COMMENTARY: BACK TO
ROSEMONT
You've probably heard that CHA is moving the Summer Show
back to Rosemont, where it had been held for decades. A little
history:
When HIA moved the winter show out of Chicago, some Midwestern
companies thought the industry needed a Midwestern show in the
summer and formed the Mid American Craft & Hobby Assn., later
changed to the Assn. of Crafts & Creative Industries. The first
show was held in Ohio in the late 70's. By the time I began to
attend, the MACHA show had moved to the Apparel Mart in downtown
Chicago. The Mart had a convention hall (too small to be called a
convention center as we know them today) with a Holiday Inn on top.
Talk about convenient: after the show you rode an elevator to
your room. The show grew like wildfire, as did summer shows in
Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, and Seaside, OR. so it moved to
Rosemont in the early 80's.
It's also hard to imagine this now, but back then it was
primarily a Christmas show – retailers ordered their Christmas
inventory in July. That changed when imports became so dominant and
had to be ordered much earlier in the year.
And what a sign that is of how the industry has grown: the entire
industry and its trade show could fit in one building.
NEW COLUMNS THIS ISSUE
Mike's Blog. For magazine publishers and kit
manufacturers, what elements on the cover or box affect sales? The
answer may surprise you. To read it, click HERE.
Kizer
& Bender. Their latest column was advice to retailers on
handling irate shoppers. But manufacturers often receive calls from
consumers, and one talks about how it's a slightly different
process. Ultimately the question becomes, is the customer always
right?
The N Files.
How FaveCrafts.com has grown to a circulation of 300,000+ in less
than a year, including tips on building traffic to your site.
Kate's
Collage. Is your business ready for a pandemic? If it's not
H1N1 then it will be something like it. Tips on preparing your
business for the worst.
(Note: To read the columns, click on the column title in
the left-hand column. If it's not the column you expected, click on
the Reload or Refresh button of your browser.)
TAKE THE CLN POLL:
HAPPY ABOUT ROSEMONT?
So the CHA Summer Show is returning to Rosemont. Is that better
than Orlando? Do you care one way or another? To vote, click on
Industry Polls in the right-hand column or click HERE.
CLN
POLL: YOUR FAVORITE
TRADE SHOW CITY
Chicago may have lost its Olympic bid, but it won CLN's
unscientific poll as the favorite city for a trade show – although
presumably voters were thinking Chicago in the summer, not the
winter. The Windy City received 27.8% of the vote, followed closely
by Anaheim with 27.4% and Las Vegas with 25.0%. In single digits
were Long Beach and Houston at 5.6%. Orlando was last with 2.8%.
Another 2.8% have not attended shows in any of the cities.
CHA SUMMER SHOW RETURNS TO
ROSEMONT
The CHA Summer Show will be Tues., July 27 through Thurs., July
29, back at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. A
consumer show will immediately follow the trade show on Friday and
Saturday. It's a one-year agreement with options beyond 2010.
The show had been held in Rosemont for 25+ years, originally as
primarily a Christmas show, but as the number of independent
retailers declined, so, too, did the attendance. As imports became
more prevalent and Christmas products had to be ordered much earlier
in the year, the nature of the show changed as well.
In an effort to revive the show and grow the industry, CHA moved
it to Orlando and added a consumer show. Although officials said the
Orlando show attracted about 5% more retailers than the 2008
Rosemont event, exhibitor surveys and conference calls with members
indicated a strong preference for Rosemont.
Any questions about the shows should be directed to Anthony
Licata. Call 201-835-1203 or email alicata@craftandhobby.org.
THE FINAL CHRISTMAS SEASON
SURVEY
According to a survey of major retailers by BDO Seidman, an
accounting/consulting firm, sales on Black Friday will grow 1.8%.
Other conclusions:
1. Most retailers (96%) will increase promotions,
discounts and special events.
2. The strongest category will be toys. The most heavily
discounted will be electronics.
