You may have seen RGM’s beautiful DVD demonstrating painting knife techniques earlier this year, when we previewed it at NAMTA. RGM retailers can now get their own FREE copy to show in their stores or post on their websites. The 40-minute DVD features technique demonstration by artist Danielle Jouault using the RGM Plus Palette Knives and also the New Age Knives, against the gorgeous backdrop of Venice. Ask your MacPherson’s rep for your free store copy today! Please note this is a promotional item and not available for resale.

Consumers are also welcome to request their own free copy on the RGM website; http://www.rgm-art.com/en/spazio_artisti.php

Located in the centerfold of the just-released MacPherson’s Winter Buyer’s Guide is a new feature  – the Green Zone! This special section was inspired by retailers who asked us to share our ideas for “green” end-caps. A team of green-leaning MacPherson’s employees got together and developed end-cap suggestions, downloadable signage, vendors’ inspiring stories and more. See pages 40 and 41 in the Winter Buyer’s Guide or log on to www.macphersonart.com/greenzone for details. Have other great ideas? Let us know! We’re in the business of helping customers succeed.

It may not interest you right now, on the cusp of the frenetic holiday shopping season, but Art Alternatives just added new sizes to the Economy Value Pack line-up. Double-packs of student grade canvas are now available in 8×10, 9×12, 14×18, 20×24 and 24×30 sizes. We have stock in Reno and Elgin, and we’ll be in-stock in Suwanee soon.

New Economy Canvas in WBTS Guide

See page 58 of the MacPherson’s Winter Buyer’s Guide for more information, plus details on the special 80% off launch discount. (And check out our cool new online “flip-book” version of the Winter Buyer’s Guide here!)

Napa Valley Art Supplies in Napa, CA, just held its second successful Montana Gold demo this year! Ten local artists joined the event this time, and were allowed to paint large canvases during the event and then offer them for sale at the store.  If the work sold, the artist was responsible for reimbursing the store for the materials, but got to keep the remaining balance of the sale. This event was such a hit, it made the front page of the local newspaper - great publicity for the store! For the full story, please click the link below;

Napa Valley Register

We are sad to report the sudden passing of Sharon Rebisz, 64, of Middlebury, CT on October 19th. She was the co-owner of Koenig Art Emporium in Southbury, CT where she has worked for close to 30 years. Sharon was much loved in the industry and leaves 3 sons and daughter, Nancy Hansen, who also works at the store.

ColArt America’s VP Sales, Charlie Newcomer has left to pursue new opportunities. A search for his replacement is underway.

According to proud dad Steve Caplan, son Eric Caplan has left  A. I. Friedman to pursue other ventures in any field. If anyone is interested in hiring a hard working and experienced young sales rep, you can reach Eric at 917-337-0910.

The news from Crescent is that Sonny Farmer has left  the company. Crescent also announced the appointment of Scott O’Shea as Senior VP of Domestic sales. He was previously Sales VP for H2O. In related news,  Jerry McCormick has been promoted to VP of Art Materials and Special Markets and will report to Scott.

Staedtler is moving both its North American office and distribution center from Chatsworth, CA to Toronto, Canada. The process will begin in February 2010 and should be complete by April 1.

Peter St James, the well regarded sales rep for C2F in Eastern Canada, will be leaving effective Dec 31, 2009  and will become an independent rep for Canson covering all Canadian territories from Winnipeg east to the Maritime Provinces. In related news, Ed Brickler will become Canson’s full time Art Education Director beginning Jan 1, 2010.

We are particularly in love with this image that we found at Artist & Display of Milwaukees’s web site. We always say a picture is worth a thousand words or better yet, thousands of dollars in revenue!!!

How Do You See Green?

Remind your artist customers and friends that Strathmore’s “How Do You See Green?” Illustration Contest deadline is November 30, 2009! Or enter yourself! Create a piece of art that expresses the theme of “green” and “environment” using dry media techniques (pencil, pastel, charcoal, etc.) on Strathmore paper. In January, you can cast your vote for the winner on Strathmore’s website. Winners’ art will be featured on 1 of 4 special edition Strathmore Premium Recycled pads! Visit www.strathmoreartist.com for more details.

Artist will love the chance to have their Artwork on Strathmore Pads

Have you found additional AA13301 Young Artist Easels in your back room as you prepare for the holidays? Did you forget to ask for a replacement easel earlier? No problem, we have plenty of free, compliant chalkboard panels and we are happy to send them to you. Retrofitting the easels is easy – simply remove the 6 screws holding the green panel, dispose of the panel, then use 4 screws to put the black panel on. (If you have a MacPherson’s sales rep, she or he would be happy to help.)

