Archives of the Art Dog Blog from MacPherson's

HobbyCraft, the UK’s largest chain of craft superstores, is heading for its “best ever year” as the trend for families to indulge in lower cost activities grows, according to Retail Week.

Eric Caplan, formerly with A.I. Friedman has landed a job selling Computer Cables & Components @ SR Components.

Meininger’s has a great new and colorful look at its flagship Denver location. The design work was conceived by McGinty of Boulder, CO. Check out the company’s blog, McGinty Blog.

• The Prismacolor Holiday Consumer Rebate began on November 15th for purchases made between November 15th, 2009 and January 15th, 2010.

• Your MacPherson’s representative has a limited amount of Holiday Rebate POP kits. Contact them for yours today

• The Holiday Rebate Coupon is available for download or printing at www.prismacolor.com. Sanford encourages all dealers with web sites to download the coupon from its site and post it on your site. We have attached a copy of that coupon to this edition for your convenience.

• The new Illustration Marker display and Conversion Kit are now available. The conversion kit will be available directly from MacPherson’s. The conversion kits DO NOT come with product. An existing Brush and Chisel or Fine Line display can be converted to a combined display. Please consult with your MacPherson’s rep for ordering details and ask about item SA1760259.

• Sanford’s two hottest Holiday promotions look to be the 60ct Pencil Set, SA1744130 and the Manga Set/Sequential Paper Pack. Make sure you talk with your MacPherson’s representative right away about these two promotions.

• The Manga/Sequential Sanford/Strathmore Paper Pack promotion requires that you order the Strathmore SM346-1 on the SAME order as either or both of the SA1759417 and SA1759444 Prismacolor Manga Sets. You will be invoiced initially for the SM346-1. Once the promotion ends, MacPherson’s will issue you credit for all SM346-1purchases that have a corresponding quantity of SA1759417 and/or 1759444. You will not receive credit for the quantities of SM346-1 that exceed the quantity of the Manga Sets purchased on the same order.

• The winners of the Prismacolor 2009 Artist Competition have been announced. The winning submissions are included in this edition of The Art Dog Blog. You can also view the winning submissions and many other pieces of art on our Prismacolor.com art gallery

o $5,000 Grand Prize and Charcoal/Graphite Winner – Alex Vogel

Alex Vogel

o $2,500 Colored Pencil Category Winner – Elizabeth Patterson

Elizabeth Patterson

o $2,500 Pastel Category Winner – Sangita D Phadke

Sangita D Phadke

o $2,500 Cartooning/Manga Winner – Zelda Wang

Zelda Wang

o $2,500 Mixed Media Category Winner – Sherrie Kostura

Sherrie Kostura

o $2,500 Art Markers Category Winner – Diego Inzunza

Diego Inzunza

Grumbacher “New” Palette Knives – Grumbacher’s new plastic Palette and Painting Knives are like nothing offered in our industry. Molded from hard-wearing ABS plastic, these knives won’t corrode or rust like traditional metal knives. They are 10” in length, and are lightweight with excellent balance for all day use. They are solvent-safe, easy to clean and can be used with all mediums. Each knife has the appropriate flexibility for shape and purpose. The “New” Grumbacher Palette and Painting Knives come in 6 shapes, and are offered at 50/10%.

Grumbacher Painting Knives

Grumbacher Color “Open Stock” – All Academy Watercolor Acrylic and Oil, Finest Watercolor and Pre-tested Oil in all sizes, at 50/20/5%.

Grumbacher Brushes “Open Stock” – All brushes at 50/40/15%.

Grumbacher Color Assortments – All color assortments, drop shipped with free rack, and free freight at 50/35%.

Finest Assortment

Grumbacher Brush Assortments – All brush assortments, drop shipped with free rack, and free freight at 70/25%.

Goldenedge Brush Assortment

Grumbacher Brush Sets – Grumbacher’s brush sets offer the consumer a 20% savings over purchasing the brushes in open stock. There are 12 different configurations at 50/40/10%.

Grumbacher Color Sets – Selected Basic, Master and Everyday sets at 50/15%.

Grumbacher Watercolor Pan Sets – 12 and 24 sets in Opaque and Transparent at 50/10/5%.

Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph 7-Pen Set – Slim Pack and Artists 7 pen sets at 50/25/10%.

Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph Pens – Rapidograph technical pens, points and cleaners at 50/15%.

Koh-I-Noor Toison d’Or Extra Soft Pastel Sets – These beautiful, soft pastels have a consistent “feel” from color to color. They are available in 12 and 24 sets at 50/35%.

Koh-I-Noor Mechanical Pencils – The stylish Mephisto is available in 5mm and 7mm pencils. Mephisto also offers refill leads and erasers at 50/15%.

Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Pastel Pencils – These pastel pencils are excellent quality. They are available in 12, 24 and 48 color sets at 50/20%.

Koh-I-Noor Triocolor Triangular Grand Colored Pencils – These unique, large, triangular “Artist Grade” colored pencils are offered in sets of 12 and 24 at 50/10%.

