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Creative Leisure News
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Date:
August 5, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTSCOMMENTARY: WHY ACCI SUCCEEDED1. It's not really suprising that ACCI was a positive, upbeat show, especially compared to 2001. A year ago, the industry was in the midst of a pretty flat year. After the show, retailers' sales picked up substantially, especially after 9/11. Consequently, retailers attended ACCI this year with more money in their pockets and a more optimistic attitude.So the bottom line was the same as it has always been for all trade shows: When buyers show up in a good mood, pretty soon the vendors are happy, too. Consequently, if this strong year continues this way, HIA's January event will be a good show, too. 2. About the only complaint I heard at the show was that there was too much scrapbooking. Talk about deja vu! The first trade show I attended was the HIA show in 1980 where some people complained that it had become a macrame show. Years later I heard that craft shows were too cross-stitch oriented. After that, the complaint was too much fabric painting.
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ACCI SHOW REPORTMany people came to Chicago wondering if the trip would be worth it. There had been stories of exhibitors dropping out and a recent history of declining attendance. But most left Chicago surprised by the size of the crowd and the upbeat, positive atmosphere.There are comments from exhibitors posted on ACCI's web page. Here's an excerpt from Provo's Robert Workman: "...The attitude of the buyers was wonderful and the greatest thing was that they actually bought and committed to the new product lines. We appreciate the upbeat feelings of all those who attended. [The ACCI show] is a very positive vote of confidence for our entire industry." To read all the interviews, visit www.accicrafts.org/exhibitor_viewpoints.htm. NUMBERS. Final buyer attendance for the three-day show rose 4.9% to 4,588 compared to last year's four-day event, but was up 32% after the first two days. Overall attendance was up 13.9% to 8,598. Attendance at events was good, too -- 600+ at the Product Premier Party; 270+ to hear tv personality Christopher Lowell; 260+ for the retailer panel discussion (see below); a total of 3,820 tickets sold for the 55 technique classes and 23 "Mega"events; and 600+ attended the "Retail Summit" seminars. The number of exhibitors was down 11.5%, so the larger buying crowd could spend more time in each booth. We don't have specific data, but it appeared the number of international buyers and professional crafters was down. CATEGORIES. We couldn't find a single category that seemed in decline. Scrapbooking continued to be the major trend, but kids crafts, beads, candles, jewelry -- virtually everything -- looked positive. COMPLAINTS. We heard some people say "it's a scrapbooking show," but less than 20% of the exhibitors were in the scrapbook section. Many other vendors had some memory products, but we never heard a craft retailer complain. The new Interactive Zones seemed sparsely attended, in part because it was a new concept and buyers were busy visiting booths. WINNERS. It appeared that new craft lines were received particularly well, perhaps because buyers had more time per booth and new craft items "stuck out" from the crowd more easily. Virtually all the new exhibitors, with or without scrapbook products, went home happy. ORDERS. Vendors were surprised by the amount and number of actual orders written, even by the chains. One chain's buyers spent their entire budget the first day and talked the president into increasing it. Then they spent that, too. There is a stereotype that chains look at trade show products thinking far in advance. Not all of them. At least some of the chains at the show were tweaking/supplementing their fall/Christmas inventory. PREDICTIONS. Industry veteran Geoff Heskith, now head of foreign sales for Decoart, predicts (absent any more terrorist attacks in the U.S.) that international buyers will return to U.S. shows in droves next year. Their attendance has been way down in 2002 ... Look for the Home Shopping Network to have a major announcement regarding crafts soon ... Promotions Unlimited announced a major acquisition (see below) at ACCI, but will announce another soon. TALK ON THE SHOW FLOOR. Vendors are very concerned about Ames ... Tru Serve, the independent hardware store collective, is looking to get back into crafts and one of their key execs walked the show with Katherine Yoss, one of the industry's top sales reps ... Members of the Sierra Pacific Crafts group noticed that a number of the new Michaels smaller stores, Village Crafts, will open in cities where SPC members have stores. Some wonder if that's a coincidence. NEW PRODUCTS. Candlewic, a manufacturer of candlemaking supplies, won the Discovery award for the best new product. The website is www.candlewic.com ... Michaels will carry The Card Connection, an exclusive, extensive new line of papers and accent pieces for card-, invitation-, and scrapbook-making. The supplier is Hirschberg Schutz. BOOTHS. Sweetwater won the award for the best single booth, Walnut Hollow won in the multi-booth category, and Making Memories was judged as the best mega-booth. DISPLAYS. Winners for the best displays in the new Interactive Zones were Toner Plastics, FloraCraft, USArtQuest, Activa, Delta, and Wyndstone Specialty Products. LONGEVITY. Winners of the Scott Ladd Memorial Award for exhibiting for 15 years or more were Design Works Crafts, Quality Bead Craft, R.B. Industries, Royal Brush, Sew Easy Textiles, and Timbercreek Mercantile. NEXT YEAR. The show will be July 18-20, with education starting on the 17th. The Art Glass Suppliers Assn. show will be on the upper level of the convention center at the same time. A badge from either show will allow entrance to both shows. For more info, call 740-452-4541 or email acci.info@offinger.com.
