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Creative Leisure News
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Date: November 4, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTSCOMMENTARY: THE RAMIFICATIONS OF CHEATINGThere are some angry vendors out there. The last issue of CLN really struck a nerve with the email about buyers working with a vendor on a new product, then giving the project, the idea, to a competing vendor. I'm sad to report, but judging from the phone calls I've received, apparently more than one vendor has been treated like this.Maybe there's a short-term gain for a buyer to act in such an unethical manner, but make no mistake: It is unethical. It is cheating. It is not "business as usual." If buyers won't listen to their conscience, they should think about the long-term ramifications of their actions. Vendors talk to each other. If a buyer gets a reputation as a cheat, vendors will take their new ideas to other retailers. Eventually that buyer will complain, "Gee, aren't there any new ideas out there?" There are plenty of new ideas out there. But the competition will see them first.
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QUILT MARKET REPORT, I(Note: The following was written by Ellie Joos of Ellie Joos & Associates, a marketing/consulting firm.)Quilt Market 2002 was a showcase for beautiful color and interest in innovative surfaces. From the many gorgeous exhibits sponsored by exhibiting companies to the vendors' booths, color was everywhere. Surface interest ranged from interesting fibers to decorative embellishment with buttons, beads, sequins, and other materials. Prior to the show I wondered if I'd see any crossover from scrapbooking, and sure enough, it was evident in an exhibit called A Page in My Book: Journal Quilts 2002. This exciting exhibit featured the work of more than 175 quilters who were challenged to make "pages from a nine-month journal." Several companies had products that crossed over, including EK Success. The company exhibited at Quilt Market for the first time and had a good show with Adornaments (36 kits of fun fibers in coordinating colors and other tools, including the Rainbow Color Selector), created by K1C2. Their booth featured paper pages and their translation into fabric pages. Blumenthal/Lansing's Mary Engelbreit line of buttons and appliques made its debut at the Market, and Engelbreit herself stopped by the booth and also spent time launching her fabric line with Cranston. (For more on B/L's new lines, click here.) The garden floral theme was a strong trend in many fabrics, and as always Michael Miller had fun with its Garden Wedding -- complete with bride, groom, wedding cake, and presents. P&B Textiles featured the work of designer and author Nancy Oden with a lovely line called Azalea Trail. A lush tropical garden was presented in a stunning collection by Jane Sassman for FreeSpirit Fabric. Fabrics taking their inspiration from historical perspectives included FreeSpirit's My Sweet Sister Emma, the 1840's-inspired collection created with the International Quilt Study Center; Andover Fabrics' Broderie Perse done with the American Folk Art Museum; and Erlanger's Provence Toiles inspired by Royal Doulton China, one of several toile collections visible at the show. Attorney-turned-quilter Linda Franz introduced her book, Quilted Diamonds. It is also available with a CD-ROM featuring her magnificent blue-and-white quilt which was hand-pieced and quilted. Linda was inspired by her fascination with the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt and her love of Jane Austen. Cool tools and other products included EZ Quilting's one-step transfer pen and the EZ Square Jr. (Baby boomers will appreciate the use of BIG numbers on all of EZ's new products.) Robison Anton introduced Moonglow (glow- in-the-dark thread) and Super Stitch (50-wt. thread on large cones), perfect for the growing long-arm quilting machine market. Art of the Midwest featured designer Amy Butler's love of vintage inspired fabrics. Watch for the story on Amy in the April 2003 issue of Country Living magazine, sure to create additional demand for her patterns. -- Ellie Joos, Ellie Joos and Associates, 908-459-9269, email eleapple@hotmail.com. (Note: Ellie Joos and Associates is a leading public relations and marketing company, very experienced with our industry.) REMINDER: Want a hard copy of this issue? Click on "Printer Friendly Version" at the top of this page and print that. It's easier to read, the margins are better, and you'll use less paper.
