To MAP or Not to MAP, That is the Question
Friday, June 26th, 2009We received a letter recently from Logan announcing that the company would be dropping its Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) program at the end of 2009. In the letter, posted below, they did not site reasons, but this bold act makes us want to take stock of the so-called benefits of MAP programs. On the one hand, MAP offers some protection to both small retailers and big brands from destructive and unproductive price wars, and on the other, it can stifle honest competition, impede pricing that benefits consumers and some even say give an unfair advantage to the largest retail outlets, either internet based or brick and mortar. We would love to know what you think. There is a spot below for you to add your comments. There is nothing like a full blown dialogue to add light to a complicated subject.
Revised Letter:
We are relieved to report that Kerry Kemp of Art Outfitters in Little Rock, Arkansas is doing fine after a scary car accident last weekend. Here is her account: “Last Saturday, my daughter and son-in-law and I drove to Dallas for my nephew’s wedding. About 3 hours before the ceremony, we were T-boned by a car (running a red light) in an intersection. We were both traveling at 45 to 50ish mph. We are alive and have no broken bones.” Whew! Good thing the seat belts were all securely fastened!
David Goldstein of Jerry’s Artarama is happy to report the birth of his grandson. Daughter Dara gave birth to a 7 lb., 2 oz. baby boy, Bryce, on Monday!
Speedball Art Products Company, LLC announces that it has completed the acquisition of the Pottery Wheel Business of Creative Industries. Creative was established in 1971, and makes the Artista™ and Clay Boss™ lines of pottery wheels. Speedball’s president Walt Glazer states that these “are wonderful additions and demonstrate Speedball’s commitment to offering compelling value and quality to professional potters, teachers, and students.”
Rileystreet Art Supply of San Rafael & Santa Rosa, CA was splashed on the jumbo-tron over the AT & T park in San Francisco last Saturday at the huge Bookstock event benefitting the Giants baseball team. The event was a multifaceted art, music, film and book release event, attended by more than 5,000 people including a massive live art installation along the outfield that featured 25 artists, many of whom were painting on large canvases donated by Rileystreet Art Supply. This was a terrific “out of the box” promotional idea!
We have confirmed that owner Eva Anderson-Terada of Hilo Art & Glass in Hilo, Hawaii will be closing her doors for business at the end of the June.
Big congrats to Beth Bergman who is celebrating 25 years as the owner of St. Paul, MN Wet Paint. In her own words, “When Hugh Huelster turned Wet Paint’s keys over to me 25 years ago, I didn’t know what I was getting in to.” The rest is artistic history!
Congratulations to CC Lowell’s owner, Bill Cavanagh, celebrating his 20th anniversary as the owner of this venerable Worcester, MA art supply institution.
Howard Flax has left Flax Art & Design in San Francisco to head up a Petaluma, CA company called AFM Inc that provides unique thermal management solutions utilizing infra-red reflection and insulation technology in products designed for both consumer and industrial users. A product that AFM makes called Heat Sheets is used by marathon runners.
Andrew Daler of Daler-Rowney USA has announced the appointment of Leo Geiger as the Daler’s new Company Territory Sales Manager for the Southeastern territory. This marks a new initiative by the company to have the majority of its sales team be made up of company employees.
Hyatt’s in Buffalo is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. Here’s what the company has to say on its web site, Hyatt’s.com: “Started as a small family business, Hyatt’s is proud to have remained family owned and operated over the past 50 years and to now employ over 40 people. Hyatt’s could not have achieved so much success without the hard work of its many loyal and knowledgeable staff members. With many having been with the company for over 10 years, the Hyatt Family would like to thank all of its employees, old and new, that have helped to make Hyatt’s 50 years strong!” Check out the whole fascinating history of Hyatt’s at 
MacPherson’s Elgin packing department is a strong four-person team consisting of Oscar Garcia, Mike Anderson, Salvador Corona and Toy Sayasane. Their work is divided among three packers and one box maker. These guys are at the eye of the hurricane. Being physically located in the middle of the distribution center, and between the steps of picking and shipping, this team is sort of ‘the meat between the bread.’ Their job is to carefully pack orders, ensuring that customers receive their orders in perfect condition. The reputation of the company relies on the quality of each order, so the importance of protecting the items going out cannot be overstated. If stuff is damaged in transport it triggers a cascade of time consuming, non-productive activities for both our customers and us.
In addition to restructuring its pricing, Gamblin is also releasing Burnt Plate Oil #000 in 8 oz. bottles to better support printmakers. Burnt Plate Oil will be available for purchase starting in July. Item #GBR0008, List Price $8.95.
Last year RGM took painting knives to a whole new level with the introduction of the New Age line. With their unique, never seen before shapes, the New Age knives allow artists to open up their imaginations to create new shapes and textures in their paintings.
