We are back in stock on the Art Alternatives Young Artist Easel in our 3 distribution centers! The easels are being refurbished by replacing the old chalkboard with a new, compliant, black chalkboard. Our inventory will be completely converted by the middle of next week. If you’d like to place an order for this item, it is AA13301S, UPC 082435133027. If you are holding the previous version of the easel in quarantine, please click the link below to fill out a very short form. We cannot proceed with our chalkboard replacement plan since it has not been approved by the CPSC, but we can replace your inventory with refurbished easels…
-
-
Industry News
Newell Rubbermaid, parent company of Sanford Business-to-Business, announced it would close its Sanford operations in Janesville, WI early next year, laying off 153 workers. Sanford is the last remnant of the former Parker Pen company, a company that in many ways defined Janesville. On August 20th Candy Meininger, sister and former business partner of Henry, died in her sleep at home. She had valiantly battled colon cancer for the past two years. She will be missed by many in our industry who knew and respected her. Candy’s memorial service will be held on Saturday August 29 at 11:30am at Horan & McConaty on South Colorado Blvd at East Mississippi (1091…
-
MacPherson’s Adds Value! New Invoice Feature
At MacPherson’s we are constantly on the lookout for features to add that put you, the independent art material retailers, in control. You’ll find our latest idea in the Totals section on the last page of any invoice from us. It gives you the total retail value of the order, and the calculated discount from MSRP. What does it all mean? Now you can monitor your gross margin at a glance and make adjustments as needed.
-
The Big Idea: Sell More by Seeing Your Store Through Customers’ Eyes
Here is an article from a recent Small Business Trends blog by Kare Anderson that seems particularly timely given the huge challenges facing all sizes and shapes of brick and mortar retailers. How often have you entered a store. . . * And observed two clerks continue to chat instead of turning to smile at you? * To find that the order you called in the day before is not at the counter, ready for your quick pick-up and payment, because the clerk said she “got busy with other customers?” * And asked the clerk a question about a product and get an “I don’t know” response, with no offer…
-
Industry News 2: Bob Fisher Memorial Service Announced
From Steve Gallisdorfer: All- I am sure most all of you have heard of the tragic and untimely death of Bob Fisher, a well known and longtime figure in the art materials industry. A great many of you had the pleasure of getting to know him a more than just a little bit, but a great many also came to know him as a good friend, and a genuinely pleasant person. I happen to be one of those fortunate ones who knew him very well, having working with him in various capacities for about 28 years, and am just blessed that he was my friend. Bob passed away early on…
-
The Pocket Brush Pen from Pentel is Finally Here!
Pentel Arts® new Pocket Brush Pen has finally arrived. This brush pen is ideal for cartooning, painting, fine detailing, and more. The refillable portable pen contains permanent pigment ink, which is both water and fade resistant. It also features durable premium bristles that will not lose their shape. The leak-proof fittings and measured ink flow guard against unwanted stains on clothing or spills on projects. The Pocket Brush Pen is available in a blister pack with 2 refill ink cartridges (PLGFKP3BPA) with an MSRP of $16.50. Also available are 2-pack refill cartridges (PLFP10BP2A) with an MSRP of $3.50.