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QUILT MARKET REPORT, II(Note: The following was written by Kathie Stull of KS Inc.)The general mood was very upbeat. Although there were a few grumblings about the traffic, overall everyone seemed to be really happy with the show. General trends I saw: Embellishments. Scrapbooking isn't the only category exploring different embellishments such as buttons, trims, and surface additions. Many of the new exhibitors were in this category. Speaking of scrapbooking, there was even a fabric page exhibit which was very well received. Embroidery. Possibly going along with the surface embellishment trend, there were many quilts featuring embroidery -- as the main ingredient and also as an embellishment -- and new threads provided a lot of interest. Color. I noticed a trend towards "real" color -- almost a fun or whimsical look; many of the featured quilts seemed to have a childlike quality to them. Another color focus was a waterfall effect with the use of gradation of color. Technology. From printing on fabric using your computer and printer and CD's of designs for your sewing machine, to many new software programs, quilters don't seem to be intimidated by their computers. Maybe because they're designers, they seem to be embracing the new technology. Crossover. Many non-traditional quilt companies exhibited at Quilt Market: DecoArt introduced a new dry-brush fabric paint; Accu-Cu featured diecuts of fabric; and EK Success had its new Adornaments line, as well as tools. Projects. I noticed more actual quilts, a new trend in mantle quilts, and also smaller quilts, but overall I think I saw less wearables. Quilt Market is always a feast for the eyes but this year it was true more than ever! -- Kathie Stull, KS Inc. (Note: Kathie has been in the craft industry for more than 24 years; as a chain buyer, marketing consultant, advertising account representative, and television producer. For more on Kathie, see her article below on industry-related trends in public television.)
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HIA ANNOUNCES OFFICERS, AWARD WINNERSThe Hobby Industry Assn. board of directors reelected William Reed (Better Homes & Gardens Crafts Group/Meredith) as President of the board for the upcoming year.The other elected officers are James Bremer (Tall Mouse), VP of Member Programs & Services ... Andrew Carter (AMACO), VP of Trade Shows & New Business Development ... Theodore Hesemann (Herrschner's), VP of Finance ... Michael Rouleau (Michaels), VP of Consumer & Public Relations. They form HIA's Governance Committee and serve for one year. HIA's Awards Committee announced the winners of its annual awards to be given during the HIA show in January. Dave Ladd of Walnut Hollow wins the Lifetime Member Award, for his long service and involvement in the industry ... A posthumous Special Recognition Award will be given to Frank Strauss of Activa on behalf of his wife, Sallie, for her support of HIA's certification programs and her countless hours of volunteer work for various industry and association programs ... Mike Hartnett of Creative Leisure Communications receives the President's Award for publishing Creative Leisure News and providing a sounding board for industry issues ... Tera Leigh receives a Special Recognition Award for her Memory Box project which has created and donated more than 37,000 decorated memory boxes to hospitals for infant bereavement programs. The winner of the Meritorious Service award will be announced at the HIA banquet during the show. (Comment: My humble thanks to the Award Committee. I can't think of a nicer group of people with whom to receive an award than Dave, Sallie, and Tera.)
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MARTHA: NEW LINE, MOUNTING WOESKmart's in bankruptcy and Martha Stewart may be indicted and forced out as CEO of her company, but they have joined forces again and introduced the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday line of products in Kmart stores this month. The line includes a wide variety of ornaments, garlands and other naturals, glass balls, floral accents, etc. Officials said many of the designs were inspired by projects in Martha Stewart Living magazine.While the products are not craft products per se, many are similar to seasonal items sold in our industry's stores. Martha is no doubt hoping this new line will be "a good thing," because she doesn't have many other good things happening. Last Thursday Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia reported a 42% drop in third-quarter earnings and said the fourth quarter would be way below analysts' expectations. Part of the cause is a decline in magazine renewal rates and tv ratings. Last month Stewart was told by the SEC that it will recommend civil securities fraud charges against her related to the sale of her ImClone stock -- and the Justice Department is investigating whether to file criminal charges. Oh yes, and her company was sued -- for a day. Pumpkin Masters filed a federal lawsuit against her company, claiming it is marketing and selling pumpkin-carving kits that violate Pumpkin Masters' patent. The suit was withdrawn a day later. Neither side would comment.