3. Regarding online strategies, 69% percent of the top 100
retailers plan to focus most heavily on email promotions.
JO-ANN'S THIRD QUARTER SALES
REPORT
Net sales for the third quarter ended Oct. 31 increased 6.0% to
$509.1 million and same-store sales increased 4.3%. Traffic
increased 4.9% but the average ticket declined 0.6%. Large-format
store sales increased 8.7% and same-store sales rose 2.3%.
Small-format store sales increased 3.0% to $228.5 million and
same-store sales increased 6.7%. Internet sales through Joann.com
increased 6.2% to $8.6 million.
Sewing same-store sales increased 8.1%. Non-sewing same-store
sales increased only 0.1% due to growth in core craft merchandise
categories offset by continued weakness in seasonal and custom
framing categories.
Net sales for the first nine months of the fiscal year were $1.39
billion, up 4.5%, and same-store sales rose 2.5%.
The results were better than expected, so the company now expects
fiscal third quarter earnings/diluted share to be $0.88 - $0.90,
more than double the earnings a year ago. Based on the assumption
that same-store sales will increase 2.3% - 2.7% for the entire
fiscal year, the company increased its expected earnings/diluted
share to $1.95 - $2.05 for the year (excluding any gains on debt
purchases) from $1.35 - $1.50. The company will report earnings Dec.
2.
Wall Street was impressed: Zacks.com rated Jo-Ann a Strong Buy
and Soleil/Stein Research recommended the stock. Wedbush
upgraded Jo-Ann from Neutral to Outperform.
A.C. MOORE: SALES DOWN, LOSSES
UP
Sales for the third quarter ended Oct. 3 were $106.1 million,
down 9.1% from a year ago. The decline was due to operating two
fewer stores and a same-store sales drop of 7.7%.
The pre-tax loss for the quarter was $12.9 million, compared to a
pre-tax loss of $4.4 million for the quarter last year. In the third
quarter of 2008, the company recorded a valuation allowance against
the net deferred tax asset which resulted in income tax expense of
$3.1 million, or $0.15/share.
The net loss for the quarter was $12.9 million ($0.53/share),
compared to a net loss of $7.5 million ($0.37/share) for the
comparable period last year.
Sales for the first three quarters of the fiscal year were $319.2
million, down 13.6% due to operating fewer stores and by a decrease
in comparable store sales of 11.7%.
Net loss for the nine months was $25.4 million ($1.16/share),
compared to a net loss of $13.6 million ($0.67/share) for the same
period last year. Prior year results include charges related to the
non-cash fixed asset impairment of $0.07/share.
CEO Rick Lepley said, "We were highly promotional in the
quarter which adversely affected our margins. However, we are
encouraged with the customer count increase from the second quarter,
suggesting that shoppers were pleased with our advertising message
and promotions." The current store count is 134.
HOLIDAY SALES NEWS
TRAFFIC. Store traffic on Black Friday will increase,
according to a survey by the Int. Council of Shopping Centers and
Goldman Sachs. The reason? Media publicity that many retailers will
have lower inventories this season.
CROWDS. Wal-Mart has implemented a crowd-control plan this
holiday season, and will keep most U.S. locations open overnight on
Thanksgiving to ease the crowding that led to the trampling death of
a store employee a year ago, the Boston Globe reported.
YARN. One of the predicted fashion trends and hot sellers
for the season is a "snood," a hybrid of a scarf and a
hood, the Wall Street Journal reported. (Comment:
sounds like the perfect project for knitters who'd rather make a
present than buy a readymade.)
LESS PLASTIC. According to the National Retail Federation’s
2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions survey,
conducted by BIGresearch, 24.9% of holiday shoppers will pay cash, a
9.1% increase. Plus, 42.5% plan to pay with debit or check cards, a
2.5% increase. Usage of credit cards expected to fall 10.1%.