Click here to order replacement chalkboard panels.

Questions? Call our recall hotline at (800) 289-9899 x1093 or email us at recall@macphersonart.com.

As you know, MacPherson’s has been working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on a recall of our Young Artist Easel (AA13301). We are now ready to launch the recall to the public. The CPSC has put the recall information on its website. MacPherson’s has put information and instructions for end-users on its Art Alternatives website.

In the next couple of weeks, all retailers who purchased the AA13301 Young Artist Easel will receive a recall kit in the mail. This kit contains a poster with tear-off instructions cards that explain how the consumer can get a free chalkboard panel replacement. The CPSC and MacPherson’s urge you to place this poster in a high-traffic area of your store or in your kids section because we’d like to reach as many consumers as possible. There is no cost to you in this program – consumers will contact MacPherson’s directly to obtain their free replacement panel.

In the meantime, if you would like to advise your customers via your own e-newsletters or web site you can copy & paste the information below. If you’d like additional information or images, don’t hesitate to contact the Art Alternatives team at MacPherson’s.
• Recall x1093
• Laurie x6634
• Amy x6616

—————————

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: RECALL

Young Artist Easel by Art Alternatives, Item # AA13301, UPC # 082435133010

Art Alternatives is recalling all easels, model # AA13301, as shown here. This model was manufactured from July 2004 through May 2009. Testing shows that the chalkboard surface violates the lead paint standard. There have been no injuries reported. Visit http://www.Art-Alternatives.com/recall for more info and for easel exchange instructions and details.

Support Emerging Artists!
Our industry depends on the artists of the future. The NAMTA Foundation’s mission is to award scholarships to emerging talents and teachers, allowing them to buy art supplies, pay tuition, and otherwise support their art.

This Blank Notecard Display includes 24 packs of 8 cards & envelopes, each featuring artwork by some of the NAMTA Foundation’s 2008-2009 scholarship recipients. There are 2 each of the 4 designs shown in each pack. The net price for the display is $154.56, FOB Charlotte, NC, so each pack nets out at $6.44 plus freight. Sell them them at $12.99 or even $9.99 and make a decent profit while you help a great cause. To place your order call NAMTA at 704-892-6247, or fax 704-892-6247. Refill packs of cards are available. Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted.

In appreciation for your support of the OPEN Acrylics line, GOLDEN will provide you with complimentary OPEN promotional kits, which are scheduled to ship to you the last week of October.  The kits, which contain the three sample-sized OPEN Mediums and an OPEN Acrylics DVD, are provided as a promotional opportunity to further engage customers with the unique properties of OPEN Acrylics and to encourage repeat purchase activity.  Artists that buy 6 tubes of OPEN qualify for a free OPEN Now Kit.  A rack header magnet will ship with the kits to communicate the promotion to shoppers.

If you have any questions about any of the above information, please contact your MacPherson’s sales representative.

In an effort to increase GOLDEN exposure on the world wide web and as a way to socially engage with artists and business partners, GOLDEN has created a Facebook page.

If you already have an account on Facebook, you are welcome to become a fan of the GOLDEN page.  However, you don’t need to have an account in order to view the contents of the page:

Connect to Golden on Facebook!

Please feel free to share this information with your friends, associates and anyone you think might be interested.

Be sure to check out the ever increasing number of videos that have been posted to the GOLDEN YouTube site. The two newest videos focus on monotyping techniques.

Creating a Monotype with GOLDEN OPEN Acrylics

and Creating a ‘Dry Monotype’

GOLDEN plans to continue producing short video clips, with particular attention placed on subjects that can be confusing for or problematic to artists. If you have a video that you would like to see, or that you think your customers would benefit from, please email your suggestions to drice@goldenpaints.com.

Lanny Rosenbaum & Deb Duffy

It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of our friend and colleague Lanny Rosenbaum. As many of you know, Lanny had been fighting a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer for the past two years. He died yesterday—October 26, 2009.

Lanny joined the Blick family in 1997 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. During his 12 years with the company, he was instrumental in identifying and developing a variety of catalog, internet, and private label growth opportunities. Despite his health challenges, Lanny continued to be a driving force within Blick over the past two years. As recently as September of this year, he participated in the company’s annual strategic planning meeting and continued directing Blick’s online video initiatives. He also spearheaded the planning of Blick’s 100th anniversary celebration, which begins in 2010.

