Hearth.com now Hearth.com LLC

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
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webbie

Seasoned Moderator
Nov 17, 2005
12,165
Western Mass.
January 1, 2014

CHI Associates, founders and developers of Hearth.com, takes great pleasure in annoucing the sale and transfer of the Hearth.com domain to Jim Fischer and Hearth.com LLC. Jim is an outdoorsman and IT specialist with vast experience in the business world and intends to “stay the course” in development and usefulness of the leading fireplace and stove resource in the world.

Started in 1995 by a hearth industry veteran, Hearth.com has grown to be a major media property, with millions of pages read each month. “I started the site with the idea of a brain dump - to teach others the lessons on safety and efficiency I had learned during my career in the stove/fireplace industry” said Craig Issod, CHI’s President. “My first big goal was to have 10,000 pages read each month, which would have put us in the top 5% of web sites. Imagine my surprise and delight when we passed 1,000,000 pages per month and kept going.” Growth continues today with 2.7+ million pages read in the last 30 days.

“Hearth.com is and was always a labor of love” said Craig. “Our gracious members have picked up the ball and carry the same original spirit forward by answering questions and helping folks burn cleanly and safely.”

Over the years, Craig has received many unsolicited offers for the Hearth.com domain. Most have been from corporations interested in adding the site to their stable of DIY and similar forums. Although the offers were substantial, Craig felt that the community might suffer, so all these offers were rejected. When Jim presented his interest, though, Craig felt that he found the right guy to help Hearth.com prosper in the coming years.

“I recently turned 60 and celebrated my 35th year in this industry and 18th year running Hearth.com. Frankly, it’s time that I move on to consulting and other roles which don’t require my daily commitment. I love this site and the industry - and I especially love our members and moderators, but there comes a time to pass the torch”. Craig is pleased to have found such a well matched buyer to operate the site going forward.

"Coming from a corporate position, I had been looking for a business that combines the internet with something that matches my lifestyle.” said Jim. “Hearth.com does both. "

'Living in Minnesota, wood burning and stoves are a big part of our far-north lifestyle. I am an avid outdoorsman and hobby farmer as well, and look forward to spending my time learning and developing the same passion as shown in the hearth.com forums. The hearth community is awesome and I want to keep it that way. Craig built this from his passion and I want to continue what he and the forum members have built.”

Craig’s company, CHI Associates, will remain in the business of internet consulting. Jim and Craig have agreed to an ongoing consulting arrangement, whereas Craig and CHI Associates will be retained on Hearth.com at least through 2020 on an advisory basis. Both individuals and their respective companies are hoping that the Hearth.com community and informational resources flourish far into the future.

Jim and his new company, Hearth.com LLC, can be contacted at [email protected]
 
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