Koh-I-Noor Art Sets – These comprehensive sets are available in pastel (Gioconda), watercolor (Mondeluz) and dry color (Polycolor), at 50/10%.

Koh-I-Noor Pencil Assortments – The Graphite Pencil and Triocolor assortments are offered with free rack and free freight at 60%.

Koh-I-Noor Toison d’Or – Professional quality drawing pencils at 50/20/15%.

Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Graphite Pencils – Aquarelles in 2B, 4B and 6B, and the “Negro” pencil at 50/10%.

Clearprint – All sheets, pads and rolls at 50/25%.

Higgins Ink – All Higgins inks and sets at 60%.

Chartpak Ad Markers – All Ad markers, open stock and sets, at 50/25%.

Chartpak Ad Marker Assortments – All Ad Marker Assortments (130, 72 and 48), including free rack and free freight, at 50/20/20%.

Schmincke – Mussini Oil, Horadam Aquarelle and Soft Pastel open-stock at 50/10%.

Schmincke Color Assortments – Mussini Resin Oil, Horadam Aquarelle and Schmincke Soft Pastels, free rack and free freight, at 60%.

Art Alternatives has come out with an option for retailers who want to sell bulk canvas but don’t have the space for rolls – canvas folds! Packaged in sturdy bags, these 2-yard folds can be pegged or displayed on a shelf. The premium grade, natural, unbleached cotton duck is ready for priming with either oil or acrylic primers. Folds are available in 7, 10 and 12 oz. weights, and in both 52″ and 72″ sizes. They are in stock in all MacPherson’s distribution centers and are at a launch discount of 67.5% off for a limited time! See the MacPherson’s Winter Buyer’s Guide page 59 for more details.

2010 Pricing Announcement

We are grateful to be coming into the last half of this very unique year with some greater optimism for the future.  In forecasting the next 18 months, we continue to seek ways to internally create efficiencies and reduce costs. In addition, we believe the external factors that create pricing pressures on our wide range of products will remain relatively consistent.  Therefore, not withstanding some critical supply chain disruption or other unforeseen cost out of our control, our 2009 product prices will remain in effect at least until February 2011. As the current prices remain in effect, we will not be sending out a new product price list at this time.

Important Sustainable Market Initiative (SMI) 2010 Dates to Remember

Below are the defined periods to keep in mind when planning for 2010:

Summer B-T-S Pre-order Program (US Retailer)

10% discount for orders received 5/3/10 – 5/31/10; please indicate preferred ship date from June 1 – August 11.  Limit one order per account under this program.

B-T-S Promotional Period (US Retailer)

Receipt and Ship Dates: 6/7/10 – 8/13/10; Advertised Promotional Dates: 7/12/10 – 9/30/10

An extra 5% for each buy during the promotional period.

2nd B-T-S Promotional Period (US Retailer)

Receipt and Ship Dates: 11/15/10 – 12/31/10; Advertised Promotional Dates: 1/1/11 – 2/12/11

An extra 5% for each buy during the promotional period.

Holiday Schedule at GOLDEN

Our offices will be closed on the following days in observance of various holidays.  Please plan your ordering and shipping needs accordingly.

•           Closed December 24-25 for Christmas.

•           Closed December 31 – January 1 for New Year’s.  We return on January 4.

In addition, there will be no product shipping on December 4, due to inventory shutdown.

GOLDEN Images Available 24/7

Golden Artist Colors is pleased to announce a new FTP area of the Web site that will act as an image repository, available 24/7, to anyone working on a catalog, advertising or newsletter.  For instructions regarding how to access this information, please contact GOLDEN Product Manager Dana Rice, drice@goldenpaints.com.

If you have any questions about any of the above information, contact your MacPherson’s Sales Representative.

New Blue!

Chemists at Oregon State University were delighted when they discovered a new, durable and brilliantly blue pigment by accident. Will a fabulous “new blue” paint follow? Read Friday’s New York Times article here.

You may have seen RGM‘s beautiful DVD demonstrating painting knife techniques earlier this year, when we previewed it at NAMTA. RGM retailers can now get their own FREE copy to show in their stores or post on their websites. The 40-minute DVD features technique demonstration by artist Danielle Jouault using the RGM Plus Palette Knives and also the New Age Knives, against the gorgeous backdrop of Venice. Ask your MacPherson’s rep for your free store copy today! Please note this is a promotional item and not available for resale.

Consumers are also welcome to request their own free copy on the RGM website; http://www.rgm-art.com/en/spazio_artisti.php

Located in the centerfold of the just-released MacPherson’s Winter Buyer’s Guide is a new feature  – the Green Zone! This special section was inspired by retailers who asked us to share our ideas for “green” end-caps. A team of green-leaning MacPherson’s employees got together and developed end-cap suggestions, downloadable signage, vendors’ inspiring stories and more. See pages 40 and 41 in the Winter Buyer’s Guide or log on to www.macphersonart.com/greenzone for details. Have other great ideas? Let us know! We’re in the business of helping customers succeed.

It may not interest you right now, on the cusp of the frenetic holiday shopping season, but Art Alternatives just added new sizes to the Economy Value Pack line-up. Double-packs of student grade canvas are now available in 8×10, 9×12, 14×18, 20×24 and 24×30 sizes. We have stock in Reno and Elgin, and we’ll be in-stock in Suwanee soon.

New Economy Canvas in WBTS Guide

See page 58 of the MacPherson’s Winter Buyer’s Guide for more information, plus details on the special 80% off launch discount. (And check out our cool new online “flip-book” version of the Winter Buyer’s Guide here!)

Napa Valley Art Supplies in Napa, CA, just held its second successful Montana Gold demo this year! Ten local artists joined the event this time, and were allowed to paint large canvases during the event and then offer them for sale at the store.  If the work sold, the artist was responsible for reimbursing the store for the materials, but got to keep the remaining balance of the sale. This event was such a hit, it made the front page of the local newspaper – great publicity for the store! For the full story, please click the link below;

Napa Valley Register

We are sad to report the sudden passing of Sharon Rebisz, 64, of Middlebury, CT on October 19th. She was the co-owner of Koenig Art Emporium in Southbury, CT where she has worked for close to 30 years. Sharon was much loved in the industry and leaves 3 sons and daughter, Nancy Hansen, who also works at the store.

ColArt America’s VP Sales, Charlie Newcomer has left to pursue new opportunities. A search for his replacement is underway.

According to proud dad Steve Caplan, son Eric Caplan has left  A. I. Friedman to pursue other ventures in any field. If anyone is interested in hiring a hard working and experienced young sales rep, you can reach Eric at 917-337-0910.

The news from Crescent is that Sonny Farmer has left  the company. Crescent also announced the appointment of Scott O’Shea as Senior VP of Domestic sales. He was previously Sales VP for H2O. In related news,  Jerry McCormick has been promoted to VP of Art Materials and Special Markets and will report to Scott.

Staedtler is moving both its North American office and distribution center from Chatsworth, CA to Toronto, Canada. The process will begin in February 2010 and should be complete by April 1.

Peter St James, the well regarded sales rep for C2F in Eastern Canada, will be leaving effective Dec 31, 2009  and will become an independent rep for Canson covering all Canadian territories from Winnipeg east to the Maritime Provinces. In related news, Ed Brickler will become Canson’s full time Art Education Director beginning Jan 1, 2010.

We are particularly in love with this image that we found at Artist & Display of Milwaukees’s web site. We always say a picture is worth a thousand words or better yet, thousands of dollars in revenue!!!

How Do You See Green?

Remind your artist customers and friends that Strathmore’s “How Do You See Green?” Illustration Contest deadline is November 30, 2009! Or enter yourself! Create a piece of art that expresses the theme of “green” and “environment” using dry media techniques (pencil, pastel, charcoal, etc.) on Strathmore paper. In January, you can cast your vote for the winner on Strathmore’s website. Winners’ art will be featured on 1 of 4 special edition Strathmore Premium Recycled pads! Visit www.strathmoreartist.com for more details.

Artist will love the chance to have their Artwork on Strathmore Pads

Have you found additional AA13301 Young Artist Easels in your back room as you prepare for the holidays? Did you forget to ask for a replacement easel earlier? No problem, we have plenty of free, compliant chalkboard panels and we are happy to send them to you. Retrofitting the easels is easy – simply remove the 6 screws holding the green panel, dispose of the panel, then use 4 screws to put the black panel on. (If you have a MacPherson’s sales rep, she or he would be happy to help.)

Click here to order replacement chalkboard panels.

Questions? Call our recall hotline at (800) 289-9899 x1093 or email us at recall@macphersonart.com.

As you know, MacPherson’s has been working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on a recall of our Young Artist Easel (AA13301). We are now ready to launch the recall to the public. The CPSC has put the recall information on its website. MacPherson’s has put information and instructions for end-users on its Art Alternatives website.

In the next couple of weeks, all retailers who purchased the AA13301 Young Artist Easel will receive a recall kit in the mail. This kit contains a poster with tear-off instructions cards that explain how the consumer can get a free chalkboard panel replacement. The CPSC and MacPherson’s urge you to place this poster in a high-traffic area of your store or in your kids section because we’d like to reach as many consumers as possible. There is no cost to you in this program – consumers will contact MacPherson’s directly to obtain their free replacement panel.

In the meantime, if you would like to advise your customers via your own e-newsletters or web site you can copy & paste the information below. If you’d like additional information or images, don’t hesitate to contact the Art Alternatives team at MacPherson’s.
• Recall x1093
• Laurie x6634
• Amy x6616

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IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: RECALL

Young Artist Easel by Art Alternatives, Item # AA13301, UPC # 082435133010

Art Alternatives is recalling all easels, model # AA13301, as shown here. This model was manufactured from July 2004 through May 2009. Testing shows that the chalkboard surface violates the lead paint standard. There have been no injuries reported. Visit http://www.Art-Alternatives.com/recall for more info and for easel exchange instructions and details.