Only 4% plan to pay with personal checks.
GIFT CARDS. NRF's survey also indicated shoppers will
spend less on gift cards, $139.91, compared to $147.33. The average
value/card will be lower, too, $39.80, compared to $40.54.
Consistent with last year, 77.2% will buy at least one card this
holiday season. ... Michaels will now carry Blackhawk
Network's Gift Card Mall, featuring 100+ of branded gift cards,
including iTunes, Cracker Barrel, Macy's, etc., TradingMarkets.com
reported. Blackhawk Network is a third-party provider of prepaid
gift-cards. "Our customers will welcome the convenience of
having a wide variety of gift cards available, in addition to
Michaels' gift cards, as they purchase holiday decor, stocking
stuffers, last minute gifts, and creative gift card packaging,"
said Philo Pappas, Exec VP of Category Management.
TRENDS. The VP of the National Retail Federation, Ellen
Davis, listed in her blog the top holiday trends. Click HERE.
E-COMMERCE. Holiday shoppers now expect free
shipping when buying online, USA Today reported.
HIRING. Jo-Ann announced an 18.1% increase in seasonal
hires, up to 2,779, over last year. "Obviously, we are very
pleased to be able to offer employment to more people in these
challenging economic times," COO Travis Smith told the Hudson
(OH) Hub Times."This increase is a result of our recent
sales trend and expectations for holiday traffic in our
stores." ... Houston tv station KHOU reported Hobby Lobby was
also hiring seasonal workers.
QUOTATION. "This is the year of $25 and under
gifts." – Kathy Deane, President of the New York-based
retail consultancy Tobe (Associated Press)
BLACK FRIDAY. Scrapbook Update has a specific list
of sales at Craft Warehouse, Jo-Ann, and Michaels.
Click HERE.
CHA, TNNA ELECT NEW BOARD
OFFICERS
CHA. The Board of Directors re-elected Mike McCooey,
President/CEO of Plaid, and retailer Larry Olliges, President
of Dees’ Crafts, as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
Mark Peters, Exec VP/Chief Operating Officer of
iLoveToCreate/Duncan Ent., was elected Secretary.
TNNA. The new Board Officers are Dave Stott, Norden
Crafts, President; Joel Woodcock, Lantern Moon, VP/Yarn
Group Chair; and Matt Bryant, Prism Arts,
Secretary/Treasurer. Still on the board are Jim Collingham, Colonial
Needle; Sharon Garmize, Sharon G; Kirstin Muench, Muench
Yarns; Betsy Perry, Classic Elite Yarns; Cathy Rapoza, Alice
Peterson; and Cathe Ray, Needle in a Haystack, Counted
Thread/Embroidery Chair.
CHA NEWS
1. The CHA Board appointed David Murray, VP of Activa
to fill the board vacancy created by the resignation of Sara Naumann
of Hot Off the Press.
2. The winter show was honored as one of Trade Show
Executive magazine's "Gold" 100 trade shows. The 100
are chosen on the merits of technological innovation, green
initiatives, global participation, brand leadership, and net square
feet of exhibition space.
3. A new policy for trade show badges: Non-exhibiting
supplier members (that's manufacturer/importers, distributors,
consumer and trade publishers, and service providers) can have four
free badges. Additional badges will be $100 each. Exhibitors can
have four free badges for every 100 sq. ft. of exhibit space.
Non-member attendees continue to pay the full price of $150.
Questions? The change is made to secure more accurate reporting of
attending buyers and exhibitor staff, and to close loopholes that
granted free access to many non-qualified show attendees. Email registration@craftandhobby.org.
4. A member who encourages a colleague to join CHA will
receive a $50 discount on his/her 2011 membership dues. For each new
2010 member (up to a maximum of three companies) referred by another
CHA member, a $50 credit will be applied to the 2011 membership dues
of the referring CHA member company (up to maximum amount of $150).
