Founded in Montana in 1906 as a distributor to the shoe repair trade, MacPherson s is a wholesale distributor. The firm serves retail outlets throughout the country, which include art supply retail stores, college bookstores, chain stores, art galleries, blueprinters, stationery and office supply stores, paint and wallpaper stores, craft and toy stores, picture framers and drafting and engineering supply stores. MacPherson s acquired the marketing operations of Virginia-based Eastern Art Supply (1991) and New York-based Paularte Products (1997) and combined it to form one of the largest art material distribution companies in the United States.