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ACCI'S RETAIL PANEL: SOME SURPRISESOne of the most interesting highlights of the ACCI show was the panel discussion by some of the industry's savviest retailers. The panelists -- Dave Bolen of Jo-Ann's, Jim Bremer of Tall Mouse, Emma Gebo of Crafts & Frames, and Brenda Lugannani of Michaels -- offered some surprises that may help to shatter some stereotypes.Surprises. The industry's resurgence actually began before 9/11 ... The chain panelists do not believe it is more difficult to bring new products to market. Twenty percent of Michaels' sales in 2002 will be for items that were not in the stores in 2001, and Jo-Ann's has 3,000 new SKU's each quarter and wants 50-60 new vendors each year. More Surprises. The average sale in the key fall/Christmas selling season is up only 10-15% over "slower" periods. The key to the holiday season is traffic ... Most customers want to be known as scrapbookers, quilters, painters, sewers, etc., rather than the more general term, crafter ... Price isn't the key element, especially for enthusiasts, but sales prices in ads do drive traffic. Miscellaneous. There is a need for more new products in areas other than scrapbooking ... Kids' crafts will increase in our stores, but toys won't succeed ... Kits make the most sense for kids and needlework ... The most vital element for the industry's growth is the consumer being successful. We must solve her problems and make her feel good. Advice. To vendors: Buyers' biggest problems are time and inventory. Vendors who help solve those problems will succeed ... To trade show exhibitors: Clarity. What is the product? When will it ship? What will the header look like? Know the answers to retailers questions. The Internet. It helps stores. Not enough is sold online to hurt store sales, but the Internet is a great teaching-information tool, and helps build communities of painters, quilters, etc. A bigger concern than lost sales to e-commerce is consumers surfing rather than crafting. Concern. That we all narrow the definition of what we are and thereby lose out on various potential hot-selling crafts. (Note: whenever a new category appears, there's always resistance by some who say, "That's not crafts.") Transcripts of the discussion will be posted on the ACCI website early this fall. We'll let you know when it's online.
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DRG ACQUIRES ASNDynamic Resource Group has purchased ASN Publishing, one of the industry's leading needlework book publishers since 1977. ASN sells a million-plus copies of its books through chain and independent stores in the U.S. and around the world and via a mail-order catalog.DRG is the Berne, IN parent of industry related businesses, including House of White Birches, Annie's Attic, The Needlecraft Shop, EP Graphics, Strategic Fulfillment Group, and Clotilde's Sewing Notions catalog, acquired earlier this year. "ASN is a good strategic fit with DRG," said DRG CEO John Robinson. "I'm particularly thrilled ASN's Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss will continue with DRG. Jean and Rita will move out of day-to-day operations at ASN to have time to work with all the DRG brands." Robinson said DRG will retain the ASN office in San Marcos, CA and "... most of the ASN editorial and sales staff, including Bobbie Matela, vp/editorial director, and Linda Sottile, vp/sales. Paul Culpepper, vp/general manager, will also remain with ASN to manage day-to-day operations and interface with DRG headquarters here." ASN handles its own warehousing and shipping, but later this year these operations will move to DRG's Strategic Fulfillment Group in Big Sandy, TX. DRG's wholesale sales efforts will largely be transferred to the San Marcos facility. Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss are virtual needlework icons (although both would scoff at the label), and their resumes could easily fill an entire issue of CLN. Leinhauser was the public relations director for the Hobby Industry Assn., design director and new-product development manager for Boye, and the founder of both Leisure Arts and ASN. Before joining ASN in 1980, Weiss created and produced the needlework line for Dover Publications and was instrumental in reprinting several classic books on quilting, which helped spawn the current re-awakening of the interest in quilting. An authority on the history of needlework, Weiss has lectured all over the world and written more than 50 needlework books, including several best-sellers coauthored with Leinhauser. She is currently the chair of the HIA Publishers Council.
