
Creative Leisure News
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Phone: 309-925-5593
Fax: 309-925-9068
Email: mike@clnonline.com

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Date: November
17, 2003
Vol. VII, No. 22
Printer
Version
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMMENTARY: READ THIS LETTER!
Please, if you don't read anything else in this issue, click on
Business-Wise in the left-hand column and read Fred Zerull's letter
about how he changed his business. Fred is 71 years old and has
recently re-invented his retail store - again. I've been reading
letters to the editor for almost 25 years, and Fred's is the most
interesting, thought-provoking letter I've ever read.
The letter affected me so much, probably because it touches on so
many issues that we've raised in recent editions of CLN: the
changing nature of our industry, adopting new survival strategies
for your business, what's happening to "crafts," a general
craft store vs. a specialty store, the loss of good paying jobs to
the Orient, etc. Fred's letter hits on all these issues.
NEW COLUMNS THIS ISSUE
Business-Wise.
How and why a Ben Franklin craft retailer changed into a group of
specialty stores.
Category
Reports. Thought-provoking letters from readers explaining
why quilting continues to grow while many needlework shops ....
WAL-MART STUMBLES?
Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott said the holiday season won't be so great,
after the discounter missed analysts' estimates for third-quarter
profits, Reuters reported. The holiday season will be better than
last year, but only because last year's holiday sales growth was the
lowest in 30+ years.
"I don't think consumer spending is slowing, but I also don't
see the strength that many of you in the investment community appear
to see," Scott said.
The third-quarter earnings of $2 billion ($0.46/share) were up
19.9%, but missed Wall Street expectations by a penny. It was the
first time the company fell short of analysts' quarterly earnings
estimates since October, 1996. It was also the first time in eight
quarters that the gross profit margin had declined.
Revenue rose to $62.48 billion from $55.24 billion a year ago. The
U.S stores/supercenters division saw same-store sales rise 5.7%, but
it was due in part to serious cuts in August when the discounter was
clearing out summer merchandise.
ACCI, HIA SLATE BOARD MEMBERS
The nominating committees for both organizations announced the
following slate of candidates. If the proposed ACCI/HIA merger goes
through, members of both boards will serve on the board of the new
association, the Craft & Hobby Association.
ACCI. Nominated for a second three-year term are manufacturer
Jim Scatena (FloraCraft), independent retailer Emma Gebo (Crafts
& Frames), and manufacturer Marla O'Dell (Syndicate Sales).
Nominated new directors are distributor Craig Curtis (Petersen-Arne),
independent retailer Larry Olliges (Dee's Crafts), and chain
retailer Michael Rouleau (Michaels). ACCI members will vote
in December.
HIA. Nominated for a second three-year term is mail order
supplier Theodore Hesemann (Herrschners). Nominated to a
first three-year term after having completed two years on the board
due to resignations are service supplier Cindy Groom-Harry (Craft
Marketing Connections) and manufacturer Jane Anne Davis (Duncan).
Nominated to a first three-year term are manufacturer Terri Clair (EK
Success) and Carolyn Schulz, European Sales/Customer Service
Manager for The Beadery. The election will take place during
the annual business meeting at the HIA show in February.
BECOMING A QVC VENDOR: AN
INSIDER'S VIEW
(Note: Ellie Joos has extensive experience representing
products on QVC. CLN asked her to report on her experience
pitching a product to the network.)
This past summer, I, along with 1,200 other enthusiastic potential
vendors, traveled to West Chester, Pa. in the hopes of catching the
eye of a QVC buyer and coming away with a purchase order for
products to sell on this shopping network that grossed $4.4 billion
last year.
Vendors traveled from far and wide, some from as far away as
California, to take part in this event, referred to as "the
American Idol of Entrepreneurs" by USA Today.
Talk about organized chaos! All the vendors were required to
register ahead of time by email and were assigned a time to appear
for their 10-minute product pitch to the buyer.
OK so far. However, when I arrived, I soon learned that my 2 pm time
was pushed back to 3 pm. I was given a folder and told to wait in
the food area QVC had set up for the event, or go to the company
store and return in about an hour.
Upon returning, all of the vendors with the 2 pm appointment were
given a table in a specific area depending upon the product (i.e.,
skin care, toys, home, gift, etc.).
I had not been able to attend the orientation the night before
because I have been busy selling another product on QVC since the
beginning of the year. If I had, I would have learned that I should
not expect any reactions from the buyers who may stop by my table;
they would simply ask some questions about the product. All
potential vendors would be notified by email at the end of the month
if they were moving on to the next phase.
I was informed of this by another potential vendor who had attended
the orientation. I was very pleasantly surprised then to receive
attention from several buyers, including the buyers from QVC in the
United Kingdom. At one point, one of the gift buyers took my folder
from me; that's a signal that you are now done and may leave.
Several weeks went by and sure enough, QVC sent out emails informing
participants that they had been approved or, in most cases, had been
rejected.
According to INC. magazine, "QVC pursued 16% of the
products from the West Chester cattle call." The product I
presented was lucky enough to move on to the next step, meaning
there were numerous forms to complete, and the product had to be
sent to QVC's quality assurance department for evaluation before
final approval.
As of this writing, we are waiting with fingers crossed that our
product will earn the QVC stamp of approval.
If you are a vendor who believes you have a product that is unique,
demonstrates well, solves problems, and has value and broad appeal,
QVC may be a sales venue to consider. After all, QVC introduces 250
new products a week and ships to a customer database of 6,800,000
addresses. Often, a product that was on QVC will then catch the eye
of buyers from the traditional retail marketplace.
For more information about becoming a QVC vendor, go to www.qvc.com
and then click on "Become a Vendor" and follow the
instructions. Good luck!! -- Ellie Joos
OCTOBER SALES: MIXED
Craft chains appeared to perform as well as many other retailers,
and much better than some, according to the same-store sales results
released earlier this month. Economists took the results, coupled
with the jobs report from the Labor Department, as further evidence
that the economy is improving. The unemployment rate went down 0.1%,
and more jobs were created than expected, but a look inside the
numbers isn't quite so positive: retailers added 30,000 jobs, but
the manufacturing sector, which usually pays far better than
retailers, lost another 24,000 jobs.
Jo-Ann's. For October: same-store sales, +1.1%; overall
sales, +0.3%, but margins improved ... for the quarter: same-store
sales +4.2%; overall sales, +4% ... Year-to-date: same-store sales,
+3.1%; overall sales, +2.2%. The quarterly earnings report will be
announced today, Nov.17.
Shareholders approved reclassifying the Class A and B common shares
into a single class of stock, which are now traded on the NYSE under
the symbol JAS.
Michaels. For October: same-store sales, +4%; overall sales,
+9% to $256.5 million; customer traffic, +1%; and average ticket,
+2% ... For the third quarter: same-store sales, +2%; overall sales,
+7%; traffic, flat; and average ticket, +2%. (Third-quarter earnings
data will be released Nov. 25.) ... Year-to-date: same-store sales,
+2%; total sales, +8%; customer traffic, +1%; and average ticket,
+1% ... Top categories: seasonal, apparel, framing, and art; best
regions: Northeast, Southeast, and mid-Atlantic.
Execs said inventory control and flow of seasonal goods improved
during the quarter. Perpetual inventory is complete in 80% of the
stores and 44% of the SKU's in those stores are on automated
replenishment. The perpetual inventory program is scheduled to be
completed by February, 2004.
Execs are also forecasting same-store sales in the fourth quarter to
rise 4-6% and earnings to be 46-50 cents/share for the quarter, and
$2.40-$2.45/share for the year. According to Reuters Research,
analysts on average expect the earnings to be $0.48 and $2.44.
Hancock. Same-store sales dropped 1.4% and overall sales
dropped 1.5%. Same-store sales for the year are still up 2.4% and
overall sales are up 2.1%.
Others. Wal-Mart (U.S.), +4.5% ... Duckwall-ALCO, +0.1% ...
Pamida, -0.8% ... Target, +1.6 ... Kohl's, -11.6% ... ShopKo, -3.5%
... Marshall Field's, -10.5% ... Nordstrom, +3.5% ... J. C. Penney,
-2.3% ... Saks, +4.1% ... Sears, -2.7% ... Bombay Co., +5.0% ...
Pier 1, +1.6% ... Sharper Image, +12.0% ... Big Lots, +2.8% ...
Dollar General +3.1% ... Family Dollar, +1.6% ... BJ's Wholesale
Club, +10.2% ... Costco, +11.0% ... Sam's Club, +7.0.