-
New Kid’s Art Books from Walter Foster
Looking to add some color, while sprucing up your Kid’s Art Department? Check out these new Art Instruction Titles from Walter Foster: All About Drawing Series Perfect for children who love to doodle, this introductory drawing book series makes the art of drawing easy. Clear, easy-to-follow examples use basic shapes and colors to teach children how to draw step by step. Inside, young readers can learn simple ways to draw and color a collection of reptiles, dinosaurs, horses, dogs, dolphins, whales, and more! Each lesson features fun, fascinating facts about species or breeds, as well as simple drawing tips to guide kids along. With the exciting titles in this All…
-
News from Strathmore Artist Papers
Here’s the latest from our friends at Strathmore… “REMINDER: Don’t Forget to Use Our Helpful Tools for Back to School! We are offering fun and easy ways to drive more sales this back to school season. You can access or order these tools on our Web site. How Do You See Green? Illustration Contest – The competition officially opened August 1 and we have already received a number of art entries! There also has been a lot of positive “buzz” among artists on Internet blogs and Twitter. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create excitement in-store. Order your promotional material today! Back to School Stimulus Package – In June,…
-
Strathmore Super Heroes at Comic Con 2009
Strathmore Artist Papers’ own super heroes made appearances at Comic Con 2009 in San Diego July 23-26. Comic Con is the country’s leading comics and popular arts convention. Don Bradley (Captain Strathmore) and Kari Foteff (Thistle Girl) were on site sharing news of Strathmore’s new Sequential Art Surfaces. “Strathmore’s bristols have been the choice of award-winning comic and sequential artists for decades,” says Don Bradley, Senior Account Manager. “So you can imagine how excited artists were to hear that our best-selling bristols are now in convenient formats that fit their specific application.” Check out Sthathmore’s Comic Con photo album on its Facebook page: Strathmore on Facebook. You are already a…
-
Industry News
Art Media Celebrates 35 Years Congratulations to Kathy Christian, David Mosher & Gail Vines of Art Media, as they celebrate their 35th year as a locally owned business serving the greater Portland, OR metropolitan area. All three, who graduated from the University of Oregon in 1974, founded Art Media and continue to work in the business day to day. Art Media has been a member of NAMTA for over 25 years. Lionel Flax, former educator and CEO of Kate’s Paperie in NYC has relocated to Atlanta and is now managing the Sam Flax-Atlanta store. Lionel co-owns both the Atlanta and Orlando, FL stores along with his father, Leonard Flax and…
-
Art Materials Outlook: the Second Half of 2009
It does wonders for the self-esteem when you’re asked for your sage wisdom, good or bad. Below is a quote from the Creative Leisure news newsletter/blog. The question was; what’s the outlook for the rest of 2009? Here’s our view. What do you think? “We have been seeing a shift to distributors vs. the retailers buying direct. It just seems that replenishing in small quantities, just in time, is allowing the retailers of all sizes to keep customers happy while continuing to reduce inventories. This has been a happening all year, but we have only recently seen the effect in our sales due to the overall impact of the retailer…
-
Subcultures Unite Through Montana Gold!
The East Bay Express (a local arts & entertainment publication in the San Francisco Bay Area) held its annual Best of the East Bay Party at the Oakland Museum on August 7th. The theme of this year’s party was “Subcultures of the East Bay”, and with the amazing blend of cultures and styles shown through music, art, dance, and food, it was very fitting. The party attracted several thousand people, and was a huge success. One of the highlights of the party was the live art exhibition featuring four Bay Area artists each painting a four-sided canvas “cube” using Montana Gold spray paint. Estria Miyashiro, Jared Roses, Mel Waters, and…
-
A Budget is Key to Small-Business Success
Here’s a link to a great article from the LA Times on the importance of budgeting, one of the key elements to small business success in these uncertain times. There are huge pluses for retailers to create budgets these days. Investors like to see that a business knows where it stands. When employees, customers and investors know you have an idea about how your company could fare in the coming months and next year, they have more confidence in you and your business. Here are the bullet points: Determine what your business will spend. Use current- and past-year financial information to build a month-by-month list of fixed and variable costs…
-
Chartpak: Check Out These Great Deals for Fall BTS!!