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PROMOTIONS ACQUIRES PACIFIC CREATIVEPromotions Unlimited acquired the domestic assets of Pacific Creative Distributors, which supplies stores in 11 Western states with art materials and other products. Promotions had previously purchased Herr's, the Danville, IL distributor, and will rename Pacific Creative as Herr's Pacific. By utilizing Pacific's 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Orange, CA and Herr's, Promotions will be able to supply retailers throughout the country in 2-4 days, officials say.Promotions, which entered the craft industry a few years ago with its acquisition of the rights to the Ben Franklin name from bankruptcy court, is clearly enlarging its scope. It once provided only promo/ad materials and products to Ben Franklin stores and independent retailers. Since then the Racine, WI company has added imports and fabric, bought Herr's, and has another acquisition to be announced soon. Promotions will be able to supply and re-supply a wide range of everyday inventory to stores, in addition to its traditional ad circulars, coupon books, and other promotional programs. Pacific Creative Distributors was formed a few years ago by the merger of three smaller art material distributors.
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NOT AN ACQUISITION: DMD AND WESTRIMCreativity Inc. announced that Distinct Marketing Designs, Inc. (DMD Inc.) has become affiliated with Creativity's team of craft companies, Westrim Crafts of Van Nuys, CA and Crop-In-Style of Chatsworth, CA. This is an affiliation, not an acquisition.DMD manufactures and distributes paper and craft products including bags, tissue, paper ribbon, cardstock, memory books, cards, die cuts, and magnetic notepads under the brand names Paper Reflections, Paperbilities, and Create Your Own. DMD will continue to serve its 2,000 customers from its 135,000 sq. ft. facilities in Springdale, AR, and its 35,000 sq. ft. facility in High Point, NC. Christine and Randy Meier, who founded DMD in 1996, will continue in their present capacity and join the Creativity Inc. senior management team. Christopher McLain, CEO of Creativity Inc., said, "DMD is well recognized in the industry for their concepts and the designs of their products. Their success in quickly building their business clearly indicates their commitment to customers. The addition of DMD's product development and marketing teams will help Creativity Inc. achieve its goal of assembling the most creative and experienced group of creative people for the benefit of our customers." Creativity Inc. is a holding company owned by investors and management through Sequoia Associates, LLC of Menlo Park, CA. Creativity Inc. plans to add additional companies with synergistic qualities to the team in the near future.
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INRG/NATS SHOW REPORT: "QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY"(Note: The following report was written by Michelle Burden, editor of Stitcher's World magazine.)The show was noticeably smaller -- in terms of exhibitors and attendees -- but overall, it was a "quality, not quantity" show. Although there was a real "quietness" about the show floor and it was very slow on Sunday, the exhibitors I spoke with said they were happy with their sales. No one said they were disappointed, and I saw quite a bit of order writing. The booths that seemed to be the most popular were those showing samplers with an old-fashioned feel (or antique reproductions); those with really delicate looks, worked "over one"; and/or on counts of 28 or higher. The booths with frames, finishing items (like bellpulls, pin cushions, etc.), and prefinished fabrics also seemed busy. Perhaps this indicates retailers' desires to be "all-encompassing," and their customers' desires for simple, low-cost, yet attractive finishing options. While there were some "simple" designs there, most were very well executed. The whimsical designs, for the most part, were truly charming pieces that drew smiles from passersby. (Often, I think whimsy misses the mark with dime-a-dozen cartoonish images, but these were truly sweet and funny pieces.) The folk art/primitive look remains big. These were usually smaller pieces, but again, well executed. There were only a few booths that I (and, it seemed, buyers) had no interest in visiting because of the quality of the designs. I think the retailers -- and possibly their customers -- are more "sophisticated" stitchers in search of higher quality and more challenging projects. Although I wasn't there for the first day of the show, it sounds like the convention center was off to a rocky start. Several booths collapsed in a domino effect on one aisle. I didn't hear of any people or product damage as a result of the collapse, but it obviously must have taken time away from selling, as exhibitors had to set up their booths all over again. My general conclusion? I'm glad I went. I saw a lot of nice things. Though the show was small, I didn't have time to talk to everyone I would have liked to. Exhibitors were ready to pack up and go home Sunday, but that's understandable, given the normal Sunday drop-off of attendees. Again, though, I didn't hear anyone say they were sorry they came -- to exhibit or attend. And at Bistro 100, the local restaurant, waiters said this show brought them the nicest customers they'd had all year. (Note: To contact Michelle, call 770-825-0303 or email editor@stitchworld.com. To sell Stitch World in your store, call 800-825-8995 or email customerservice@stitchworld.com.)