Questions? Email memberbenefits@craftandhobby.org.
5. As of Nov. 18, the Anaheim Super (consumer) Show has 55
exhibitors. To see the list, click HERE.
6. CHA reports "an unauthorized company offering
lower hotel rates than our official housing company. If you have
been contacted by any company other than Par Avion Meetings &
Conventions, do not book your hotel rooms through them. If you do,
you will find that their booking requirements are more restrictive.
In past incidents, some exhibitors found that their credit card was
charged though no hotel reservation was made for them."
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MARTHA?
In the third quart Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia lost $12.1
million ($0.22/share) compared with a loss of $3.7 million ($0.07) a
year ago. Analysts expected a loss of $0.09/share. Revenue fell 25%,
declining in all segments: 22% in publishing; 23% in TV; 39% in
merchandise, thanks to the end of the contract with Sears/Kmart; and
8.9% in Internet revenue.
However, President/CEO of Merchandising Robin Marino said,
"Retail sales of Martha Stewart products were solid in the
quarter, with a strong performance by the Martha Stewart
Collection at Macy's and Martha Stewart Crafts at Michaels.
Three years ago the stock sold for $22. Now it's at $4.93.
CRAWLING (AND KNITTING) IN NYC
Over Columbus Day weekend 14 Manhattan and Brooklyn yarn shops
sponsored a NYC Yarn Crawl, a self-guided tour to the stores
that offered demos, book signings, raffles, and a scavenger hunt.
The result: 30,000+ hits on the Crawl website in the prior
month and increased traffic – and sales – compared to the same
weekend last year in all of the stores. Three of the stores reported
their sales had doubled.
"We were thrilled with the turn-out," said Pearl Chin,
owner of Knitty City. "The store was packed all weekend,
sales were very strong, and, best of all, we made lots of new
friends."
For info on next year's Crawl, email phyllis@nycyarncrawl.com.
CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE SKEIN
AT A TIME
Barbara Hartnett is Exec Director of Friendship House of
Christian Service in the poorest, toughest part of Peoria, IL. It's
a social agency supported by United Way, state and federal grants,
various Protestant churches, and donations.
Friendship House offers a variety of services, including a food
pantry, soup kitchen, thrift store, layettes and baby needs, senior
programs, the local chapter of the Dress for Success program,
and emergency services. (Recently there were 40 people in their
bathrobes in the lobby; their apartment building had burned down.)
There are after-school and summer school programs for 200 kids.
Friendship House has supporters, but the need is much greater
than Friendship House's resources. Attendance at the soup kitchen,
for example, has gone from 50 to 350 in recent years, but donations
have not increased accordingly. Food pantry numbers are up 250%. For
every one person who can be helped with rent or utilities, nine are
turned away for lack of resources.
It's a constant struggle for money.
In the midst of all this, Barbara realized there was a sizable,
growing Hispanic population that was not using Friendship House's
services. Although they are here legally and certainly poor enough
to qualify, most of the Hispanics were leery of institutions they
don't know and too proud and ashamed to ask for food or rent money.
Barbara also knew many Hispanic women love crochet, so she came
to the CHA summer show a couple of years ago and told the good folks
at yarn companies that she wanted to start a Warm Up America! chapter
at Friendship House, but couldn't afford the yarn to get started.
Manufacturers sent huge boxes of yarn and Barbara got the word
out. Today about a dozen poor Hispanic women come to Friendship
House every Tuesday morning with their kids, and they make blankets
and afghans for homeless shelters, the Red Cross, and for people
poorer than they are. They have made and donated more than 500
afghans.
And so the word spread among the Hispanic community: this
Friendship House was ok.
Today Friendship House offers basic translation services in a
variety of settings from medical offices to principal's offices;
Hispanic Boy and Girl Scout troops; English language classes; GED
classes in English and Spanish; health fairs; free help with income
tax preparation; talks on how to open a bank account or buy a house;
how to understand the local school system; a citizenship class (ever
try to explain the electoral college to people who don't understand
English very well?); and the area's only Cinco de Mayo festival.