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GARDEN RIDGE ANNOUNCES NEW CEOGarden Ridge named R. Randall Onstead Jr. as CEO. The announcement was made by J. William Uhrig, managing partner of Three Cities Research, the New York investment firm that holds a controlling interest in the chain.Onstead is the former board chair/ceo of Randalls Food Markets. Under his leadership, Randalls' total enterprise value increased from $645 million to $1.84 billion from 1997-1999 and same-store sales grew from -1.32% to +6.6%. For over a decade, he was also the company's tv spokesperson. Garden Ridge was founded in San Antonio in 1979 and for many years was a public company. It "went private" a few years ago and now has 44 stores in 13 states in the Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest. The stores are some of the industry's largest retail outlets with extensive home dec and craft departments. REMINDER: If you ever change your email address, be sure to let us know. Otherwise, when we sent you an email saying a new issue is online, it will bounce back to us.
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SELLING TO THE HOME DEC MARKET(Note: The following is written by Tera Leigh)When consumers purchase paint, they rarely do so because they want to own a bottle, jar, or can of paint; they are buying what that paint represents: the completed project. Our industry often focuses on the "feeling" the consumer receives from crafting, but by doing so we may be missing the bigger picture and opportunities presented by the current marketplace. The "feeling" marketing mantra focuses on the joy of creativity. However, there is an entire market being driven by a new need to create that which is too expensive to buy. The joy of creating is valid, but for the new market, it may be a secondary factor. Craft manufacturers must understand that crafts do not exist in a void. In today's marketplace, most crafts are home centered. Customers make projects for the homes they live in, or as gifts for the homes of friends and family. At no other time in history have crafts had better exposure to the consumer. HGTV, Martha Stewart, several PBS series, and the plethora of home dec magazines bombard consumers with projects that fall into the category of "crafts." Unfortunately, in that format, consumers may not understand that what they are looking at is a craft project. They see the project and products as part of the home decor genre. As such, they will look for it in home decor stores rather than in craft venues. The "old" craft customer may have picked up a new hobby as something to do, focusing on the process rather than the finished project. But the new -- and younger -- consumer is driven by the end result. (For example, consider the popularity of the hit cable series, Trading Spaces.) This means that as an industry, we must get better at educating the consumer about our products and where to find them -- or tailor our products for the home decor market. Albert Einstein is often credited with the saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." Yet, here we are as an industry, repackaging the same crafts in the same ways and expecting new consumers to invest. By educating ourselves as to the product and terminology of the home decor industry, we will be better positioned to make the crossover into the large, and lucrative, home dec market. (Tera Leigh is an artist and author of The Complete Book of Decorative Painting, published by North Light Books. North Light will unveil her latest book, How To Be Creative If You Never Thought You Could, at the HIA show in January. She has taught new media marketing for UCLA and Cal State Long Beach Extension. Email tera@teraleigh.com or visit her website at www.teraleigh.com.)
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"SLIM" BOOKS ARE EXPANDINGWhen Michaels unveils its department re-sets in December and January, you'll see more "Slim-Line" booklets produced by Kievlan-McGuffee Design Services. The full-color booklets measure 4 1/2" x 10 7/8", retail for as little as 99 cents, and will be displayed adjacent to the appropriate product on peg hooks or shelf clips."The booklets are not designed to replace project sheets, nor in-depth instruction books," said Jean Kievlan, "but rather serve as a teaser. The compact format limits the amount of pattern instruction that can be provided, so our focus is on creative ideas and uses for the manufacturer's product, and on simple, but inspiring projects. [They] entice the consumer to try a new product or to introduce them to a new crafting skill." The company serves as a "turnkey" publisher for the manufacturer and has produced, or is in the process of producing, booklets for Don Mechanic, Lara's Crafts, CPE, DMD, Glick, McGill, and Craf-T, and has commitments in the works from other major vendors, covering a wide range of product categories. "Slim-Line" book opportunities are not necessarily limited to Michaels. For info, call 817-249-4707, fax 817-249-0521, or email kievlan@metronet.com. REMINDER: If ever you forget your password, there's a button, "Forget Your Password?" in the left-hand column. Click on it, and the computer will automatically send you your password.
