Date: June 7, 2004
Vol. VIII, No. 11

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMENTARY: MERGING INTO CHA

The ACCI/HIA merger is finally done and there are some people to thank: Lynda Musante (Cardinal) and Bill Reed (Meredith), who, when they were chairs of the ACCI and HIA boards, decided over a year ago to each appoint three board members to a "merger task force." Bill appointed Jim Bremer (Tall Mouse), Ron LaRosa (Delta), and Mike McCooey (Plaid). Lynda appointed Emma Gebo (Crafts, Inc.), Jim Scatena (FloraCraft), and me.

The six of us were in virtual agreement on virtually everything, yet the process took far longer than any of us imagined, because it was far more complicated than we ever imagined. Talk about having to jump through legal hoops!

I must admit, my five fellow task force members worked much harder than I did. We divided up the work; Jim, Jim, Ron, and Mike dealt with the lawyers, while Emma and I were in charge of writing CHA bylaws. Turns out Emma is fabulous at writing bylaws; my job primarily consisted of reading the rough copies she'd send me and saying, "Good job, Emma!"

Serving on the task force was time consuming but very worthwhile, thanks to the wisdom, persistence, and humor of my fellow members. Thanks, folks.

Business-Wise. Health insurance – a cruel lifesaver.

Category Report. Two interesting views on the trends at the recent Quilt Market.

Legal Q. & A. David vs. Goliath. A craft company fights Google.

Scene & Heard. Trendspotter Ellie Joos reports on highlights of the recent N.Y. Stationery Show – or was it a scrapbook show?

Tech Topics. Debba Haupert describes the Shop At Home tv network (including the buyer's contact info) – and gives practical advice for selling on tv.

(Note: If you visit one of the columns mentioned above and it appears to be an "old" column, click the "Refresh" or "Reload" button on your browser.)

How are your sales this year so far? Do you wonder how your fellow retailers (or fellow vendors) are doing? Click HERE to see the results. If you haven't voted, now's your last chance. We'll start a new poll with our next issue.

Michaels. Same-store sales rose 3.0% and overall sales rose 8.0% to $202.3 million. There was a 2% increase in average ticket, flat store traffic, and a 1% increase in custom frame deliveries. Top categories were scrapbooking, general crafts, kids crafts, yarn, and party/impulse, and the best regions were the Pacific, Southeast, and Central.

Jo-Ann's. Same-store sales rose 2% and overall sales rose 2.3% to $110.9 million. A company press release said the increase was accompanied with a better gross margin rate, too. Year to date, sales are up 6.7% to $515.8 million and same-store sales have risen 5.6%.

Hancock. Sales fell to $28 million from $30.8 million a year ago, thanks to a decline in same-store sales of 9.0%. Officials attributed half the decline to Memorial Day falling in the June fiscal month this year, rather than May.

Discounters. Wal-Mart's same-store sales rose 5.9%, better than expected ... Target's rose 4.6%, lower than expected.

We've heard positive reports on the recent Denver show. The number of exhibitors was down 12%, but the number of retailers rose 8%. One publisher told CLN she took more orders the first day than she had the last two NAMTA shows combined. SLS and MacPherson's also expressed satisfaction with the show. A good sign: there were about a half dozen attendees planning to open new art material stores.

People. The Incoming President is Steve Aufhauser, Continental Art Supplies ... Henry Meininger, Meininger's, was inducted into the Hall of Fame ... Jerry Haines (Color Wheel) and John Benator and Wally Klarman, (Tara/Fredrix) won Lifetime Achievement awards.

Member's Choice. These awards went to SLS Arts (Favorite Supplier); Art Supply Warehouse (Favorite Retailer); and Peter Overpeck (Favorite Mfr’s Rep) ... Daler-Rowney won the Best Point of Purchase award for its Easel Dump Bin ... Goods of Evanston won the Consumers’ 2004 Favorite Retailer award.

"One other thing of note," MacPherson's Frank Stapleton told CLN, "NAMTA unveiled a new training CD that is terrific – everything store staff need to learn to become competent in art materials. It is free to all members and this alone would be worth the small annual dues."

For info on NAMTA and the training CD, call 704-892-6244 or visit www.namta.org.

Don Marski (Hannah's Home Accents) and Kim Donahue (Tall Mouse) were re-elected President and VP of Sierra Pacific Crafts, the 60-store cooperative that's a leading example of how independent retailers can work together to compete successfully against the chain stores.

Chuck Porter (Porter’s Crafts and Frames) was elected Treasurer and Mark Dowling (Creative Habitat at Ben Franklin) was elected Secretary. New board members Andrea McGovern (Ben Franklin Crafts) and John Schlecht (Crafts Direct) were elected to the board for the first time and join continuing members Margie Trentlage (Crafts Galore); Chuck Umbarger (Craftmart); and Mike Williams (Craft Warehouse).

SPC's goal is to maximize the success of member stores and vendor partners through cooperative strategies in marketing, purchasing, education, operations, networking, and fellowship. For more info call Exec. Dir. Heather Corvey, 503-981-6007, ext. 206 or email hcorvey@sierrapacificcrafts.org.

Just 18 days after beginning its test using RFID tags to receive merchandise from vendors and move it through a warehouse and onto store shelves, Wal-Mart reported the test was a success.

Wal-Mart may be pleased with the new technology that's expected to eventually replace bar codes, but four suppliers who participated in the test are not, reported the RFID Journal. The goal is for the tags to be read 100% of the time while pallets and cases move on conveyors at up to 540 ft./minute, the Journal reported.

Among the problems: the cost of the tags; readability rates are low for cases on a pallet; tracking cases along conveyors is not at 100%; products with water and metal are difficult to read; and if a case slips by unread, you don't know it like you do when a UPC code doesn't scan. One vendor said his company may even have to redesign some packaging.

One vendor said they weren't on the cutting edge of technology but the "bleeding edge"; but the vendors agreed that RFID tags were going to happen eventually.

To read the RFID Journal article, visit www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/956/1/1/.

A number of industry personnel traveled to Japan for the Hobby Assn. of Japan show and visited a variety of retail stores. The trip was sponsored and coordinated by HIA (now CHA).

The HAJ show attracted 33,000 people the first day – it's a trade/consumer show. The biggest surprise to the U.S. visitors was the popularity of "American Country" as a design theme ... Certain categories such as yarn and needlework had large areas where consumers could learn the craft ... U.S. attendees said HIA, HAJ, and Dean's sponsored very informative seminars.

Categories. Hot categories included yarn, quilting, needlework, and beads ... Sewing machines were everywhere ... Scrapbooking is finally catching on ... Old crafts such as fantasy film flowers, paper tole, nylon net flowers, and decoupage are still popular ... Purses were in a number of booths but mostly patterns, handles, and hardware; no pre-made basic purses for embellishment ... Decorative painting is still strong ... Very little in the way of traditional Japanese crafts; everything came from the U.S.

Stores. U.S. visitors were amazed by the lack of concern for shoplifting. Beads and sable brushes, for example, were displayed so openly that they could easily be stolen – but they aren't ... They were also surprised by the wide disparity in price from store to store – as much as double the price from one store to the next ... Scrapbooking was not displayed well.

Miscellaneous. "There are millions of people in Tokyo and they occasionally all try to get on the subway at the same time." ... "I paid $7.35 for a Diet Coke." ... "Most U.S. companies sell through Japanese distributors." ... "It seems to take YEARS for a U.S. manufacturer to gain a foothold in the market because the Japanese have a deep sense of developing strong relationships and trust, before developing a business relationship." ... "It's a very clean, friendly country, and surprisingly green."

(Note: Our thanks to Gail Czech of The Creative Network and Tom Ware of BagWorks for their input on this article.)

Exhibitors: TODAY is the deadline for various forms due in the ACCI management office. All are in the ACCI Exhibit Kit and online at www.accicrafts.org/exhibit_kit.htm.

1. Press Room Form – to place your new products in front of the press in the Media Lounge. 2. The Early Move-in Form if you need to in early. 3. Exhibitor Badges Form to order badges for your show personnel. 4. Meeting Space Reservation Form. 5. Mentor Match-Up Form – be a mentor or request one as a first-time show exhibitor. 6. To order a disk containing the preregistered attendees as of June or buy a complete list in report or label form ($700 charge). Pre-show lists reflect only about 50% of the people who will actually attend the show. 7. Private Appointment Passes Form. 8. Product Donation Form. Give leftover products to a worthy cause, Misericordia (a home for the mentally disabled), after the show

The show is July 16-18 (education begins July 15 in Rosemont (Chicago), IL. Visit www.accicrafts.org, email accishow@offinger.com, or call 740-452-4541.

Note: In the previous issue CLN published an email from a small independent scrapbook retailer looking for advice to keep her store going. Some readers' suggestions:

1. Locally this small business owner should be able to find a group of small business peers or an economic development chapter that is there to help. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce. My local area offers an in-depth course during the evenings on "How to Start and Run a Small Business" and as a member the developmental center offers business counseling and continuing education courses, speakers, and peer group meetings. I am sure there is a group in her area that offers the same opportunities.

There is no reason for her to close her shop. The same determination that got her store up and running will help her now to learn to manage it into a profitable long term business. – Sandie Miller, Wrights

2. She should read the several transcripts by retailing experts from the 2002 and 2003 ACCI Retail Summits. It could give her food for thought. They're still online at www.accicrafts.org/industry_retail.htm. – Dixie McDonald, ACCI Show Director of Communications

3. In addition to having a clean store well stocked with what is currently popular, demo everything you can. Show, and then put things in the customer's hands to use. Develop personal relationships and get rid of fear. Customers can sense it. If women are comfortable in a place and it feels good, they'll hang around, and a full store means something, because people seem to purchase in herds. They are buying big or not at all. And of course, continue to learn. Eventually, it will make more sense and fall into place. – Warren Gruenig, Posh Impressions

4. The retailer's plight is "legion" in my partner's and my experience. Our company, the Ideaco Group, has been helping independent retailers in her straits for over three years. Through business and creative seminars, as well as individual consultations, we've been able to help retailers like her.

We also do one-on-one consultations to help the retailer assess her exact needs. After the assessment we provide her with a written plan with implement-able programs that are easy to follow and proven successful. My partner, Pam Grimm, and I have over 20 years experience between us in the scrapbook industry. She is a former editor of a Canadian craft publication, as well as being both a retailer and a manufacturer. I've been active for nine years as a designer, writer, and teacher with trade shows, tv, and national publications listed in my resume. If we can provide this retailer or your readers with insights that would prove beneficial, we would be delighted to do so. – Leslie Frederick, Ideaco Group, 801-825-5778; babyduckd3@aol.com.

As part the two-year Pearl Jubilee Campaign, The National NeedleArts Assn. will host the first "Stitch to WIN against Breast Cancer" event at Mall of America in Minneapolis on Sat. Oct. 23.

It's a fundraiser and an opportunity to introduce and teach consumers various forms of needlework. For a small donation, people can take a lesson and receive a "beginner's kit." Consumers can also help complete the event's Five Wall Hangings honoring the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. Win Against Breast Cancer is the nonprofit group responsible for the Postal Service issuing the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. Visit www.winabc.org.

The goal of the Pearl Jubilee Campaign is to attract 100,000 new stitchers, distribute 100,000+ kits, and raise $250,000+ for breast cancer research. TNNA is still accepting industry sponsors for the Pearl Jubilee Campaign. So far, TNNA has raised more than 25% of the funds necessary for the Campaign. To become a Jubilee sponsor, call Sherry Mulne at 614-237-0700 or email direct@columbus.rr.com. For info, call 740-455-6773, email: tnna.info@offinger.com, or visit www.TNNA.org. (Comment: This kind of event will generate media publicity just as the Craft Yarn Council of America does with its Knit-Outs.)

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED NEWS

Here's a summary of news that was emailed to online subscribers when the events occurred:

Merger. The HIA/ACCI merger is complete; they are now the Craft & Hobby Assn. (CHA). To learn more, visit www.hobby.org. (Note: CLN will call the ACCI show the CHA Summer (formerly ACCI) show, and the HIA show as the CHA (formerly HIA) Winter show.

Michaels. For the quarter ended May 1, net income rose 41% to $29.3 million ($0.42/diluted share). Total sales increased 11% to $725.9, same-store sales rose 6%, and operating margins increased. After the results were announced, the popular stock analysis company, The Motley Fool, wrote a mostly glowing analysis. Read it at http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/040527/1085687040_1.html.

CEO Michael Rouleau expects annual earnings to increase 15% - 20% this year. In a conference call with analysts, Rouleau outlined the ongoing plans to increase sales/store from almost $4 million to $5 million: 1. Fill gaps in assortments. 2. Take better advantage of key store space. 3. Better exploitation of seasonal goods for holidays, including regional events such as Mardi Gras. 4. Improve advertising effectiveness.

Hancock. Earnings for the quarter ended May 2 were $816,000, compared with $4.1 million a year ago. Sales fell 2.4% to $105.1 million and same-store sales fell 3.2%. CEO Larry Kirk said this quarter would be "difficult" because the season is a traditionally slow, clearance period. During the quarter, Hancock opened three stores and closed six. The current store count is 430. "We expect to open 10-12 stores and close 7-10 units in the second quarter, and we still plan to have 10 or more net additions in the full year," Kirk said.

Jo-Ann's. For the quarter ended May 1, net income jumped 63% to $6.7 million. Net sales increased 8% to $404.9 million, and same-store net sales increased 6.6%. Margins also improved for the third consecutive quarter. Based on these results, Jo-Ann's increased its expectations for the year's earnings/diluted share from $2.18-$2.22 to $2.20-$2.25. But like Hancock, execs are projecting a loss for the traditionally slow second quarter. In the first quarter, Jo-Ann's opened eight superstores and one traditional store and closed 27 traditional stores. Another 22 superstores are scheduled to open this year.

Media/Scrapbooks. Reports. USA Today on digital scrapbooking: visit www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/2004-05-16-bonus-scrapbooking_x.htm .... The Roanoke Times profiles a memory retailer: visit www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story167047.html ... The (Chicago) Daily Southtown highlights a number of scrapbook shops: visit www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsbiz/091bd1.htm.

Media/Yarn. The San Diego Union Tribune reported on boys knitting ... The May issue of O magazine told readers about teenage girls knitting ... The Chicago Tribune discussed pre-teens and teens knitting, and another article described the relaxation benefits of knitting ... The Grand Rapids Press' called "fur" yarn "the Beanie Babies of yarn" ... The New York Times reported on taking your knitting on vacation, and college students forming knitting clubs.

Best Article. The most interesting media report was in Slate, the online magazine. Excerpt: "Mark Twain was a proto-scrapper, collecting memorabilia from his travels and reviews of his books and public appearances and pasting them in scrapbooks. In 1872, after growing tired of grappling with adhesives – still a tricky material today – Twain invented, patented, and successfully marketed Mark Twain's Patent Scrapbook, which featured self-pasting pages. He reportedly raked in $50,000 with this invention; it was arguably his most profitable book." To read the entire article, visit http://slate.msn.com/id/2100553.

Received a request from Pat Hoffman, wife of Howard Hoffman and a retailer in her own right. She's involved in a reading summer camp for 120 3rd and 4th graders whose reading skills are below grade level. The camp was very successful last year and is being expanded to four other sites in Kentucky. Crafts are used to keep things fun for the kids as they improve their reading skills, but supplies are needed!

The camp needs paper for painting, etc.; cold water fabric dye (just a small assortment of colors); memory book cut-outs, stickers, etc.; jewelrymaking kits; yarn and knitting needles; colored pencils/markers; glue; tape; craft foam; kid's brushes; and actual memory books. (Pat knows the books are more expensive and would be wiling to pay a discounted price.).

Toner Plastics and DecoArt have already donated, and it's a great cause. If you have appropriate products ship them to Pat's store, P.S. and Co., 219 W. Main St., Danville, Ky. 40422, and Pat and Howard will distribute them. Your gifts will be acknowledged as a charitable donation via letter. Any questions, call Pat at 859-236-1924.

STORMS. Retailers, if you're waiting for orders from Midwest/Texas vendors, please be patient. Numerous severe storms have interrupted business for a number of vendors.

DATA. Highlights of the Scrapbooking in America 2004 study sponsored by Craftrends and Creating Keepsakes are available in the June issue of Craftrends. To order the complete study, visit www.creatingkeepsakes.com/shop.

LOOKING TO BUY. Company looking to purchase a well-established scrapbooking supply manufacturer with annual sales from up to $20 million. Happy to sign confidentiality statement. For more info, contact Mike Hartnett, in confidence. Call 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com.

SEMINAR. The final installment of ACCI's (now CHA's) Exhibitor Seminars is online at www.accicrafts.org/industry_man.htm.

CONDOLENCES. To the family of Michelle Kershaw, Customer Director at Lakeland Limited in the UK. She was so active in the BBC's Children in Need Appeal charity that her passing was announced on National Radio.

RATINGS. The 6/7 issue of Business Week rated A.C. Moore #97 in its annual "Hot Growth Companies" list.

WAGES. Business Week reported Wal-Mart will change the way it pays store personnel. It will raise wages for entry-level "associates," lower the raises for experienced employees, and take away much of the discretion managers have for determining raises. BW says the plan is a reaction to criticism about low wages and employee discrimination lawsuits, and possibly to encourage veteran employees to leave and be replaced by lower-paid newcomers. Visit www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jun2004/nf2004063_3893_db016.htm .... CEO Lee Scott also told employees and shareholders that exec's bonuses, including his own, would be cut up to 7.5% this year and 15% next year if the company doesn't promote women and minorities in proportion to the number that apply for management positions, the Associated Press reported. Visit www.triggernews.com/ap/20040604/606a-407c.html.

YARN, I. The online discussion group, www.yahoo.com/group/knitlist/, has grown from 800 members in 1994 to more than 7,500, reports the New York Times News Service.

YARN, II. The 6/7 issue of Newsweek claims the latest trend in knitting is the bikini and cites La Knitterie Parienne, Knit New York, and www.knitwhits.com.

YARN, III. The Craft Yarn Council of America is accepting reservations for booths/exhibits for the Knit-Out & Crochet 2004 events – Sept. 19 on the National Mall in Washington, DC and Oct. 3 at Union Square Park in New York City. Attendance is expected to exceed 25,000 in NYC and 5,000 in DC. In addition to the traditional classes on basic knitting and crochet, there will be "Beyond the Basics" classes, demos, expanded exhibits, several themed fashion shows (rather than one long show), and a "Year of the Scarf" contest. Again this year there will a "Show & Share" presentation, an "Editors & Authors" table, a kids’ crafts area, and exhibits for Warm Up America!, machine knitting, and area guilds. Advance publicity run in national women’s magazines and local media outlets. For more info, contact Mary Colucci (cmcommunic@aol.com; 212-570-9883) or Stacy Lewis (cycainfo@aol.com; 800-662-9999).

SEWING. Eric Hertz Consulting, the p.r. agency for the Home Sewing Assn., is creating a Media Referral Database. Any HSA member is welcome to be included in the Database, which will be used to refer inquiring members of the media to industry experts. For info, call Karen Koza at 212-683-5665, ext.11 or email karenkozaconsult@aol.com ... HSA is also sponsoring its first golf outing Sun., Oct. 3 in conjunction with the National Sewing Show. Proceeds will benefit the Las Vegas Ronald McDonald House.

LICENSING. Carolina Manufacturing has the bandana license from the Red Hat Society; the first production runs of the five patterns have been sold. Will ship in mid-July.

BOOKS. Jeanette Crews Designs' newest releases have been uploaded to www.jeanettecrews.com/results.cfm?Subcategory=115. All are ready for immediate shipment.

ARCHIVER'S. The memory chain continues to grow. A new store opened last week in Omaha; this month stores open in Overland Park, KS and St. Louis; and stores are planned to open in Akron and Cincinnati in July, Des Moines in August, and Algonquin, IL in October.

GAS. China's Ministry of Commerce reported the economy will grow 9.8% in the first half of the year, the Associated Press reported. That will keep the demand for oil strong ... "Consumer spending should ease [in June] as stock market turbulence and a cooling housing market offset rising optimism about job prospects," said Steve Spiwak, an economist with Retail Forward., a retail consulting firm. "Moreover, high gas prices, which work like a tax on incomes, will continue to sap consumer spending power and take some of the steam from retail sales."

STOCK. Zacks.com analyst John Reese added Hancock to his "Hot" list.

TV. There are 65 projects in the new, eighth series of Hands On, Crafts for Kids which will begin downloading to PBS stations June 13. The host is industry pro Kathie Stull and sponsors include Delta, Fiskars, Beacon Adhesives, Pacon, Alltrista Consumer Products, Forster, Ball Canning Jars, Polyform, and Activa. Call your local station and ask for it.

CONDOLENCES. One of the industry's nicest and smartest people, Gerry Rogers of Blumenthal/Lansing, passed away Saturday due to complications from a stroke. The funeral is tomorrow (Tues.) at Louis Suburban Memorial Chapel
13-01 Broadway (Rte. 4), Fair Lawn, NJ. 201-791-0015. The family will greet visitors from 10:30 - 11:30 am, then move into the chapel for the service at 11:30. Internment will be at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus. Shiva will be through Thurs. at the home, 13-11 Ivy Lane, Fair Lawn, NJ.

NAMES. The Dallas Market Center, the official home of the American Floral Industry Assn., renamed its Silk and Holiday Expo shows to Holiday and Home Expo, just in time for the Expo June 23–30.

PEOPLE. Popular industry veteran Jan Clemmons is back as Account Manager for DRG and its stable of magazines, including Quilter's World, Paper Works, Crazy for Cross Stitch, Woodworking for Women, Clotilde's Sewing Savvy, and new titles in the works. Call Jan at 770-237-9525; email jan_clemmons@drgnetwork.com.

SHOW SPECIALS. Exhibitors are starting to list their CHA Summer (formerly ACCI) show specials. Visit www.e-offinger.net/acci/showspecials.cfm.

NEEDLEWORK. If you're attending the TNNA/INRG show in Columbus June 12-14 and haven't bought your class tickets, do so as soon as you arrive in Columbus. Some classes are already sold out. Visit www.tnna.org or call 740-452-4541.

JOB OPENINGS. FloraCraft has created several new positions and is looking for a Marketing/Product Development Manager and a Marketing Project Manager. Email Bill Hellwarth at bhellwarth@floracraft.com or call 800-253-0419.

KIDS. Michaels hosts its annual Summer Arts & Crafts Camp from July 12 through July 16 at all U.S. stores. There will be morning sessions for 5 to 8-year-olds and afternoon sessions for 9 to 12-year-olds. The cost is $7.50/session, or $30/week. The theme is "Around the World with Crafts," and will teach kids a variety of projects from various cultures.

FABRIC. Hancock introduced "Flannel Whimsy," a line of two-ply plush cotton flannel fabrics as part of its Designer Series. This exclusive new line features the whimsical designs of Birmingham artist, Phyllis Dobbs, who has authored Fun with Flannel, published by Leisure Arts ... Another newcomer in the Designer Series is "Tea Time," named after Phyllis Hoffman of Hoffman Media, publisher of Tea Time, Just CrossStitch, and Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly, and other publications. A Hoffman companion book is also available.

PRODUCTS. Design Originals has a variety of products under the Hat-titude label. It's our guess, but the success of the Red Hat Society tapping into women's need to have fun (and accessorize!) will inspire similar efforts in the future. Visit www.d-originals.com/hatitude/hatitude.html.

TV. Martha Stewart Living Television goes on hiatus after this season's productions. Martha is scheduled to be sentenced to prison this month.

TV. CBS is looking for the next Martha Stewart to star in a new reality series which "will follow a group of highly motivated contestants from all walks of life, living together under one roof as they are given tasks to determine their creative talent, sense of style, and personality." To learn more, visit www.cbs.com/primetime/show_application/show1/. (Comment: We assume CBS would prefer the next domestic diva to have avoided felony convictions.)

