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 moved to the USA to take command of sales and marketing for North America . All the best and bon chance, Laurent!
East Coast art & craft chain store AC Moore has announced plans to open a Philadelphia center city flagship store near the corner of Chestnut and Broad Street. Read the details here AC Moore Philadelphia
Shelley Mathews, Vice President, Education and Fine Art Channel at Dixon Ticonderoga/FILA will be leaving the company soon. She cited health, wellness and balance of life as the main reasons for her decision. In Shelley’s note to customers she said “The experience at Dixon has been an amazing opportunity to work with an outstanding team and expand my knowledge and skills. I will always be grateful for all the support that was received from my first day of joining the organization. “
Opus Art Supplies in British Columbia is opening a new store, their 7th, located in historic Maillardville in Coquitlam, BC.
Royal Talens is excited to welcome Dorrie Boyd as their Customer Service Manager. Dorrie has worked for Alvin for over 14 years, most recently as a Marketing Manager and will apply those skills and experiences to the team while also heading up customer service.
Frances Preston was born 9/19/16 to Alex Preston and Victoria Whitaker. Alex is the Chief Creative Strategist for Jacquard Products in Healdsburg, CA. Congratulations to all including proud grandparents Kathy Brennan and Don Preston of Preston Art in Louisville, KY.
UK stationery and office supplies retailer Ryman has announced it is acquiring the iconic Covent Garden retailer London Graphic Centre from Core Capital London Graphics Announcement
NPR’s All Things Considered! “Skunk Bear” team chases down elemental questions. They recently got a question from the 5th graders at Green Acres School in Lebanon, OR that sent them on a quest to find the origin of pencil lead. “How is a Pencil Lead Made!” showcases the American industrial treasure the General Pencil Company.(fast forward the video to around 2:25) httpv://youtu.be/lrZMSyhzcXg
Sales at the Schwan-STABILO Group for the 2015/16 topped 706 million Euro($767 million)which set a company record. The Stabilo writing instruments division saw a sales lift of 10% in large part due to the ongoing adult coloring book craze.
MacPherson’s has been named Aaron Bros. Art Marts Vendor Partner of the year at a recent supplier gathering in Dallas, TX
Chartpak announced the appointment of Ed Brickler as Fine Art Education Director and Technical Expert. Ed will be working closely with Chartpak’s Educational Team and Technical Lab. Ed will be reporting to Jim Gallagher, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and both Jim and Ed will be working closely with Steven Roth, the Company’s President.
Askew-Taylor the 70 year old art supply store in Raleigh, NC has announced they will close their doors permanently at the end of a liquidation sale. Askew Taylor
Jacquard Products was recently awarded the 2016 Creative Child Product of the Year Award for their Cyanotype Fabrics! Cyanotype is a photographic printmaking process that is so simple, even children can enjoy professional-quality results. It is a fantastic way to introduce children to the magic of science, photography, nature and art, and the panel of educators, mothers and professionals at Creative Child Magazine wholeheartedly agree. And of course they are available from MacPherson’s Cyanotype Fabric
Reuters reports that Newell Brands Inc (NWL.N), which owns more than 160 brands including Sharpie markers and Prismacolor, said it would sell about 10 percent of its business portfolio as it streamlines its business following its acquisition of Jarden Corp. None of their art and stationary brands will be included in this divestiture. NewellCo
Fun Facts: Did you know that there is an Eberhard Faber building in Greenpoint Brooklyn, NY, a four-story building overlooking the East River near 42nd Street? In 1956, as many of Brooklyn’s manufacturing businesses fizzled out in the wake of World War II, the Eberhard Faber company sold its headquarters to move operations to Pennsylvania. Larger-than-life, perfectly sharpened, golden-yellow pencils decorate the facades. Check out the New York Times article by clicking on the building photo below:
