Inc. is a specialty manufacturer, producing high quality wood products for nearly forty years in our family owned St. Paul, Minnesota workshop.  Beka is a Made in America original!

Beka is turning 40 this year!  Owned and operated by an extended family group, including brothers Jamie, Richard and Peter Kreisman we are now moving into the next generation.  Jamie has been joined by his son Jonathon, while Richard and Peter explore the concept of retirement.  They provide stability and direction, insuring all products and policies are compatible with their personal standards and up to the demands of the granchildren!  They make sure they're fun to use, too!! 

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Jonathon years ago!                                            Jonathon now!

We began producing specialty wood products in 1973, originally building hand weaving looms for sale through specialty yarn stores.  In the early 1980's, our focus shifted to include large scale creative play products for children, in addition to a growing line of handweaving equipment.  The BEKA name is now known throughout the specialty toy market, the fiber craft market and school supply industry for our high quality weaving and knitting tools for adults; plus the easels, puppet theaters, unit blocks and other creative play products we make for children.

We describe ourselves as a "manufacturer" because we personally make the things we sell. Our unique modular designs give our customers great flexibility in choosing product features, but it is Select Hard Maple and Cherry, fashioned by Skilled Woodworkers that provide the backbone for the quality products we produce.  We combine the economy and efficiency of volume manufacturing with the personal service of a small, family owned business.  You'll enjoy the Beka difference!



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Jamie and Peter 1973!
(we love this old photo....)

Jamie and Peter more recently!
 
 
NEWS FLASH -- 2012
 
We're still proud of this, so thought we'd share the following Press Release from ASTRA:

Chicago, Illinois – Jamie Seeley-Kreisman, president of Beka, Inc. and past president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at ASTRA’s annual Marketplace & Academy.

“Our annual gathering at Marketplace & Academy is an appropriate time to pause and recognize those leaders who have had a big impact on growing the specialty toy industry,” says Kathleen McHugh, President of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). “Jamie Seeley-Kreisman has been a leader in the specialty toy industry for many years. He understands the importance of play for healthy child development, and the top quality products his company manufactures reflect that. He also understands how important it is for professionals in the industry to work together for the common good of our businesses, and he has modeled that. ASTRA’s coveted Lifetime Achievement Award is our way of saying ‘thank you’.”


Jamie was the first manufacturer to be named president of ASTRA and is still the only person to serve two years in that position. His tenure on the board's executive committee spanned a period that saw ASTRA transition to self-management, introduce a trade show component to their annual conference and move from a survival mode to one of substantial growth!