WORDS. "I just wanted to drop you a line about something I recently discovered. Go to a grocery store and look for prunes. You can't find them; they are now called 'dried plums'! I guess some shrewd marketing person at Sunsweet decided the word 'prune' wasn't very sexy or hip. Kind of like 'crafts'. – Susan Kocsis, Search Press

Marketing to women is relationship marketing. Women buy when they see a spokesperson they know, admire, and can relate to, endorses a product. This is what Tera Leigh brings to the companies she works with as a designer, consultant, and spokesperson. She is a well-known, trusted expert who encourages creative confidence in women. One of Tera’s strongest messages to the consumer is to "make your space your own." To that end, she focuses on projects that help consumers feel that their work represents their own personality. Tera makes design easy, and instills confidence to try new products.

Tera Leigh has represented this industry in various capacities since 1995. She is educated and articulate, as well as a passionate crafter. In addition to her critically acclaimed creativity web site, www.teraswish.com, and her online radio show, The Creative Life, Tera has been a magazine columnist in the crafts and home dec industries since 1998, and has written columns for eight industry publications. Her photograph is on book covers, magazine advertising for quality manufacturers such as Robert Simmons brushes, magazine columns, and projects. She can frequently be seen on craft and home dec shows such as Christopher Lowell show and DIY's Scrapbooking. Tera has become the young face of the crafts industry.

Despite a thirst for knowledge, most consumers will not take time to study products and services. Instead, they form instant impressions of companies through spokespersons. In reality, most of what the public knows or believes comes from a spokesperson’s ability to connect quickly and effectively with an audience. This is where Tera’s strength as a communicator, and experience as a spokesperson, benefits craft and home dec companies.

AWARDS. The American Library Assn.’s Booklist named Tera’s book, How to be Creative if You Never Thought You Could, one of the "Top 10 Craft & Hobby Books" of 2003. This follows her Complete Book of Decorative Painting being named one of the "Top 10 Craft & Hobby Books" of 2002; it also won the painting books category for the 2003 Crafts/Craftrends Award of Excellence.

In 1999, she co-created a product line for Delta which was awarded the Crafts/Craftrends Award of Excellence for the painting products category at HIA 2000. HGTV.com’s editor picked her new Faux Mosaic product line as one of the best new scrapbook/paper products at HIA 2004. (The Faux Mosaic book, published by North Light Books, will be released in August 2004.)

Tera Leigh received the Hobby Industry Assn's Special Recognition Award in 2003, and Harlequin Enterprises honored her with the prestigious "More than Words" award for the Memory Box Artist Program, which she founded in 1998. At HIA 2004, she was given the "Designer with Heart" award by the Society of Craft Designers. Tera is a member of HIA (now CHA), serves on the Board for SCD, and has been nominated for SCD President Elect for 2005.

ROLODEX. Tera Leigh, Inc. P.O. Box 2949, Wrightwood, CA 92397; call 760-249-4059; fax 760-281-5926; visit www.teraleigh.com/; email tera@teraleigh.com.

Note: 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. For more information on how your company can be profiled, call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com.

To learn what jobs are available now, click on Jobs in the left-hand column, or click HERE.

A. C. Moore (ACMR). Last*: 26.67 ... Change**: +2.49
Hancock Fabrics (HKF). Last*: 11.50 ... Change**: -1.71
Jo-Ann Stores (JAS). Last*: 28.68 ... Change**: +3.78
Michaels (MIK). Last*: 51.64 ... Change**: +5.43
Rag Shops (RAGS). Last*: 3.47 ... Change**: +0.06
Wal-Mart (WMT). Last*: 56.59 ... Change**: +1.53
CLN Retail Index. Last*: 178.55 ... Change**: +6.8%
Dow Jones Index. Last*: 10,242.82 ... Change**: +2.3%

Have you seen those "motivational" posters with a pretty picture and a trite slogan about working hard or following your dreams or whatever? Now a company, Despair, Inc., has developed "de-motivational" posters.

The posters have the same pretty pictures but with slogans such as, "Procrastination: Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always pays off now," and "Meetings: None of us is as dumb as all of us." They are hilarious. Visit www.despair.com to see for yourself.

1. 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. If you want a hard-copy of this issue, click on "Printer Friendly version".

3. 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."

4. If you want to recommend CLN to a friend, use the "Tell Your Friends" box on the home page.

5. Creative Leisure News is normally published on the first and third Mondays of each month. But CLN is covering the CHA European Seminar, so your next issue will be early, Friday, June 18.

Rest in Peace, Mr. President.... Thank you.

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