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TREND REPORT: "CRAFTY" PBS PROGRAMS(Note: This was written by Kathie Stull of KS Inc.)Programs that feature one particular craft discipline have always been most popular on PBS. They are also often tied to a host; witness Sue Hausmann, Nancy Zieman, Donna Dewberry, and Bob Ross. Commercial shows tend towards home dec and general crafts or entertainment based programming. In the past quilting, sewing, and painting have been dominant categories on PBS. Though these remain strong, PBS has begun to discover that all how-to categories have potential viewers. PBS has become more trend oriented. There is greater pressure on producers to provide new programming on a constant basis for mainstay crafts such as quilting, while also exploring hot categories such as scrapbooking and knitting. The old PBS was known for repeating shows over and over; today producers need to provide on average 26 weeks of new programming each year to keep their series on the air. PBS has become aggressive in looking for trends while protecting and maintaining the large audience it has developed for painting, sewing, and quilting programs. Hot subjects on PBS mirror the trends in the craft industry: scrapbooking, knit/crochet, and kids crafting. There is also a greater interest in artisans -- their creations and a personal look at their creative process. The use of how-to programming for PBS pledge drives is also a new phenomenon. These pledge shows are used to introduce a new series to PBS or to capitalize on the large audience watching an existing show. Special breaks are designed in the show to generate membership for the station; the show then offers premiums for viewers who sign up. Pledge-drive specials are not unlike infomercials in that only a small percentage of them are successful. They do not take the place of regular programming but are used as a supplement. With the proliferation of new cable networks, dish TV, and satellite, PBS is a constant. Local PBS stations are always found in the first 20 numbers on your television dial. The name PBS is synonymous with quality and credibility. PBS and Retailers. One of PBS's often cited disadvantages -- different air times in different markets -- is also one of the benefits to local retailers. They can underwrite and influence the carriage and time of their favorite how-to programs. PBS completes the link: from manufacturer to consumers to retailers. It drives consumers to retail outlets to buy the products they see on TV. PBS works best for institutional advertising and brand awareness. How-to television is here to stay. Though it's been newly discovered by commercial television, PBS has always recognized its popularity and will continue to promote and feature the programming most important to our industry. (Note: Since 1990, Kathie has been involved in the production and marketing of more than 125 videos and 13 successful PBS series with more than 800 episodes, including Hands On Crafts for Kids, Scrapbook Memories, America Sews, and The Needle Arts Studio. Sponsorship opportunities are currently available for 2003 in scrapbooking, kids, sewing, needlework, knit & crochet, and quilting. Other services include development of new programming and instructional videos. Kathie Stull, KS Inc., 800-348-3909 or 440-349-3995; email kastull@apk.net) REMINDER: If your company is a paid subscriber, everyone in the main office is welcome to register, obtain their own usernames and passwords, and access the issue whenever they wish -- free. All they need do is go to the site and click on "Current Subscribers Click Here To Register."