While at Blick, Lanny also developed strong external friendships with our merchandise vendors, printing and production suppliers, mailing list brokers, and creative agencies—relationships that continue to serve us well.

For the past two years, Lanny and his wife, Deborah, have been living in Darby, Montana, with their two dogs, Rojo and Azul. Lanny loved the outdoors, the animals, and the opportunity and ability to build and enjoy his “Big Sky” residence with Deborah.

I know many of you interacted with Lanny over the years. He was a fair and honest person, and I’m proud to have known him and worked with him as part of Blick’s executive team. We will miss his vision, his enthusiasm, and his passion. I know you join me, our Board of Directors, and your Blick associates in extending our heartfelt condolences to Lanny’s family and wide circle of friends and business associates.

Lanny is survived by his wife Deborah Duffy, two daughters, a son, two grandchildren, a sister, and mother Evelyn Rosenbaum.

A memorial service in the Chicago area is being planned, details of which will be communicated when they have been finalized. Lanny and Deborah’s wishes for charitable contributions will also be communicated at that time (no flowers, please).

Regards,

Robert Buchsbaum
Chief Executive Officer

Ilka Lohaus has joined the ColArt Group as Chief Brand Officer to be based at the company’s headquarters in Wealdstone, England. A German citizen, she speaks three European languages (German, French and English), and has had substantial consumer marketing experience  including stints at Johnson & Johnson, Reckitt Benckiser and more recently Henkel as Global Marketing Director.

Michaels Stores Inc. has opened its first Manhattan store featuring a new urban store design that focuses on providing creative inspiration, according to Reuters. The store, whose week-long grand opening celebration began Oct. 25, is located in the new Columbus Square development at 808 Columbus Ave. at 97th Street. The new 14,700-sq.-ft. store features a modern, open design with wide aisles, warm colors, “inspiration kiosks” for project ideas and work spaces for customers to lay out their designs before purchasing. The store takes cues from its new prototype opened last year, with key merchandise categories–such as fine arts, custom framing, jewelry, scrapbooking and kids–organized in store-within-a-store layouts. The store will also be the first for the company to offer a delivery service, tailoring to the Manhattan urban shopper.

Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster, CA. was named the 1st place winner in the Prismacolor®  Retailer Display Contest based on the creative display they developed to showcase Prismacolor art products in-store. Art Supply Warehouse won $1,000 for its first place winning entry. ASW’s submission featured a whimsical archway of bold colors flanked by two columns of Prismacolor art supplies.  The archway created a store-within-a-store shopping experience, inviting customers to stroll the full Prismacolor product offering along with paper, card stock and cardboard in a variety of styles, weights and sizes.

Arizona Art of Temple, AZ was the second place winner with its display titled, “A Wonderland of Possibilities.”  Displayed amidst a topsy-turvy dresser of drawers, art supplies were displayed in shelves while also peaking out of drawers, alongside familiar faces of animated characters. Arizona Art, received $750.00.

Jerry’s Art of Norwalk, VA won third place.  Jerry’s Art displayed a giant-sized yellow Prismacolor marker and a maroon-colored pencil atop an end-cap assortment of Prismacolor sets, along with a display of individual Prismacolor markers and smaller sets. Jerry’s Art received $500 for third place.
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Steve Golian, Sterling Art

This just in, Sunday, November 1st will be Sterling Art’s last day after 49 years serving the artistic community in Orange County, CA.

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Steve Gallisdorfer, ColArt America’s intrepid and ever vigilant Pacific Northwest Sales rep forwarded this photo shot recently in Vacaville, CA outside a Safeway market. Now that’s a receptive market for today’s aerosol artists!

Make your work a little easier and help the planet, too! MacPherson’s e-mailed invoices have been such a hit that we developed e-mailable monthly statements, too. Would you like your statements e-mailed instead of snail-mailed? All you have to do is ask. Contact Sioban directly or log in to MacPhersonArt.com and click on the Customer Forms Setup link under Business Basics.

Pigma Sensei Open Stock Pens in Time for the Holidays!

Sakura has announced that the individual pens in its popular Pigma Sensei Manga Drawing set will be available in open stock and displays just in time for the Holiday Season. Consumers already love Pigma ink in Micron, Brush and Graphic pens, and the launch of Pigma Sensei open stock gives them four new point sizes!