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A.C. MOORE: LOSSES TURN TO PROFITSA.C. Moore's bottom line turned from red to black in the second quarter, normally a slow period. Net income for the quarter ended June 30 was $584,000 ($0.06/fully-diluted share) compared to a loss of $232,000 (-$0.03) a year ago. That beats officials' forecast by three cents. Sales rose 23% to a record $82.9 million and same-store sales were up 10%.For the first six months of the fiscal year, net income was $1.46 million ($0.16) compared to a loss of $294,000 (-$0.04) a year ago. Sales rose 26% to $168.7 million and same store-sales increased 12%. (The earnings/share figures are based on fully-diluted shares and reflect the recently completed sale of 1,750,000 new shares. They do not reflect the two-for-one stock split paid on July 31, to shareholders of record on July 15.) Officials said they expect to open another eight stores in the remainder of the fiscal year, bringing the total of new stores to 12. For the year, they expect sales to increase 20-22% and same-store sales to rise 6-7%. Income from operations should increase by 80-90 basis points, thanks to leveraging of selling, general, and administrative expenses. As a result, officials raised their earnings estimate to $1.48 - $1.51 for the year.
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ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT TRADE SHOW(Note: OK, the summer shows are over; time to think about next year's shows. To help exhibitors evaluate their trade show presentations, we've asked Cindy Groom-Harry of Craft Marketing Connections, Inc. for some advice.)Lighting. Assume you'll be exhibiting in a cave (i.e., no lights). That way it won't matter if you're in a poorly lit section on the floor. When you set the booth up in your headquarters before the show (note "when", not "if"), turn off the room/warehouse lights and check your lighting for quantity and focus. Do you need extra spotlights on new products? Focal Point. What should your customer see first? What's most important? New products? A show special? Use positioning, lighting, and signage to highlight the key message. Traffic. How will buyers walk through your booth? Their path should determine where and how you display various products. Should you move a conference table or display so the traffic flows properly? Freshness. Like the retailer who periodically moves merchandise around the store, you need to change things to freshen the look -- but maintain your identity. Determine what buyers recognize as characteristic of your company and is distinctive about your booth. Freshen it but don't lose it. Signs. What are you selling? That's the most basic and often the most absent message. Get some un-involved employees to look at the booth -- especially the signs -- before you finalize anything. Ask them to say what your message is. If they don't "get" your message, your customers won't either. Sign Position. Keep signs high enough for buyers in the aisle to see them above the heads of the people in front of or inside the booth. Literature. If buyers hadn't seen your booth or talked to you, would your literature communicate your message, especially if the buyers turn over the materials to an employee? (Yes, EVERY piece of paper needs your company name, address, phone number, web site, etc.) Special Programs. If they require a lengthy explanation, what do you need to do? Simplify them? Explain through signage? Prepare a handout? Sometimes programs fail because vendors don't spend as much energy announcing/explaining a program as they do creating them. Attitude. Attendees are busy. The more streamlined their experience, the better they'll feel toward your company. Have literature collated and business cards stapled to it, if possible. Respect their need to move on by eliminating small talk. As for badge watching, haven't we learned how interconnected this industry is? The person you consider "unimportant" undoubtedly has connections you don't know about. (We all know stories of the missed opportunities for tv and print coverage because an exhibitor mistreated someone with the "wrong" color badge.) If someone isn't a people person, leave them home. We're selling enjoyment, and cranky booth personnel sabotage that mission. If he or she must attend, keep them busy in meetings away from the booth. Recap. Do a show postmortem; it's the first step in preparing for your next show. Require all attending staff members to provide a list of suggestions for improvement. If you don't capture it now, you won't get it -- and next year you'll think, "Wasn't this a problem last year, too?" (Note: Cindy Groom-Harry is a principal of Craft Marketing Connections, Inc., a marketing, public relations, design and fulfillment company. CMC assists corporations crossing over into the craft industry as well as mid-size companies within the market. They've been responsible for creating and developing numerous well-known product lines and successful marketing/PR programs over the last 20 years. Call 712-278-2340; email cmc@acsnet.com; or visit www.craftmarketingconnections.com.)