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CLN'S ONLINE PRODUCT PREVIEWJanlynn. The newest member of the Tuckables line -- Personalized Tuckables -- with a pop-out oval for a photo or decorative personalization.Janlynn. A line of Paint-By-Numbers kits for kids. BabyEyelets. New shapes added to its collection of eyelets, rivets, etc. for crafts and scrapbooking. Sakura of America. The new Permapaque line of opaque, quick-drying, fine-point markers. Ranger Industries. The Melting Pot, a vari-temp appliance for melting solids for candle- and soap-making and a variety of other uses. Gerson International. A new "talking" photo album with recording/playback capabilities for each of the 24 pages. Gerson International. A new "talking" Christmas ornament with an inset for a photo. The Preview also includes new products from Joy S.A., GridArt, Wild Pony Baskets, MagEyes, McCall Pattern, DMC, Walnut Hollow, Adhesive Tech, Dimensions, Mountain Mist, Design Master, Plaid, Milestones, and Wrights. To learn more about these products and see photos, click HERE. VENDORS: CLN's "Online Product Preview" will run in every issue. To learn more about how you can have your products and photos published online for six months, email Mike Hartnett at mike@clnonline.com or call 309-925-5593.
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EMAIL: A TOUGH TIME FOR DESIGNERS(Note: In our last issue we published a long email from a designer/product developer who complained, among other things, about unqualified company personnel being responsible for making final decisions on designs and products -- and not treating designers and their work ethically. This is in response to that email.)Whoever wrote that email reflects perfectly what reputable designers are feeling. After many decades of earning a nice living and working with great people who respect my work, "the people who have never crafted a day in their lives and only think an idea is a good product idea once some other company creates it" are now in charge of some companies. Their knowledge of design is minimal to none, quality is nonexistent, and the only thing is "how soon and how cheap can you deliver." And often, about halfway through the assignment, they change their minds and cancel the project. At that point, they want to reduce the fee since "the project wasn't finished." They leave no room for any exchange of ideas. I am a designer, not a writer, so I may not have expressed my thoughts as well as the writer in the previous issue, but you get the point. Sometimes designers do whine, but did anyone stop to think that there might be a good reason for doing so? For the first time in my career, I find the future to be bleak. -- Noted, veteran designer whose designs can be found in numerous product lines throughout the industry
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EMAIL: DISCOUNTS FOR PROS, LOYAL CUSTOMERSYou recently wrote about Jo-Ann's (and Hancock's) discount program for teachers. There is no question that our industry's chains are frequented by teachers and other professional group leaders; we learned this in our research for the development of the S&S Worldwide Gee-Perz! product line. The efficiency and convenience of that product speaks directly to the budget and time availability of these professionals.Your suggestion about discounts for "professionals" has us wondering whether you are referring to the aforementioned group leaders and/or professional crafters. The latter have been traditionally difficult to qualify and define, which has made it tough for the true pros to get recognized. Perhaps there is a two-tiered discount, or reward, system that the chains should consider. Teachers and other professional group leaders (Scouts, camps, church groups, etc.) with qualified credentials could be part of a discount program. The rest of the buying public could fall into a loyalty-based program (membership account earns points redeemable for special deals/discounts, etc.) such as the supermarkets attempt to use. I said "attempt" because I'm not sure the payback is real for the retailers -- my neighbor went out of town and left us her keys to look after things; there were more supermarket affinity cards on the key ring than there were keys! Perhaps such loyalty programs could slow down some of the chain's price wars, which only tend to eventually denigrate product values. -- John Lowenthal, Next Level Marketing. (Note: For more information about Next Level Marketing, click here. To learn more about the Gee Perz! product line, click here.
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RANDOM NOTES, RANDOM THOUGHTS1. In his email above, John Lowenthal of Next Level Marketing addresses an ongoing industry problem: how to tell if a professional crafter is really "professional." How's this for a solution: HIA and ACCI have both made substantial improvements in making show attendees prove they really are professional, and not just consumers looking for extra discounts on a couple of bottles of paint. Plus, no one pays the membership fee for the Society of Craft Designers unless they're trying to make a living as an industry professional.So how about this: if someone can show they were allowed into an HIA or ACCI show, or they show a current SCD, HIA, or ACCI membership card -- wouldn't that prove they were, in fact, professional? Perhaps a proof of membership in the American Sewing Guild would, too. 2. It seems there were a lot of early, 40%-off type sales promotions of Halloween items. I'm guessing sales, or at least profits, were disappointing. Last month Wal-Mart said sales of its Halloween candy and costumes were running "below expectations." We'll find out this Thursday when October sales figures are announced.