TNNA TO LAUNCH CONSUMER
OUTREACH PROGRAM
To commemorate its 30th anniversary, TNNA has developed a two-year
national Jubilee Campaign. The goals are "To enhance
consumers' awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the needlearts"
and "to fortify the needlearts industry by bringing industry
organizations and professionals together, connecting with today's
consumers, and creating tomorrow's consumers."
The strategy is to launch a multi-tiered consumer outreach program
in conjunction with a noteworthy and respected charitable cause,
expand successful college and youth educational programming, and
recognize consumers and industry leaders.
Community Outreach. Working cooperatively with Women's
Information Network Against Breast Cancer (WIN ABC, www.winabc.org),
there will be regional and local Stitch to WIN events. There
will be appropriate beginner kits and large-scale pieces available
in each discipline for sale, prize drawings, and additional
community outreach programs, such as museum exhibits and traveling
displays, if funding permits.
Education. There will be post-high school programs including
for-credit, hands-on workshops in higher-ed institutions, campus NeedleWork-Outs,
the second Student NeedleArts Design Competition, and a NeedleArts
Spring Break to be offered Jan., 2005 for spring, 2005. Youth
programs will include after-school mentoring programs such as the
Helping Hands Foundation and outreach to youth organizations.
Recognition. There will be a My Most Extraordinary
Customer campaign in which retailers are invited to nominate
their most remarkable customer. Winners from each section of the
country will be announced at the June show in Columbus, OH. Industry
supporters and Jubilee sponsors will be honored at the Jubilee
Follies during the 2005 show.
For more information about how to participate, call Sherry Mulne at
614-237-0700 or email bdirect@columbus.rr.com.
RANDOM NOTES, RANDOM THOUGHTS
1. Actor Paul Newman and author A.E. Hotchner have written a
"business" book, Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of
the Common Good, in which they describe the success of their
food business, Newman's Own. All profits (now $150+ million) go to
charity. Quotes from the authors' interview with Newsweek:
"There are three rules for doing business - fortunately, we
don't know any of them." And they told a business class at
Harvard, "You guys can go to school and learn this stuff, but
if we have any kind of a budget or a plan, we're screwed."
2. In her comments about Crafts changing to Paper
Crafts, Sandra Kay of MagTime Frames theorized that some
people may be turned off by scrapbooking because it appears to be
costly, time-consuming, and complicated. (Read Sandra's thoughts by
clicking on Memory, Paper & Stamps in the left-hand column.)
We know it doesn't have to be, but to a novice walking into a
scrapbook store or down a chain's scrapbook aisle, it might seem
that way. Hence the value of the magazine, Simple Scrapbooks,
and the new book from Hot Off The Press, Scrapbooking
Basics, by LeNae Gerig.
Retailers: How about your store or department? Is it inviting to
newcomers? Is there a clear message that even if a customer doesn't
know what she's doing, she'll still do just fine?
3. Received an interesting call from a vendor who has a very
successful new line of craft products. He's now ready, he says, to
do some consumer advertising, but where? His line has nothing to do
with paper, so he's eliminated the craft magazines that are changing
to paper crafts, and he can't advertise in Michaels Create
because his full line isn't carried in all the Michaels
stores. So where does he spend his advertising dollars?
I suggested Crafts 'N Things magazine, and possibly working
with a publisher such as Design Originals or Hot Off The
Press to produce an instruction book. He's also looking at Expressions
magazine. Not many options. It wasn't that long ago he would have
had a bewildering array of options.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
HOME DEC. According to a report by the investment bank Adams,
Harkness & Hill, 45% of Michaels sales are in floral,
seasonal, and framing. For Jo-Ann's, 45% are in floral,
seasonal, home accents and decor fabrics. For A.C. Moore, 35%
are in floral, seasonal, and framing. For Hancock, 27% are
home accents and home dec fabrics. To read the report, visit www.ahh.com,
click on "Better Living," then "Our
Publications."
A.C. MOORE. Announced its open buying schedule for 2004. The
following dates have been set aside for prospective vendors to
schedule a meeting with a buyer: Jan. 6, Mar. 2, Apr. 6, May 4, June
1, Sept. 7, Oct. 5 and Nov. 2. Call Dorothy Hahn at 856-228-6700,
ext. 364 to schedule an appointment.
SEWING. The recent National Sewing Show in Las Vegas
had 150+ exhibitors and attracted a crowd that was 10% larger than
last year.