The Pigma Sensei pens are available in the following point sizes in black ink only:  0.3mm Ultra-Fine tip, 0.4mm plastic tip, 0.6mm bullet tip and 1.0mm Bold tip. Pigma is unsurpassed as an archival, fade-resistant, chemical resistant, waterproof ink that won’t bleed through thin paper! Pigma Sensei open stock pens will retail for $2.25 each… great for students or professionals.

The two new Pigma Sensei open stock displays are compact and fit easily on any counter.  The smaller 4 dozen unit (SK50211) can be placed near the cash register or checkout to maximize impulse sales. The low profile 12 dozen unit (SK50210) can be merchandised on a shelf, on slatwall or pegboard. The low profile unit also integrates with all of the other Sakura low profile displays to create an organized, attractive writing instrument department. Coming your way by e-blast: A special drop ship deal with lowered minimum for the 144-pc assortment, open stock, and drawing sets! Check your email inbox on November 2nd for this limited time promotion.

Robert Gamblin’s Studio, among those of many other prominent American Artists, is profiled in American Artist’s special Studios issue, on newsstands now. Robert’s studio is right across the street from Gamblin’s factory in Portland, Oregon. Once used as a maintenance bay for concrete mixing trucks, Robert and his partner Catherine Kumlin converted the space into a combined oil painting studio and printmaking workshop.

Do you use that list of what’s in each specific carton we ship you? If you do, that’s great, we are glad to make checking in your orders easier.

If you don’t, you can join MacPherson’s effort to use less paper and turn that feature off for your store. Just click here to send an email and let us know!

Grumbacher Cherry Wood Paint Sets (Available in Academy Acrylic, Academy Oil and Max Water Soluble Oil) at 50/15% (57.5%)

Grumbacher Messenger Bag Gift Sets – These unique, new sets are available in Academy Acrylic or Academy Oil. The sets come with 3 brushes, 2 palette knives, 6 tubes of paint and a 16”X13” Messenger Bag. The set is valued at $70. The “special retail” of $49.95 provides a tremendous value to retailers and consumers.

Grumbacher Selected Color Sets at 50/15%

Grumbacher Watercolor Pan Sets at 50/10%

Grumbacher Packaged Brush Sets at 70/10%

Grumbacher “New” Palette Knives – Grumbacher’s new plastic Palette and Painting Knives are like nothing offered in our industry. Molded from hard-wearing ABS plastic, these knives won’t corrode or rust like traditional metal knives. They are 10” in length, and are lightweight with excellent balance for all day use. They are solvent-safe, easy to clean and can be used with all mediums. Each knife has the appropriate flexibility for shape and purpose. The “New” Grumbacher Palette and Painting Knives come in 6 shapes, and are offered at 50/10%

Koh-I-noor Toison D’or Extra Soft Pastel Sets – These beautiful, soft pastels have a consistent “feel” from color to color. They are available in 12 and 24 sets at 50/35%

Koh-I-noor Gioconda Pastel Pencil Sets – These pastel pencils are excellent quality. The pencils are available in 12, 24 and 48 color sets at 50/25%

Koh-I-noor Triocolor Colored Pencils – These unique, large, triangular “Artist Grade” Colored Pencils are offered in sets of 12 and 24 at 50/10%

Koh-I-noor Drawing Pencil and Pastel Sets – These beautifully packaged “tins” come in many sizes and configurations to satisfy any artist’s needs. They make a great Holiday gift and are available at 50/10%

Pelikan Watercolor Sets – These watercolor sets are of great quality, and an excellent value. Available in Transparent 12 and 24, Opaque 12 and 24, and a small travel set, at 50/10/5%

Chartpak Ad Marker Travel Sets – These unique sets come with a free travel case that holds 25 markers. They are available in a Basic set of 12, and a Manga set of 12, at 50/25%

Schmincke Color Sets – Schmincke is a “Super-Premium Line” color company from Germany. We are offering a selection of their best sets. Included are a Mussini Resin Oil 8 color set in a wooden box, a Norma Professional Oil cardboard box set of 8 tubes and a Norma Professional Oil Wooden Box set of 10 tubes. Also available are a Cardboard Pastel Set of 90, and a Metal Set with 10 Sanfi sheets. Horadam Watercolor offers a Slimline Metal set with 12 half pans, and a Leather Case set with 12 colors. All Schmincke sets are offered at 50/10%