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RANDOM NOTES, RANDOM THOUGHTS1. Michelle Burden reported that many exhibitors were ready to pack up and go home on the last day of the INRG/NATS show in Charlotte. Maybe organizers should think about shortening the show by a day. It seemed to work well for the ACCI show, which was three days instead of four, and it cut costs for the exhibitors.2. Prediction: Hirschberg Schutz creating a line exclusively for Michaels is, I think, the beginning of a trend. We'll see more vendors working with a particular chain to create and supply product lines that won't be sold to the chain's competitors. Chains are realizing a growing need to differentiate themselves from their competition, which is hard to do if they all carry the same products.
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EMAIL: IMPRESSIONS OF ACCI(Note: The following is from Russ Gropman, who operates with John Lowenthal Next Level Marketing, a top-flight industry marketing consulting company.)As we walked the ACCI show floor, we were impressed with the level of activity pretty much everywhere. Our clients and other friends were all well pleased with their show response; perhaps lower expectations resulted in greater satisfaction, but the results left a positive feeling. While we applaud the efforts of the ACCI with their various marketing efforts, the Interactive Zones program seemed to fall short of expectations. It's also not good "show biz" to have events during exhibit hours that pull visitors away from the booths, and frequent, long announcements are not conducive to conducting business. On balance, an ACCI show that was worth the trip. (Note: Next Level Marketing's profile appeared in the July 15 edition of CLN. To read the profile, click here.)
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MISCELLANEOUS NEWSAMES. Chair/CEO Joseph Ettore continues to send upbeat letters to creditors, but the company reported to the bankruptcy court that it lost another $11+ million in June ... Ames is opening a Dollar Bargain department of 32-96 linear feet in each store. Picture frames, and stationery are included in the department's inventory.DOLLAR STORES. Ames isn't the only chain wanting to imitate the success of the various dollar chains. Wal-Mart has its own version, a 600-800 sq. ft. "store" called Hey Bucks in front of a supercenter, Retail Merchandiser reported. Several more are planned soon. INVESTMENT. The Ft. Worth Star Telegram reported that David Green of Hobby Lobby has purchased the Mel Tillis Theater in Branson, MO. AWARD. Design Originals won the Vendor of the Year award from the Sierra Pacific Crafts group. PEOPLE. S&S Worldwide named Lisa Bergman as Consumer Product Manager. Bergman will work out of the Anaheim office of S&S, the sales and operations center for the newly launched consumer product line Gee-Perz!, a new line of kid's group activity products. Bergman had served as Product Manager at KAH Studio, overseeing the development of the licensed character, "Arthur". Prior to that, she was an Assistant Product Manager for Walt Disney Classics Consumer Products Division ... Jeffrey De Fazio was named to the board of PSX, which is owned equally by PSX Design and Duncan Enterprises. Jeff served as President and board member at All Night Media ... Judy Merriman is VP/Retail Sales/Marketing for Novtex. Merriman had been a VP for Conso/Wm. E. Wright. CANADA. On Saturday White Rose Home & Garden Centres Ltd., a newly incorporated company, agreed to purchase 24 White Rose retail locations from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, receiver and manager of bankrupt White Rose Crafts and Nursery Sales Ltd. The receiver will close the remaining 7 stores. "We are going to be the location of choice for the latest in gardening and decorating ideas and high quality products," said Fern Reeves, the owner's representative. FOR SALE. The following intellectual property and business