| 2011 Baxter's Distributing Company All Rights Reserved |
In 1945 Clifford (Kip) and
Lorraine Baxter started Baxter’s
Distributing Company. They began
their business from the basement of
their home and sold everything
from saccharin to hand cream.
Their customers were gas stations
and small mom and pop stores in
the Alton area.
Lorraine Baxter started Baxter’s
Distributing Company. They began
their business from the basement of
their home and sold everything
from saccharin to hand cream.
Their customers were gas stations
and small mom and pop stores in
the Alton area.
| Baxter's History |
| Baxter's in 1968 |
Eventually, they expanded their
merchandise to include like vitamins,
toys, silk flowers, popped popcorn
and Christmas stockings stuffed with
candy. As time went on, they
provided supplies for school socials,
churches and company picnics. As
Kip and Lorraine’s business began to
grow, they moved to three different
locations throughout the town of
Alton to accommodate their ever
expanding inventory. Their last
move was to their current location at
912 E. Broadway. The building was
previously an old Chevrolet
dealership that Kip and his son Bob
began remodeling with the money
they had available. It continues to be
a work in progress.
Baxter’s has always been a family
business. It currently is owned and
operated by Kip and Lorraine’s two
children, Janet Hansen and Robert
Baxter—and they run the business
with the help of their spouses,
Roland Hansen and Jan Baxter.
merchandise to include like vitamins,
toys, silk flowers, popped popcorn
and Christmas stockings stuffed with
candy. As time went on, they
provided supplies for school socials,
churches and company picnics. As
Kip and Lorraine’s business began to
grow, they moved to three different
locations throughout the town of
Alton to accommodate their ever
expanding inventory. Their last
move was to their current location at
912 E. Broadway. The building was
previously an old Chevrolet
dealership that Kip and his son Bob
began remodeling with the money
they had available. It continues to be
a work in progress.
Baxter’s has always been a family
business. It currently is owned and
operated by Kip and Lorraine’s two
children, Janet Hansen and Robert
Baxter—and they run the business
with the help of their spouses,
Roland Hansen and Jan Baxter.
Bob and Janet have built the
business to be a provider of
extensive party supplies, costumes,
and party rental equipment. Baxter’s
was named Business of the Month in
June 2009 by the River Bend
Growth Association and was voted
Small Business of the Year, also in
2009. They have truly created a
place “Where Great Parties Begin”
and have given the Alton and St.
Louis area a resource for all things.
party.
business to be a provider of
extensive party supplies, costumes,
and party rental equipment. Baxter’s
was named Business of the Month in
June 2009 by the River Bend
Growth Association and was voted
Small Business of the Year, also in
2009. They have truly created a
place “Where Great Parties Begin”
and have given the Alton and St.
Louis area a resource for all things.
party.
| Baxter's First Delivery Truck- 1949 |