Lora Mohr literally grew up in the
handbell manufacturing business, Malmark, Inc., that her
parents started in 1973. After having her children, she returned to working
part-time at the Plumsteadville manufacturing facility in 1986.
“Before you know it, it developed
into full-time,” Mohr said.
When her father, Jake Malta, died
in 2010, Mohr and her sister became co-owners of the family business. As her
sister contemplated retirement, Mohr began mentoring with Steve Wolfson of
SCORE Bucks County to get assistance transitioning the business to sole owner.
“Steve was involved with the
valuation,” Mohr said. “He’s always been available, at all times.”
Wolfson, an entrepreneur with 40
years of wholesale distribution experience, is confident that Malmark will
thrive for the next 50 years.
“Lora's years of working for her
father in production are paying off and … is taking this unique company to a
higher level,” Wolfson said. “Bells are ringing louder in churches, choirs and
performances globally with Malmark products.”
Wolfson also assisted Mohr develop
an organizational chart and welcome the third generation to the business via
her son, Derek Mohr, who since October, has shared the role of vice president
with Kathy Ebling Shaw.
Like his mother, Derek has worked
at the family business “since I was little.”
“I would do odd jobs around the
factory,” he said.
As the company celebrates its 50th
anniversary this fall, Derek said he had no doubt that the business his
grandfather started would continue.
“I knew Malmark would last as long
as it has,” he said. “It’s a niche business. The handbell is an exclusive,
multi-tasking instrument and historically significant. It’s not easy to make.”
In fact, Malmark has only one other
competitor in the U.S. And Malta had worked there as an engineer and in 1963 designed
the Schulmerich bell, the first American handbell before leaving to start his
own company. Malta is regarded as the “father of the American handbell.”
Churches, along with community
choirs and the education sector represent the company’s largest client base,
according to Ebling Shaw. Malmark handbells are sold and shipped
internationally.
The company manufactures “tens of
thousands” of bells each year, but rejects approximately 40 percent due to
sound quality, she said.
“Our standards are extremely high,”
Ebling Shaw said.
In addition to handbells, Malmark
began making handchimes in 1982. The introductory instrument is geared for
young children and is a more affordable precursor to handbells.
Throughout the decades, Malmark has
evolved and strived to remain relevant. Perhaps the biggest changes came in the
wake of the pandemic. Malmark persevered a month-and-a-half-long closure and
adapted, shifting to four 10-hour workdays for its 30 employees.
COVID restrictions and concerns
early on changed the company’s market. With worship services being conducted
virtually, the average handbell choir dropped from 13 to about six or eight,
Ebling Shaw said, leaving many unsure how they could ring with fewer people and
have the same impact.
“There were a lot of community
choirs who couldn’t sing during the height of the pandemic,” Ebling Shaw said,
adding that handbells are non-aerosol. “They could chime together instead. We
were right on it. We saw the needs. We kept the pulse of the musical community
and tried to find ways to accommodate them.”
Looking ahead, Derek said the
company is creating new instruments that are more affordable, better sounding
and a more compatible addition to the bell choir. Malmark is working to make
instruments out of aluminum as well.
Instruments used in yoga and meditation
are also on the horizon, as are informational webinars, including teaching and
ringing sessions, Lora said. Malmark also recently began offering tours of its
manufacturing facility again.
“We have a strong foundation,” Lora
said. “That’s what keeps us going.”
Ebling Shaw would like to see
handbells used in the professional music arena and be embraced more readily in
Europe.
“Over the next 50 years we would
also love to expand the audience for handbells beyond churches, schools and
community groups,” Ebling Shaw said. “We’re always trying to open new markets
and create new audiences.”
About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more
than 11 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE
provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000
new and growing small businesses.?With more than 70 members across Bucks
and Eastern Montgomery counties, SCORE Bucks?County?provides over
4,300 free mentoring services annually to local small
business owners through one-on-one counseling and small business
seminars. To stay up to date on news and happenings, join SCORE Bucks
County’s email list. Text SCOREBUCKS to 22828.