Friendship House is now the center for Hispanic outreach in
Peoria. And the word has gone beyond Peoria. The first trip out of
the state capitol that Illinois' new governor, Pat Quinn, took was
to Friendship House to highlight its program in which volunteers
help poor people – in English and Spanish – with their income
taxes; paying taxes is a critical step towards citizenship.
The Mexican Consulate in Chicago heard about Friendship House,
too. Many Hispanics entered the U.S. legally when passports were not
required. But the Patriot Act now mandates even legal Hispanics who
return home to visit relatives must have a passport or they can't
re-enter the country. So the Consulate traveled 150 miles to Peoria
and set up shop at Friendship House last summer. The Consulate
issued more than 1,100 passports and returned a few months later to
issue another 400. But there's more.
So Barbara sees these women making afghans and tries to think of
a way they could make some money. Many of their men work seasonally,
following the crops. The average income for a family of four is
under $9,000 – half the federal poverty rate. They are in very
traditional marriages – mom stays home with the kids. Most of
these women don't speak very much English or drive a car. Hmmm.
Barbara starts making jewelry and learns that religious jewelry
is very popular. Hmmm.
The Bible verse that best sums up the mission of Friendship House
is Matthew 25: 35-40. "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat.
I was thirsty and you gave me to drink… I was naked and you
clothed me…. I say unto you whenever you do these things to one of
these, the least of my brethren, you do unto me." Hmmm.
So Barbara returns to the CHA summer show and meets with the good
folks at Halcraft. Together they design five charms
representing the Matthew 25 verse and Halcraft sourced the charms
– a piece of bread, a shirt, a cup, etc. Barbara gets a small
grant from the American Baptist Women designed to help Hispanic
women gain some financial independence.
Barbara taught some of the women how to make Matthew 25 charm
bracelets and they are paid for each bracelet. They had been selling
them at churches, but as Barbara teaches more women, Friendship
House is now selling them online, thus creating more jobs.
Kathie Stull of KS Inc. Productions, producer of the Beads,
Baubles & Jewels series for PBS, was so enthusiastic about
the program that she had Barbara appear on a segment in the new
series which will be broadcast on various PBS stations later this
year.
Barbara said when the first woman got a check for $390 for her
bracelets, "She cried, I cried, everyone cried."
And it all started with a simple donation of yarn.
(Note: There are six versions of the bracelet – Brown
Agate, Carnelian, Dalmation Jasper, Fresh Water Pearls, Green Jade,
Lapis, and Rose Quartz. Each has the Matthew 25 charms and costs
$25. Each bracelet is on a card with the Matthew 25 verse and is
signed by the woman who made it. To see them, visit www.peoriafriendshiphouse.org/buybracelets.htm.)
RANDOM NOTES, RANDOM THOUGHTS
My blog recounted various trade show disasters, and Georgann
Bender reminded me of these: "You forgot the electronics vendor
at the Ben Franklin show who was tossed out for showing porn on the
TV's in his booth. And the exhibitor who spent his days watching
retailers try to pick up the quarters he had Crazy Glued to the
carpet." To read that blog entry, click HERE.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS: RETAIL
PROMOS. There's still time to order Kizer and Bender's 4th
Quarter Retail Sales-Building Events & Promotions – great
ways to boost holiday traffic and sales. Order by Nov. 30. Visit www.kizerandbender.blogspot.com.
WAL-MART. Excluding fuel sales, same-store sales declined
0.4% in the third quarter, although traffic increased. Price
deflation in groceries and electronics were the culprits. But
profits rose 3.2%, beating the company's and Wall Street's
expectations. The company predicted fourth-quarter sales would be
flat.
CRIME. A St. Louis area woman was arrested last month for
stealing $300 worth of items from a Hancock store, Suburban
Journals reported. She is 77 years old.