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MISCELLANEOUS NEWSQUOTATION. "Trust relationships, without being buddy-buddy, level the playing field so that every vendor has the same opportunity as others who may have a longer-term relationship with a buyer. Buy from vendors because the product most nearly meets the needs of the customer, not on the basis of friendship, golf outings, dinners, and gifts." -- Don Soderquist, former COO of Wal-Mart Ben Franklin, in the November issue of CNA. Soderquist will be a featured speaker at the HIA show in Anaheim in January. For more information, call 201-794-1133 or visit www.hiashow.org.SNIPERS. The Washington, D.C.-area snipers have apparently been caught, and there's no indication that they had any connection with, or animosity towards, Michaels. It was just a coincidence that some of the shootings occurred near Michaels stores. STOCK. Investment bank Goldman Sachs lowered its rating for Wal-Mart to market performer from its recommended list. JO-ANN'S. Is in the midst of a pilot program to improve in-store efficiency. The company hired Kurt Salmon Associates to orchestrate the program, which began this summer and will roll out to the entire chain in early 2003. Officials say the results have shown a dramatic improvement thus far. No details were given concerning the types of changes being implemented or the location of the test stores. QUILTING. Susan Jones was the Grand Prize winner in the Button-It-On quilt contest sponsored by Blumenthal Lansing, FreeSpirit Fabric, Husqvarna Viking, Fairfield Processing, and Sulky of America. Her entry was Winter Berries and contained more than 100 buttons to interpret the red berries in her design. The contest challenged quilters to make a small quilt panel to represent one of the four seasons using products from the sponsoring companies. Entries ranged from whimsical and charming to abstract and highly dimensional. The quilt and several others from the contest were on display at Quilt Market and will be featured in an upcoming segment on the PBS series, Quilt Central, and at www.quiltcentraltv.com. TV. Carol Duvall will have a full hour holiday special on Nov. 16 on HGTV, and her first guest will be Dee Gruenig of Posh Impressions. The special airs at 2 pm EST and is repeated at the same time Nov. 23. She is also making numerous appearances on DIY's Scrapbooking series. For more info, visit www.poshimpressions.com/deegruenig.html. PEOPLE. Michaels' board of directors elected Dallas businesswoman Cece Smith to become its sixth member. Smith is a co-founder of a Texas venture capital company and a former chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. AWARD. Congrats to Marie Nerius for winning the Florida Writers Assn.'s Palm Award in the Self-Help/How-to category for her book, Soapmaking For Fun or Profit. QUOTATION. "Watch for cigar box purses, selling for hundreds of dollars in upscale boutiques." -- Ellie Joos, Ellie Joos & Associates VOLUNTEERS. HIA needs folks to serve on the HIA Task Force to assist the staff in the trade show registration area and in the exhibit hall during private appointment hours. For more information, call Suzanne Harrington at 201-794-1133 or email sharrington@hobby.org. NEEDLEWORK. The National Needlework Assn. show is set for San Diego, Jan. 11-13, with education starting Jan. 9. There's a special fashion show, retailers' luncheon, Needle Arts Galleria, a host of technique and business classes, and a special appearance by Mary Monica Pulver (aka Monica Ferris), a mystery writer whose main character runs a needlework shop in Minnesota. TNNA members can register online now at www.tnna.org. Judging from the success of the 2002 shows, officials expect this to be a record-breaking show. For more, call 740-455-6773, email tnna.info@offinger.com, or visit www.tnna.org. (Comment: We've read a Ferris mystery -- great fun!) PAINTING. The Society of Decorative Painters convention/show will be in Indianapolis June 9-15. It will feature more than 230 classes for painters of all skill levels and in all media, plus seminars on business and design trends. Other highlights include the Decorative Arts Collection awards competition, a new Chapter Art Show, and Silent Auction. SDP members receive a free Convention Special publication showcasing every class and event. Non-members may order it for $4 by mailing SDP, Attn. Convention Special, 393 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita, KS 67203-5968. For more on the convention, call 316-269-9300, ext. 101, or visit www.decorativepainters.org.