QUOTATION. "This Wal-Martization of the work force, to
which other low-cost, low-pay stores also contribute, threatens to
push many Americans into poverty.... And Wal-Mart's competitors have
to strive for Wal-Mart's efficiency without making workers bear the
brunt. Consumers can also play a part. Wal-Mart likes to wrap itself
in American values. It should be reminded that one of those is
paying workers enough to give their families a decent life." - New
York Times editorial, 11/15/03.
PEOPLE. Exec VP Christine Meier is stepping down from
full-time involvement at DMD to become an exclusive
consultant for Creativity Inc., which is also the parent
company of Westrim Crafts, Crop-In-Style, and Blue
Moon Beads ... John Lee is the new VP of Sales and Marketing for
Jack Dempsey Inc. ... Arnold Grummer's hired Maria
Nerius as Design Coordinator. Nerius, a Craftrends columnist,
will be the company's product/design liaison for editors, designers,
teachers, etc. Call 321-951-3929 or email maria@arnoldgrummer.com.
ACCI, I. ACCI News and Views reminds vendors to send a
PDF file featuring new products, or which will be introduced in
2004, along with company, contact, and ordering info. ACCI will link
it free in the newsletter. Email the file to jmiller@offinger.com
and include "New Products for 2004" in the subject line.
The deadline is Dec. 12.
ACCI, II. ACCI is asking retail members to share their
thoughts on current and future trends in projects, techniques,
themes, colors, motifs, product categories, etc. (no product brand
names). Email predictions, along with name, store name, city, and
state, to jmiller@offinger.com
by Dec. 8. Put "Trend Predictions" in the subject line.
INTERNET. According to a Jupiter Research study, holiday
sales via the Internet will grow by 20% to $16.8 billion, Reuters
reported.
ACCOUNTING. A.C. Moore is changing the way it accounts for
co-op ad money from vendors. Under the new, generally accepted
guidelines from the accounting industry's Emerging Issues Task
Force, most ad money will be treated as a reduction of inventory
cost, rather than a reduction of ad expense. Execs estimate it will
reduce 2004 earnings by about $0.12/share.
NEW MAGAZINE. A new paper/cardmaking magazine, Simply
Sentiments, will debut next month. "I think there's a real
need in the marketplace because so many scrapbookers, stampers, and
others want to branch out," said editor Sherry Davies-Ross,
"and we've had a tremendous response from retailers." To
submit projects, mail to Simply Sentiments, 946 Lake Rd., Ste. 102,
Avondale, PA 19311 or email editor@simplysentiments.com.
For advertising info, write to the same address or email advertising@simplysentiments.com.
The phone is 610-268-2402 and the fax is 610-268-1518. Visit www.simplysentiments.com.
YARN. The grand opening of the Let Us Spin You A Yarn
exhibition at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology was
attended by 387 craft industry veterans, art pros, and friends. It
was part of Lion Brand Yarn's 125th anniversary celebration.
Students used Lion yarn to make the items in the exhibit, and Lion
endowed a scholarship at FIT. The exhibition continues this month at
the FIT museum. (Comment: Lion is still owned by the
Blumenthal family; it's remarkable that in this day and age, Lion
remains a family-owned business after all this time.)
TV. The recent NBC movie on the rescue of Jessica Lynch was
filmed in, of all places, Dallas in front of a craft-related
company, Advanced Art. According to one source, the producers
"actually put a false facade on some of the buildings in a few
square-block area, built bazaars on the street, put up a statue of
Saddam, brought in the Black Hawk helicopters, put sand and
burned-out cars on the street, etc."
QUOTATION. "If you're fully in control, you're not going
fast enough." - Race car driver Mario Andretti
LAWSUIT. A county district judge in Minnesota certified a
class-action lawsuit filed by four Minnesota women seeking
compensation for 65,000+ current and former Wal-Mart workers
in the state. The women charged Wal-Mart with forcing employees to
work extra hours without pay since 1995. The Minneapolis Star
Tribune reported that the judge wrote in his opinion that
Wal-Mart's internal auditing was evidence of the validity of the
charge. Wal-Mart has denied the charge. The case is similar to the
case before a California judge who has yet to rule on a request to
make similar charges a national class-action suit. Class-action
certification for similar cases has been denied in eight states; one
other state, Indiana, has certified a class-action suit. (Wal-Mart
now has approximately as many employees as the U.S. has on active
duty in the military.)