SCAMS. St. Louis TV station KMOV reported crooks have
stolen debit card information from some Hancock customers and
then made fake cards. As CLN reported previously, similar
cases have been reported in California and Wisconsin.
IMPORTS. The Washington lobbying firm Bracewell and
Giuliani was hired by Michaels to work on "tariff-relief
legislation," The Hill reported. Edward Krenik, a former
associate administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, and
Milam Mabry, once a legislative assistant to Sen. Kay Bailey
Hutchison (R-TX), are lobbying for Michaels.
PEOPLE. Former Jo-Ann and Michaels marketing
exec Bill Dandy was named to a similar position by Borders.
CLOSING. Scrappin Good Times in San Dimas, CA is closing
its doors. The owner, Trish, told Examiner.com that the store was a
victim of the economy.
TV. Hancock was featured on a recent episode of The
Balancing Act on the Lifetime network as an expert source on the
latest trends in crafts and home dec.
STOCKS. A.C. Moore: $3.36, down $1.42 ... Hancock: $1.32,
up $0.03 ... Jo-Ann: $32.92, up $6.30 ... Wal-Mart: $54.28, up $4.60
... Dow Jones: 10,318.16, up 6.2%. (Note: All changes in
price are since 10/30 and are exclusive of dividends.)
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS: EVENTS
SHOWS. Scrapbook Expo moved up the dates of its show in
Southern California (Costa Mesa) to Jan. 15-17. It had originally
been scheduled after the CHA consumer show.
SHOWS. The education proposal form for the 2010 TNNA
Winter show is available at www.e-offinger.net/tnna/education/proposal_form.cfm.
SHOWS. There will be one Knit & Crochet show in
2010 – July 9-10 in Manchester, NH. Classes will be July 8-10. The
Crochet Guild of America and The Knitting Guild Assn. will
hold their annual conferences in conjunction with the show in
separate tracks of activities. Exhibit and attendee details will be
available at www.KnitandCrochetShow.com.
Email KnitandCrochetShow@offinger.com
or 740-452-4541 with questions.
SHOWS. The revived Canadian Craft & Hobby Assn. is
exploring hosting a trade event. The last CCHA trade show was in
2006. Have any ideas about such a show or are willing to join the
event committee? Email Paula Jones at paula.jones@cchacanada.org
or call 519-940-5969.
CONFERENCE. Registration is now open for Yarn Market
News' Smart Business Conference in Seattle Mar. 14-16.
Register now and save $100. (Comment: the schedule of
seminars and activities looks excellent.) Visit www.yarnmarketnews.com.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
YARN. Lion Brand is sponsoring the second annual Vanna's
Choice yarn contest (www.vannaschoice.com)
at Michaels stores through Feb. 1. The grand prize winner
will receive $1,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles to
meet Vanna White. The categories are afghans & throws, baby
& kids, hats & scarves, and gifts & crafts. Each
category offers eight prizes ranging from a $100 Michael's gift card
to a $1,000 cash award. For rules and an entry form, visit www.VannasChoice.com.
SETTLEMENT. Lawrence and Jeffrey Rosen, former owners of RoseArt
Industries, announced the settlement of the lawsuits between
them and Mega Brands (MB) stemming from MB's acquisition of
RoseArt. The settlement allows the Rosens to recover approximately
$20 million in taxes which they prepaid in expectation of Mega
Brands’ ability to satisfy a $50 million earnout payment
obligation built in to the original Rose Art purchase agreement. In
return, Mega Brands’ $200 million counterclaim against the Rosens
will be dismissed.
KNITTING. The Learn to Knit program, sponsored by Scholastic
magazine, Warm Up America! and the Craft Yarn Council is
off to an amazing start: Scholastic sent a poster to 10,000
home ec teachers about knitting and offered to send kits to their
students. In one week the program received orders for 10,000 kits.
