Royal Talens and Pacon announced that they have signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Talens to represent and distribute Strathmore Artist Papers™ in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). During the Creativeworld Fair in Frankfurt, Strathmore and Royal Talens will be launching a fresh and new paper assortment for these markets. The Strathmore products are available at Royal Talens from April 2017. Read the Strathmore Press Release.

Smart and effective merchandising has proven to make a measurable sales and customer satisfaction difference in art and craft material stores. When done right, product and category merchandising helps your customers navigate easily to what they are seeking and subtly exposes them to new, unique products that can help them achieve satisfaction in pursuit of their creative expression. With this competition we are hoping to encourage your stores’ own creativity in merchandising as well as receiving a great reward incentive! Details, Details, Details: Submit at least 2 photos of your drawing section, in particular showing the DERWENT sketching and drawing supplies The 1st photo series should be the way you are…

As Wet Paint Artists Materials and Framing enters its 41st year on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul, owner Beth Bergman is excited to announce her retirement at the end of 2016. Long-time employees Darin Rinne and Scott Fares will become the new proprietors. After 33 years provisioning artists in the Twin Cities and across the country Beth intends to move to the other side of the counter and focus on making art herself. Read the complete press release. Speedball Art Products has reached an agreement to acquire the formulas, trademarks, equipment, and related assets of the iconic Best-Test brand owned by Union Rubber Company, Inc. Speedball reports that production and…

Smart and effective merchandising has proven to make a measurable sales and customer satisfaction difference in art and craft material stores. When done right, product and category merchandising helps your customers navigate easily to what they are seeking and subtly exposes them to new, unique products that can help them achieve satisfaction in pursuit of their creative expression. With this competition we are hoping to encourage your stores’ own creativity in merchandising as well as receiving a great reward incentive! Details, Details, Details: Submit at least 2 photos of your drawing section, in particular showing the DERWENT sketching and drawing supplies The 1st photo series should be the way you are…

The recent partnership between Liquitex and Artfinder kicked off with an artist event held at Vandal in New York City on Tuesday, December 13th. Founded in March 2013 and based in London and Miami, Artfinder connects people to artists and art. The site is growing fast, currently connecting 500,000 subscribers around the world with: 8,500 artists and galleries internationally 250,000+ artworks in categories including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, drawing and collage The event gave New York artists the chance to meet each other and to learn about and experiment with Liquitex’s new Special Release Muted Collection. The first ever special release launch in Liquitex’s 60 year history, the collection comprises…

Over the past year MacPherson’s has built a strong and cohesive leadership team with high energy, diverse talents, experiences and fresh perspectives mostly outside the art material business. The team includes: Eric Matthews – Controller Michael Lin – Director of Operations Jon Newsom – Director of Sales Dionne Mallins – Director of Marketing Peter Eichelberger – Director of Information Technology They join the core senior leadership team at MacPherson’s of tested and proven managers. That well-known and experienced team includes Steve Robinson, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, Jim Semitekol, Chief Operating Officer and Natasha Nicholson-Bjerre, Vice President responsible for our people. With the coming year we have planned some important changes to coincide with the urgent and evolving needs of our customers, suppliers and employee-owners.  Beginning in…

At Arch Supplies in San Francisco, owner Susie Colliver and her top team of Kate, Mac, Tom, Caryn & David celebrated the company’s 38th birthday at their amazing and new Carolina Street location with all the bells and whistles of an exciting grand opening. Congratulations Susie! Royal Talens has acquired Schjerning Farver A/S as of November 15, 2016. With this acquisition, Royal Talens has further reinforced its position as a leading player in artists’, school, hobby & crafts materials and coloring, drawing and writing products. Schjerning Farver holds a strong position with its eco-friendly, high quality products in the school, hobby & craft and private label market. Royal Talens sees…

Williamsburg Free Paint Promotion Winter Back to School 2016 All Williamsburg retailers are invited to participate in this program aimed at active oil painting groups, oil painting classes, plein air societies, colleges and universities and all discerning or aspiring artists. Artists just need to purchase any three 37 ml tubes of Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colors and they will receive a 37 ml tube of Williamsburg Viridian, FREE! Participating retailers will receive one Williamsburg Viridian promotional tube kit (ITEM # WB6008P150) for every three 37 ml tubes of Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colors purchased during the promotion buy-in period, while supplies last. One, custom labeled 37 ml tube of Williamsburg Viridian (Series…

We are heartbroken to share the loss of one of our MacPherson’s family. Sylvia Odom, a member of our Suwanee night crew, was killed in her home on Monday evening. Her husband Samuel was also slain. The DeKalb county police have no description of the shooter or any witnesses. A roommate found the couple on Monday night. Our most heart felt sympathies go out to her family, friends and colleagues during this terrible time. Many within the industry are saying their goodbyes to Laurent Duthoit, Daler-Rowney’s Vice-President Sales Americas. He has left to pursue new challenges and opportunities. Laurent joined the company 11 years ago at Daler’s UK headquarters and later…

The senior leadership team at Fila/Dixon Ticonderoga has a plan for their global portfolio of brands that includes recently acquired Daler Rowney, LUKAS, Canson, Lyra Pencil, Maimeri and St Cuthbert’s Paper. The ultimate goal is to stitch all these companies into a global enterprise of popular brands. In North America that means a restructuring of their sales, marketing and logistics efforts to be more coordinated, streamlined and effective. The combined company is moving to a Key Account (KA) organization that will focus on national accounts, wholesalers and independent dealers serving consumers in the Art and Fine Art channel.  In addition, Dixon and its family of companies will support the industry with experts and workshops that foster the…