assets: Name and concept of Spirit of Cross Stitch ... Master tapes of 13-part PBS tv series, Spirit of Cross Stitch with Jean Farish ... Master tapes and some inventory for 15 Spirit of Cross Stitch teaching videos (selling through Nordic Needle) ... Cross stitch designs created by Jean Farish under the trade names Jean Farish Needleworks and Spirit of Cross Stitch ... Traffic generated at www.jeanfarish.com which would be automatically sent to the buyer's designated site ... Inventory including charts, floss, some linen, silver jewelry, etc. (see www.jeanfarish.com). For details, call Skip Brown at 336-457-1843 or James McDougald at 336-926-8623. AWARDS. The HIA Awards Committee is requesting nominations for its Meritorious Service, Lifetime, President's, and Special Recognition awards to be presented during the HIA show Jan. 26-29. For a description of each award, visit www.hobby.org, click on "Press Releases" and then "HIA Seeks Award Nominations for 2002." Howard Hoffman (Toner Plastics) is the committee chair. Email nominations to hh@tonerplastics.com or fax 413-789-1144. The deadline is Sept. 6. QUILTING. Here's a new, interesting e-commerce site: www.PiecefulAcrePatterns.com. CHARITIES. The Foundation of the Hobby Industry Assn. and the School, Home, & Office Products Assn. are joining forces in a number of cooperative efforts. The HIA Foundation's major fundraising event is the annual golf tournament preceding the HIA show in January. The 12th annual event, Jan. 24, still needs sponsors. Call Susan Brandt at 201-794-1133 or email sbrandt@hobby.org for more details. CONDOLENCES. Our best wishes to the family of Evelyn Rollins, who passed away on July 19. In 1965, Evelyn was one of the first customers in the store that became Tall Mouse. Soon she was its first designer and instructor and created many classic projects that helped start trends throughout the fledgling industry. She was later honored by the Hobby Industry Assn. for her efforts to grow the industry. Evelyn truly was one of the industry's design pioneers. SOFTWARE. Michaels is implementing JDA Portfolio, an advanced forecasting and replenishment inventory system from JDA Software Group, designed to improve turnover and capable of handling 1,000+ stores. QUOTATION. "Home decorating is a big, big trend now and women tend to want to do it themselves rather than hire out the work. Seems most every woman has a hidden designer in them, and they are finally finding the courage and time to do it." -- Craft designer/TV host Kathy Peterson, in the Washington Times PERSON LOOKING. Industry pro is looking -- 18 years experience on both sides -- buying and selling/marketing for and to our industry's chains and independents. For more, call Deborah Hanahan at 630-289-4869 or email dhanahan@attbi.com. STOCKS/RATINGS. Moody's placed Michaels' debt ratings on review for a possible upgrade, Reuters reported ... Michaels has also made the new Zacks #1 Rated list ... Reuters also reported that the Schroder Ultra Fund has among its largest holdings, Hancock Fabrics. The fund has posted after-tax returns of 65% a year over the last three years. DONATIONS. Creating For Life, the creative industry's contribution to the fight against AIDS, closes its annual fund drive Aug. 14. To contribute, send a check payable to Creating For Life, c/o Bill Gardner, Craftrends, 741 Corporate Circle, Ste. A, Golden, CO 80401. Credit cards are accepted. QUOTATION. "TNNA personifies the rare combination of business intellect and friendships. We've had a great many differences over the years, but we all have to agree ... TNNA is in our blood." -- Teddy Rose Carlton, this year's winner of TNNA's TEN award. YARN. (Note: The following item is becoming so common, maybe it's not news anymore.) The August issue of Good Housekeeping has a profile of Genie Francis, star of ABC's General Hospital. The photo shows Francis knitting at Suss Design, a Los Angeles yarn shop. Her hobby, of course, is knitting.