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BUSINESS PROFILES: PLAID ENTERPRISES, INC.The qualities that make a good book -- inspiring projects, easy-to-follow instructions, and excellent results -- are the same qualities that make a great craft product. Established in 1976 as a publisher of how-to books, Plaid parlayed its knowledge of teaching "how to" via books into exciting products, education initiatives, and millions of satisfied consumers around the world.In the 1980s, Plaid entered a variety of product categories, launching some of its most enduring and successful brands: FolkArt, Stencil Decor, Simply Stencils, Apple Barrel, Royal Coat, and Gallery Glass. Plaid was purchased in 1989 by Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corp. (DKM), a privately held investment company based in New York. Plaid then entered a dynamic period of product development and acquisition. Among other initiatives, Carol Smith's introduction of crafts on QVC in 1992 opened a new market and an exciting way to reach crafters. A chance encounter at a decorative painting show in 1995 brought Plaid and Donna Dewberry together; the result was FolkArt One Stroke. This innovative program proved the perfect marriage between great product, comprehensive education, and extensive marketing. Seven years later, One Stroke continues to inspire new consumers to learn to paint; more than 3,500 students have earned certification to teach One Stroke. This summer, One Stroke programming tied with Simon and Garfunkel's reunion concert as the leading fundraising program for PBS. The late 1990s saw expansion into new product categories. Plaid entered the needlecraft market with the purchase of Bucilla. Now celebrating its 135th anniversary, the Bucilla brand is recognized throughout the world as a leader in stitchery, felt, and more. Plaid acquired All Night Media in 1999, opening new channels of distribution and adding an important new product category to its roster. The 2003 line will feature 15 new collections, including proprietary designs, as well as those from leading designers such as Anna Griffin, Brenda Walton, Dee Gruenig, and others. Today, Plaid is the world's largest, most diverse manufacturer of creative do-it-yourself products, with more than 5,000 products distributed in more than 50 countries via a broad spectrum of retail channels. While product categories have expanded, the company has never forgotten its early lesson: The qualities that make a good book -- inspiring projects, easy-to-follow instructions and excellent results -- are the same qualities that make a great craft product. Plaid's mission is to deliver creative products, techniques, and ideas that keep consumers inspired and drive them to retail in search of new ideas. ROLODEX: Plaid Enterprises, Inc., 3225 Westech Drive, Norcross, GA 30092. 678-291-8100; www.plaidonline.com (Note: If any industry-related company is interested in a Business Profile such as the one above, call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com.)
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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*: 16.59 ... Change**: -0.40Hancock Fabrics (HKF). Last*: 15.27 ... Change**: +0.57 Jo-Ann Stores (JAS.A) [a]. Last*: 24.88 ... Change**: +0.09 Michaels (MIK). Last*: 45.58 ... Change**: +3.10 Rag Shops (RAGS). Last*: 4.13 ... Change**: +0.10 Wal-Mart (WMT). Last*: 54.55 ... Change**: -0.32 CLN Retail Index. Last*: 162.00 ... Change**: -1.0% Dow Jones Index. Last*: 8,517.64 ... Change**: +2.3% *Nov. 1 ** from Oct. 18 [a] voting share Prices are exclusive of dividends
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WHY IT WILL BE A COLD WINTER(Emailed from Jeff Horner)It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he said the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the reservation should collect wood to be prepared. But also being a practical leader, he called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?" "It looks like it will be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist responded. So the Chief told his people to collect even more wood in order to be prepared. One week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" he asked. "Yes," the meteorologist replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter." The Chief again ordered his people to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?" "Oh yes," the man replied. "It looks like it's going to be one of the coldest winters ever." "How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked. The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy." Note: Creative Leisure News is published the first and third Mondays of each month. Your next issue will be Monday, November 18.
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