BOOKS. The American Library Assn.'s Booklist will name
How to be Creative If You Never Thought You Could by Tera
Leigh as one of the "Top 10 Craft & Hobby Books" of
2003. Leigh's book, The Complete Book of Decorative Painting
was named to the 2002 Booklist. Both were published by North
Light Books.
QUILTS. The second series of America Quilts Creatively
uploads to PBS stations Jan. 4. It's hosted by Karen Good and Sue
Hausmann and is sponsored by Pfaff, Hewlett Packard, Electric Quilt,
Jo-Ann's, Sulky of America, The Warm Co., Rowenta, Sew Artfully
Yours, Brandy's, Quiltsmart, Krause, and Kandi. Ask your PBS station
to carry the series.
STOCK. Jo-Ann's Chair/CEO Alan Rosskamm will sell up to
118,000 shares of common stock to meet tax obligations and to
diversify his assets for personal and estate planning purposes, the
company announced.
TASSELS. Ingenuity Unlimited, LLC, creator and manufacturer
of Tassel Magic, is looking for a licensee and/or distributor
for its HIA Innovation- and Primedia-award-winning
product. For info, email info@tasselmagic.com
or visit www.tasselmagic.com.
SCD. The Society of Craft Designers will hold a
meeting for members at the HIA show at 6:30 on Feb. 6. Place TBA.
TNNA. The National Needlework Assn. show, Jan. 31-Feb. 2 in
Long Beach, is sold out and will be the largest ever: 263 exhibitors
in 631 booths. Education begins Jan. 29 with 71 classes. Other
popular features include the Needlearts Bee, Retailer's Luncheon,
Fashion Show, Galleria, and New Buyer Program. For more info, call
740-455-6773, email tnna.info@offinger.com,
or visit www.tnna.org..
http://www.visitlongbeach.comhttp://www.longbeachcc.com BANKRUPTCY,
I. The doors closed long ago, but the lawyers are still fighting
over Ames, trying to force vendors such as Mattel and Rubbermaid to
return millions in payments made within 90 days of the original
filing date. Mattel had been paid $3.3 million, Rubbermaid almost $4
million. (Comment: Gee, for some strange reason, the vendors
don't want to give the money back. Maybe because Ames went under,
owing them even more millions?)
BANKRUPTCY, II. Charges against two ex-Kmart execs
were dropped soon after their trial started. They'd been charged
with inflating the discounter's earnings in a futile effort to stave
off bankruptcy. The government had claimed that in 2000, Kmart was
paid $42.3 million by American Greetings to be the
discounter's sole vendor for greeting cards, the Associated Press
reported. Prosecutors had claimed the payment wasn't accounted for
properly ... And a trust established to recover millions in loans
paid to Kmart's top managers shortly before the bankruptcy is suing
six other former executives, the AP reported. Loans totaling $28.8
million were given to 25 top execs in the weeks before the
bankruptcy filing in January, 2002.
TOYS. Craft-related companies did very well on the
well-respected list, "Dr. Toy's 10 Best Creative Products for
2003." Making the list were Faber-Castell's "Memory
Art: 2 Tiles to Treasure" ... Quincrafts' "Make
Your Own Door Critters" ... Sanford's "Colorific
Retractable Markers" ... Walter Foster's "How to
Draw Scooby-Doo! Step by Step Drawing Book and Kit."
KIDS. FAO Inc. is in default with its lenders and says it
does not have "adequate liquidity" to operate normally
this month. FAO, which is the parent company of Zany Brainy, FAO
Schwarz, and The Right Start, also asked vendors to
reduce shipments and postpone payment dates until 2004.
TV. A new tv series, Paint My Porch, is being
developed, hosted by well known designer/tv host Kathy Peterson.
Taping will begin in January and will feature Kathy transforming
"pitiful porches, drab decks, frumpy outdoor furniture and
poorly planned patios into wonderful outdoor living spaces."
For underwriting opportunities, visit www.paintmyporch.com
and/or call Ellie Joos & Associates at 908-459-9269.
COLLECTIBLES. A sign of how the market has declined: The
Franklin Mint has shut down temporarily, according to Unity
Marketing and The Philadelphia Inquirer, with plans to
eventually re-open as a much smaller business.
HIA. Online buyer pre-registration is now available for
members at www.hiashow.org.
