U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has named the Kaleidoscope Factory in Pocahontas as her latest Small Business of the Week recipient. Leonard Olson’s love for kaleidoscopes began in 1997 after he received his first one as a gift, which ignited a life-long passion for woodworking and the enthralling optical toys. Olson started making them on his own and opened the Kaleidoscope Factory in 2004 in Pomeroy. He moved the business to Pocahontas in 2014. Following Olson’s death in 2019, his sisters, Lois Hessenius and Margaret Egli, kept the Kaleidoscope Factory running with help from friends and family. They now sell toy trains, puzzles, and crafts, in addition to the kaleidoscopes. Ernst says, “Woodworking, like a kaleidoscope, is an art that celebrates transformation – with each cut and carve, new beauty emerges. The Kaleidoscope Factory reveals fresh perspectives with every twist, uncovering the hidden potential in every piece of wood.” Ernst serves as the ranking member on the Senate Small Business Committee and recognizes an Iowa business each week to recognize the economic impact they have in the communities they are found.
Sen. Ernst Names Pocahontas’ Kaledioscope Factory, Formerly Of Pomeroy, As Latest Small Business Of The Week