The Deals are Red Hot for retailers willing to pull the trigger on a great list of promotable products and lines. Choose from Open Stock of MacPherson’s DCs selection or even better Drop Ship Promotions. These deals are effective through 9/30/09. OPEN STOCK All Grumbacher Brushes(74%) and Brush Sets(70/10%) All Grumbacher Color ranges at 60/5% Grumbacher Paint Sets at 50/15% Grumbacher W/C Pan Sets at 50/10% Koh-i-noor Pastel Sets, Pencils, Pencil Sets and Accessories at 50/10% Koh-i-noor Pastel Pencils and Sets at 60/5% Koh-i-noor Toison D’or Pencils at 60/10% Koh-i-noor Rapidograph 7 Pen Sets at 50/25/10% Koh-i-noor Rapidograph Pens and Points at 50/10% Koh-i-noor Pen Cleaners and Accessories at 50/10%…
-
Tube Wringer Generation
It’s a sign of the new economy; a lot of people who lived high on the hog are now having to adopt frugal living techniques. But will these ways last? We’ve seen this scenario with our parents or grandparents who lived through the Great Depression and they never changed their “money minding” ways. Perhaps the trusty Tube Wringer will be the symbol for this generation of “squeeze every last drop of paint from the tube” artists. It certainly would not hurt to give them a few choices in Tube Wringer Models. That’s why we have added two well built models from the original designer of this art supply store classic.…
-
Golden’s August News
The GOLDEN YouTube Channel is Growing! Be sure to check out the ever increasing number of videos that have been posted to the GOLDEN YouTube site. The seven newest videos focus on common problems related to varnishing, including applying an isolation coat, thinning varnish and the entertaining, yet fundamental, “Shake Your Can”. Golden Video Channel Shake Your Can GOLDEN plans to continue producing short video clips, with particular attention placed on subjects that can be confusing for or problematic to artists. If you have a video that you would like to see, or that you think your customers would benefit from, please email your suggestions to drice@goldenpaints.com. New Fluid Colors…
-
Sanford News for August
· Prismacolor will introduce two Marker Sets for Sequential Art and Manga use in September of this year. MacPherson’s has a great promotion that includes these two new sets and a FREE Strathmore Sequential Paper pack. You will see this offer in the Holiday Consumer Buyer’s Guide offered by Creative Catalog Concepts (CCC) and in the MacPherson’s Holiday Trade Buyer’s Guide. · Prismacolor has also just approved a Holiday Consumer rebate effective for purchases made between November 15th and January 15th 2010. More details on this as we get closer to Holiday time. · The Prismacolor BTS rebate form itself is available as a pdf download at www.prismacolor.com and can…
-
Updated version of CPSC Handbook
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted an updated copy of the CPSC Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Resellers on its website. Most of the focus is on child care articles, but there’s information pertaining to children’s products in general (which include art and craft supplies) and children’s toys. The handbook is a good reminder of the new rules that apply to resellers and it’s definitely worth a look, especially if you sell a lot of children’s products in your store. Here’s the link: CPSIA Handbook for Children\’s Products Resellers
-
Sakura Has Great Ideas for Customer Engagement
Sakura’s Pigma® Micron® and Cray-Pas® Expressionist® oil pastels are combined to turn a favorite photo into a unique handcrafted item. A plain 100% cotton canvas is transformed into a keepsake quilt home décor wall hanging. Each simple step of the creative process is demonstrated by designer Julie Fei-Fan Balzer in a video. View the Oil Pastel Canvas Photo Quilt video. Cray-Pas® Expressionist® with its extra fine quality pigment formulation is suitable for many surfaces: paper, cardboard, canvas and wood. 48 colors in 5 color sets; plus the new Cray-Pas® Expressionist® Multi-Cultural set. Available now, Expressionist® Extender expands a color hue; available in a 2 stick set. Pigma® Micron® pigment ink…
-
New Online Mediums Video from Chroma, Inc.
Have you ever been bewildered by acrylic mediums? Chroma, Inc.’s Resident Artist Jennifer VonStein takes the mystery out of using Atelier mediums along with Atelier Interactive Professional Artists Acrylics in the new online video series, found at Atelier Mediums Video. Jennifer covers the main ways that artists use mediums such as Binder Medium, Fast Medium/Fixer, Slow Medium, Thick Slow Medium and the Unlocking Formula, as well as transfer techniques, monotypes, and ways to explore texture. This series is sure to inform and enlighten you! Please feel free to place this link on your website! If you have any questions about mediums, and would like to schedule an in-store workshop or…