Creative Catalog Concepts is pleased to announce that industry veteran and retail superstar Mark Sorak has joined the company as Director of Merchandising for the Art Materials division. In this role, Mark will be responsible for coordinating with manufacturers, retailers and MacPherson’s to produce retail marketing pieces that include the 2009 Sourcebook, seasonal sale flyers, promotional calendars and on-line stores.
Clairefontaine, maker of the best selling Rhodia Pads is feeling the profit margin squeeze: Office Products International(OPI) Magazine reports that France-based paper stationery manufacturer Exacompta Clairefontaine has seen first quarter pre-tax profit drop by over 50%.
Congratulations to Cindy and Craig Lemley of Dakota Art in Mt Vernon, WA. who were married on Sept. 6th at the Smith/Vallee Gallery in Edison, WA.
Our heart goes out to Larry and Susan from Arizona Art whose Phoenix, AZ store/office was severely damaged in a freak storm that occurred in the first week of September. The office and warehouse side of the building collapsed in hurricane force winds. Repairs are expected to take several weeks.
Michaels, whose annual sales are topping $3.3 billion, opens its 1,000th store on Sunday, September 14 in San Antonio, TX. Michaels has unveiled a new logo and tagline (“Where Creativity Happens”) in conjunction with the 1,000th store.
Pearl Arts & Crafts has closed two stores this year (Huntington Beach, CA and Altamonte Springs, FL) and has recently opened a new store in Selden, NY. Selden is a community 45 miles east of NYC on Long Island.
After 61 years in business, Zim’s, the craft industry icon is closing. The two stores in Utah will shut their doors on Nov. 1. The company was founded by Eleanor Zimmerman and her late husband, Cliff.