MacPherson’s Holiday Set Promotions for GOLDEN If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out the Holiday Set Promotions from GOLDEN. It’s time for folks to start thinking about gift buying for family and friends! Shipping began September 19th and concludes on December 9th. Select Sets from all three Golden Artist Colors brands – GOLDEN Acrylics, Williamsburg Oils, and QoR Watercolor – will be offered at an extra 10% in support of the holiday selling season. MAP exceptions during this period allow advertising discounts of 40% off. Refer to the MacPherson’s Buyer’s Guide for further details or see your MacPherson’s Account Manager with any questions. Retailer Support Items for QoR…

Strathmore Artist Papers™ would like to reward retailers, their customers, and store employees by offering unique Strathmore branded promotional items. Retailers can earn points simply by purchasing Strathmore products, and then they can redeem those points for free promotional materials on the brand new “Strathstore” portion of the Strathmore Retailer and Distributor Tool site. This program is open to all brand rewards customers, iAMart customers, and AGA customers. Point balances will be uploaded into retailer accounts in the Strathstore twice a year (February/August) based on retailer purchases through distribution. This added segment of the Brand Rewards program is an extra benefit for purchasing Strathmore products. There are a wide variety…

“Jeans for Refugees” is an artistic fundraising initiative from acclaimed fashion designer and artist Johny Dar. The project seeks to benefit displaced peoples around the world, with all proceeds going to the International Rescue Committee (rescue.org). Over one hundred celebrities have donated jeans to the project, including Emma Watson, Sharon Stone, Kate Moss and Tom Waits, to name a few. Each pair of jeans will be hand-painted by Johny Dar and auctioned online at catawiki.com. For the project, Johny is using Jacquard’s Lumiere 3D paints exclusively, which Jacquard happily donated. Each pair is a work of art and a stunning testament to Lumiere 3D’s potential. Jacquard is thrilled to be…

After nearly 18 years with MacPherson’s as one of our anchor account managers in Southern California, Sandy Goodstein is stepping down. In an environment of ever changing market conditions, traveling sales territories have encompassed larger and larger geographies. Sandy considered carefully the company’s offer of relocation outside the state of California and in the end chose to remain close to family and friends. We understand and appreciate all she has done to help our company grow and blossom over all these years. Many thanks Sandy and good luck in all your new ventures. Octogenarian Dick Wiest, who has held an important sales post at MacPherson’s for over 21 years has retired.…

Pokémon Go is Driving Crazy Sales at Small Local Retail Businesses — here’s how to cash in! Smart retailers are catching on to how to connect with this phone app (Android & iOS) that’s taking the world by storm. As Pokémon Go users traverse their towns in search of Pokémon, local stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and other businesses are capitalizing on this massive opportunity, driving huge amounts of foot traffic and conversions both with simple in-app purchases and creative marketing campaigns. Business Insider news site has created a inspiring and thought provoking article on how you can get involved. Read on!

Royal Talens North America – Warehouse Expansion In order to support the fast expansion of new products as well as to facilitate the high level of stock Royal Talens has introduced for the BTS season, they have already implemented a 1st stage expansion with additional racking in their North America headquarters.  Many thanks to Royal Talens’ loyal customers for making this important milestone happen ahead of schedule! Royal Talens North America thanks MacPherson’s and all who attended Dealer Workshop! Dealer Workshop was an important show for Royal Talens in their first year as a new company. Having concentrated time with their valued customers really contributed to the success of the show for RTNA!…

  Join Maped Helix USA in Celebrating National Coloring Book Day on August 2, 2016. On this day grab your Maped coloring pencils and favorite book – just relax and color all day! National Coloring Book Day is a day to relax and color. You can easily find a coloring book club at your local library, coloring tip videos on YouTube or join in a LIVE color along event on Facebook. Coloring is for everyone not just for kids. Adults can join in the coloring fun with their favorite adult coloring book at any time! Why is coloring fun and relaxing? Coloring can help adults overcome stress. You can improve your concentration…

Royal Talens North America is excited to report that Donna (Gorham) Bowers is now Sales Operations Manager. Donna had worked for many years at Canson. According to Kirk Gillespie she has already had an immediate impact on the company’s best practices in Customer Service and Supply! Donna’s email address is D.Bowers@talens.com Tom Richards will be leaving Chartpak at the end of July and then will join Pacon to become the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Strathmore Artist Papers.     In related news at Chartpak, Jim Gallagher has been promoted to EVP of Sales and Marketing reporting directly to Steven Roth, while  Canson’s Jon Martensson is moving over to become Chartpak’s Senior Brand Manager reporting to Jim Gallagher.  …

Asher Katz who leads Jacquard Products reports that their Production Manager R. Monte Weatherby, age 40, passed away May 27th at 12:15pm in Santa Rosa, CA from a blood infection. His passing was unexpected and a shock to all. He is survived by his two beloved daughters, Serenity, 13, and Grier, 6. If you wish to express your condolences or show your support, please write to asher@jacquardproducts.com or send mail to PO Box 425 Healdsburg, CA 95448. Jacquard will be happy to forward your messages to Monte’s family. Francis Lyons and Kiyo Fujimoto have retired at Lyon’s Art/Graphaids in Long Beach California. Alex Bailey reports that Kim Dunham has accepted…