EXPOS. The first Memories Expo of the year is Mar. 5-6
in Las Vegas, and Dec. 1 is the deadline for early-bird booth space
discounts, technique class proposals, and forms for crop party
sponsorship and celebrity reception commitments. Other Expos
(and the deadlines) are scheduled for Apr. 2-3 in Chicago (Dec. 15),
Apr. 30-May 1 in New Jersey (Jan. 19), and Oct. 7-9 in Orlando (June
14). There's a discount for companies exhibiting at all four shows.
For info, call 740-452-4541 or visit www.memoriesexpo.com.
SCD. New Officers for the Society of Craft Designers:
Julie Stephani, President Elect (Krause) and Fran Rohus
Morgan, Secretary/Treasurer; continuing officers are Barbie Vasek,
President (Delta) and Tracia Williams, Immediate Past
President (Tracia & Co.). New directors include Debba
Haupert (BoBella Craft Marketing & Design), Tera Leigh (Tera
Leigh Designs), and Vicki Schreiner. Maureen Carlson (Creative
Center) chairs the Past President's Committee. Continuing
directors are Dorothy Egan (Egan Designs), Barbara
Matthiessen (JD Designs), and Andrea Rothenberg (Andi
Craft Creations).
NAMTA. The National Art Materials Trade Assn. updated
its www.namta.org site.
WAL-MART. Independent retailers in Albert Lea, MN are
competing against a newly opened Wal-Mart supercenter in unique way,
according to Retail Merchandiser. Fourteen businesses are
offering discounts for customers at each other's stores. If
consumers show a receipt from one of the 14, the other stores give
them a discount.
BUSINESS PROFILES/NEW PRODUCTS
CLN is bringing back its Business Profile and New Products
sections just in time for the all-important winter trade show
season.
Business Profiles. CLN will profile one company per
issue, which will remain online for at least a year. A Profile is a
perfect way for a new company to let itself be known to the
industry, or for an established company to enhance its reputation by
showing the industry its history, diversity of products, personnel,
etc.
New Products. Trade show exhibitors need to have exposure for
their new products anywhere they can find it - and CLN can be
a key part of your marketing strategy.
To learn how you can be featured in a Company Profile (and there are
only five issues left before the HIA show) and/or have your new
products featured, call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com.
THE CREATIVE NETWORK: JOB
OPENINGS
To see a sampling of the current job openings and to contact The
Creative Network, click on the "Jobs" button in the left
hand column.
THE CLN RETAIL INDEX
A. C. Moore (ACMR). Last*: 21.89 ... Change**: -1.23
Hancock Fabrics (HKF). Last*: 14.34 ... Change**: -0.57
Jo-Ann Stores (JAS). Last*: 25.45 ... Change**: -4.56
Michaels (MIK). Last*: 48.00 ... Change**: +0.53
Rag Shops (RAGS). Last*: 3.89 ... Change**: -0.12
Wal-Mart (WMT). Last*: 55.00 ... Change**: -3.95
CLN Retail Index. Last*: 168.57 ... Change**: -5.5%
Dow Jones Index. Last*: 9,768.68 ... Change**: -0.38%
*Nov. 14 ** from Oct. 31 Prices are exclusive of dividends
JOHN F. KENNEDY
This Saturday will mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of
John F. Kennedy. It was easily the 9/11 of its time and ushered in
the turbulent 60's.
E.B. White, the greatest non-fiction writer this country has ever
produced, was an editor at The New Yorker on that fateful
day. The next issue was ready to go to press, so the staff tore out
a short piece and White sat down to write about the most shocking
event since Pearl Harbor, -- and write it to fit the empty space.
Here's what he wrote:
"When we think of him, he is without a hat, standing in the
wind and the weather. He was impatient of topcoats and hats,
preferring to be exposed, and he was young enough and tough enough
to confront and to enjoy the cold and the wind of these times,
whether the winds of nature or the winds of political circumstance
and national danger. He died of exposure, but in a way that he would
have settled for -- in the line of duty, and with his friends and
enemies all around, supporting him and shooting at him. It can be
said of him, as of few men in a like position, that he did not fear
the weather, and did not trim his sails, but instead challenged the
wind itself, to improve its direction and to cause it to blow more
softly and more kindly over the world and its people." E.B.
White (from his book, Writings From The New Yorker, 1925-1976,
(HarperCollins, 1990.)
REMINDERS
1. For more information on how your business can be the
subject of a "Business Profile" or have products/photos
included in the "CLN's Online Product Preview, 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. Just click on "Current
Subscribers Click Here To Register."
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,
December 1. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
xxx
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