Ft. Lauderdale’s Pearl Artist & Craft Supply has filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to the Sun Sentinel Newspaper, Pearl has an estimated $10 million to $50 million in liabilities and between 200 and 999 creditors. In Chapter 11, a company remains in business while it tries to reorganize its debts under court supervision. The company’s website lists two store locations in Florida and New York, and one each in New Jersey and Los Angeles, CA. Industry retailer group  iAMart recently announced its 2010-2011 slate of Officers and Board of Directors : •  President: Marilyn Hajjar, Arch Drafting Supply, San Francisco, CA •  Co-Vice Presidents: Ed Gamburg &…

Strathmore Artist Papers was awarded the 2010 Business Innovation Award at the NAMTA Convention and trade show for its new product introduction – Visual Journals.  Strathmore leveraged consumer insights from the NAMTA Artists & Art Materials USA 2009 report, social media and other market research.  Strathmore’s marketing team identified unmet consumer needs and responded by developing the new Visual Journal product line. “We discovered that for many artists, journaling is a heavy-duty mixed media art form.  Current journals are not meeting their needs because the paper is not designed to handle the media, layering and abuse of these ‘journalists,’” says Jeanette Gile, Marketing Manager at Strathmore Artist Papers.  “We responded…

This is Jessie.  He belongs to Sabina and Margaret of Art & Soul of Sebastopol (CA) and likes to hang out in their store.  When he is bored, he chews his paw, just like a human chews his or her fingernails.  Cute, huh? We think Jessie makes a perfect Art Dawg of the Month.

NAMTA 2010 We’re excited to share that Golden Artist Colors was the recipient of the “Best Large Booth 2010” award! Thank you to everyone who spent time with us to learn about new products, promotions and what’s in store for the future at Golden Artist Colors. We truly appreciate it. If you weren’t able to attend NAMTA this year, the above photo is just a snippet of what the booth looked like. New Technical Application Information Sheets on GOLDEN Web site There are two new Application Information Sheets on the goldenpaints.com Web site. Below are direct links to information about Varnishing Watercolors and Guidelines for Clear or Lightly Tinted Textures,…

A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts Inc. reported on Wednesday March 24th  that it has named an interim CEO to replace Rick A. Lepley, who will retire March 31. Joseph A. Jeffries, executive vice president and chief operating officer, will take over as acting CEO at that time.

Strathmore® Artist Papers invited professional, hobby and student artists to create their own unique vision of a green environment as part of a “How Do You See Green” Illustration Contest. The company is proud to announce the four grand prize winners whose original artwork will be featured on special edition Strathmore Premium Recycled sketch and drawing pads this back-to-school season. Art scholarships have been awarded to the Columbus College of Art and Design and the Savannah College of Art and Design in the students’ names. Thank you to all the retailers who supported this contest and to the artists who submitted entries.

Here is the text from Macon, Georgia newspaper columnist Dick Yarborough that touchingly honors the memory of Binder’s Jay Shapiro. YARBROUGH: Jay Shapiro never forgot that the customer comes first By DICK YARBROUGH Sometime ago I mentioned the worst customer service and the best customer service I ever received — all in the same week. I reprise the saga because the hero of the story recently and tragically died. To refresh your memory, for a number of years I had done business with a local investment firm. The locals sold the company to a national concern and moved on. I assumed nothing would change with the new folks in charge.…

Below is a link to a recent New York Times online article featuring Elmer’s Glue-All. Mary Beth Cowardin / Marketing Manager @ Elmer’s Products did a great job representing Elmer’s with back up from both of its agencies, SBC & Fahlgren-Mortine.  This feature was a result of the Glue-All and brand outreach Elmer’s did through Fahlgren. New York Times feature on Elmer’s Alan J. Braun – Regional Business Manager / New England