PHOTOS Consumers continue to print fewer photos. According
to the latest study by the Photo Marketing Assn., the volume
of prints made from digital still camera images decreased 2% in
September. Online ordering fell 5% and printing volumes at retail
minilabs and kiosks fell 2% and grew 6%. Home printing fell by 4%.
RECALL. MacPherson's recalled about 10,000 Young Artist
Easels because of high levels of lead in the chalkboard surface.
TAXES. President Obama signed a bill with a provision that
allows all companies to "carry back" current losses to
offset taxes paid in profitable years. It allows manufacturers to
"carry back" losses in 2008 or 2009 for a period of five
years instead of only two.
PUBLICITY. Walnut Hollow's Basswood Country Rounds are
featured in the Nov. 16 issue of People. New York Designer
David Stark used them as plate chargers for his Fall-themed Table
Top Setting. There's a photo and a sidebar with Walnut Hollow's web
address.
AWARD. C&T Publishing was named one of 10 publishers
in the 2009 "Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For"
created by Book Business magazine. Book Business stated,
"C&T was selected for a number of criteria including
ergonomic workspaces, paid time off for professional-development
classes, county-certified 'green' business; planning to convert to
solar power in 2010.... Family and pets are 'welcome to visit,' and
pets who need temporary, full-time care can spend the day in the
office with the employee." Profiles of the winners' benefits
package and corporate policies are published at www.BookBusinessMag.com.
SIGN OF THE TIMES. C&T Publishing has launched of the
first Quick & Easy Quilt Block Tool iPhone/iPod Touch application
for quilters.
CREDIT. CIT Group's recent bankruptcy filing adds to the
worries of some vendors and retailers. The company provides capital
for approximately 2,000 vendors that supply merchandise to 300,000+
stores. However, Chair/CEO Jeffrey Peek said the reorganization plan
"will allow CIT to continue to provide funding to our small
business and middle market customers...." CIT expects to emerge
from bankruptcy by the end of the year, Bloomberg News reported.
WEB. Plaid's websites, www.PlaidOnline.com
and www.PlaidKidsCrafts.com,
now include an "Ornament Extravaganza" – dozens of
ornaments submitted by and for craftsers using Plaid products –
and PlaidOnline.com is offering a complementary planner for a
make-an-ornament craft party with shopping lists, invitations, etc.
... Last Saturday Plaid sponsored a make-it/take-it at Michaels
stores teaching customers to make Christmas ornaments with Gallery
Glass.
EMBROIDERY. The new Designer Embroidery collection from Westminster
Fibers includes designs by Donna Dewberry, Joel Dewberry, Anna
Maria Horner, Tina Givens, and Kaffe Fassett. Click HERE.
THE CREATIVE NETWORK: JOB
OPENINGS
To see the latest listings by the only personnel recruitment firm
specializing in our industry, click on Jobs in the left-hand column
or click HERE.
NO WONDER WE'RE GETTING FAT
Some Thanksgiving dates and statistics, courtesy of various
government agencies:
1863. President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of
November a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin
Roosevelt said it should be celebrated on the fourth Thursday –
never on the occasional fifth Thursday – to encourage earlier
holiday shopping.
271 million. The preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in
the U.S. in 2008.
709 million pounds. The forecast for U.S. cranberry
production in 2009.
1.8 billion pounds. The total weight of sweet potatoes
grown in the U.S.
1.1 billion pounds. Total production of pumpkins produced
in 2008.
2.5 billion bushels. The total volume of wheat – the
essential ingredient of bread, rolls, and pie crust – produced in
2008.
794,777 tons. The 2008 contracted production of snap
(green) beans.
$9.2 million. The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys
from January through July of 2009
13.8 pounds. The quantity of turkey consumed by the
typical American in 2007.
$3.8 billion. Forecast 2009 receipts to farmers from
turkey sales.
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