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BUSINESS PROFILE: SOCIETY OF CRAFT DESIGNERSThe Society of Craft Designers (SCD) was founded in 1975, and is the only membership organization exclusively serving those who design for the craft industry. Its mission is to promote the professional excellence of its members through educational opportunities and forums for career growth.SCD accomplishes its mission in numerous ways, including hosting the annual Education Seminar, which brings designers together with corporate members -- manufacturers, publishers, and editors -- for a few days of networking and doing business. Designers display their work to the corporate members, and the corporate members present their new products or publishing ideas to the designers. Product development, licensing deals, publishing opportunities, and more are discussed. Designers can find profitable work they enjoy, while corporate members can secure designs that help sell their products -- and receive expert feedback on new product concepts. Another major highlight of the Seminar is education in many forms -- a large, varied selection of manufacturer-sponsored technique classes; business seminars covering an array of topics; and Certification Testing -- a valuable opportunity for designers. The 2002 Educational Seminar, "Designing for the Ages" will be at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Schaumburg, IL (9 miles from the O'Hare Airport) Sept. 25-28. SCD's website, www.craftdesigners.org, plays a major role in fulfilling the organization's mission. It includes a Member Directory that's a networking tool for designers and a reference guide for corporate members looking for designers. Members can search the Directory for a specific name, or by product category, to find designers with appropriate skills. The site also includes individual member web pages -- virtual portfolios of a designer's work and resume. Corporate members use these pages to "shop" for designers. The corporate members have their own pages, too, where they publicize new products, design requests, book publication schedules, etc., for designers to see. Both designer and corporate members can access their own web pages, for regular updating. Annual designer memberships to the SCD are $135 (domestic) and $185 (international). Annual corporate memberships are $250 (domestic) and $300 (international). SCD is managed by Offinger Management Company, an ASAE Charter-Accredited Association Management and ISO 9001 Registered Company. ROLODEX. Society of Craft Designers, 1100-H Brandywine Blvd., Zanesville, OH 43702-3388. Call 740-452-4541; fax 740-452-2552; email scd@offinger.com; visit http://www.craftdesigners.org. (Note: Creative Leisure News will profile one company per issue. It could be a manufacturer, retailer, service provider, or organization. For more information about having your company profiled, call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com. To see Profiles from earlier issues, click on the "Business Profile Archives" button.)
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THE CREATIVE NETWORK: JOB OPENINGSTo see a sampling of the current job openings and to contact The Creative Network, click on the "Jobs" button in the left hand column.
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THE CLN RETAIL INDEXA. C. Moore (ACMR). Last*: 15.07 ... Change**: -6.18Ames (AMES). Last*: 0.10 ... Change**: UNC Hancock Fabrics (HKF). Last*: 14.50 ... Change**: -2.25 Jo-Ann Stores (JAS.A) [a]. Last*: 23.90 ... Change**: -3.30 Michaels (MIK). Last*: 32.54 ... Change**: -4.36 Rag Shops (RAGS). Last*: 3.80 ... Change**: -1.15 Wal-Mart (WMT). Last*: 46.10 ... Change**: -6.75 CLN Retail Index. Last*: 136.01 ... Change**: -16.6% Dow Jones Index. Last*: 8,313.13 ... Change**: -4.3% *Aug. 2 ** from July 12 [a] voting share Prices are exclusive of dividends
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THOUGHTS FROM CHRISTOPHER LOWELLTaken from his ACCI lecture and his book on home decor, The Seven Layers of Design:"The only one keeping you from your creativity is you. Where there is fear, there is no creativity." "Making a room a reflection of everyone in the home is the key." "Clutter is the main culprit. Give your home a chance to breathe." "Decorate with your heart, not your head." "People's number one fear when decorating is color." "As much light should come from the floor as from the ceilings." "Use candles."
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REMINDERS1. For more information on how your business can be the subject of a "Business Profile", call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com.2. Paid subscribers are invited to have their website evaluated by Lynn Carlisle of Carlisle Communications. She'll check the site and provide a confidential assessment and suggestions for improvement. Just email mike@clnonline.com or ljc@carlislecommunications.com. 3. If you want a hard-copy of this issue, click on "Printer Friendly version". 4. If your company is a paid subscriber, everyone in the main office is welcome to register, free. 5. If you want to recommend CLN to a friend, use the "Tell Your Friends" box on the home page. 6. Creative Leisure News is published on the first and third Mondays of each month. Your next issue will be Monday, August 19.
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