Archives of the Art Dog Blog from MacPherson's

Take advantage of the hot mechanical pencil trend with a brand-new Steel Pen and Pencil assortment from Zebra Pen! Year to date, mechanical pencil sales are up over 30% in sales and gel pens are seeing tremendous growth. This new assortment from Zebra includes both and is a perfect addition to your offering providing customers with well-designed pens and pencils that are surprisingly affordable.

Steel is popular for many reasons. First and foremost, the barrels are made of stainless steel which is sleek, smooth and strong. Add in features like a comfortable grip, a metal guide pipe, smooth flowing ink, sturdiness, and an easy refill process, and we are talking about a special collection. Whether it’s the M-301 Mechanical Pencil or best-selling steel ballpoint the F-301 Retractable Ballpoint, there is a Steel writing instrument that is right for your consumers’ needs.

The new Steel 3 Series Collection (item # ZE50100) contains the most popular pens and pencils from the Steel brand. This offering includes a variety of pen/pencil types, ink colors and point sizes.

The Zebra 3 Series 144 Piece display contains:

• F-301 Retractable Ballpoint 0.7mm Black (24 pens)
• F-301 Retractable Ballpoint 0.7mm Blue (12 pens)
• F-301 Retractable Ballpoint 0.7mm Red (12 pens)
• F-301 Retractable Ballpoint 1.0mm Black (12 pens)
• F-301 Retractable Ballpoint 1.6mm Black (12 pens)
• G-301 Gel Retractable 0.7mm Black (24 pens)
• G-301 Gel Retractable 0.7mm Blue (12 pens)
• M-301 Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm HB (12 pencils)
• M-301 Mechanical Pencil 0.7mm HB (24 pencils)

The display is only 6.25” wide x 8.25” deep x 9” high making it very easy to fit on a shelf or register.

Here is a detailed guide to the pens and pencils inside:

M-301 Mechanical Pencil

M-301 Mechanical Pencil 0.7mm Black

You will be sure to capture the consumer’s eye with the M-301 Mechanical Pencil.  The rugged, sophisticated M-301 mechanical pencil is ideal for writing, sketching, and drafting.  Featuring a stainless-steel barrel that is the hallmark of the Steel line; as well as a metal guide pipe when precision matters most. The textured grip provides control and comfort when writing for extended periods and a handy eraser can be found neatly tucked under the cap. Available in 0.5mm and 0.7mm point sizes.  Refillable with standard lead refills.

F-301 Ballpoint Retractable Pen

F-301 Retractable Ballpoint 0.7mm Black

America’s #1 steel ballpoint pen: The F-301 Ballpoint Retractable Pen.  This stainless-steel beauty has premium features, including a sleek steel barrel, textured grip, and metal clip. Its easy glide ink delivers a smooth writing experience and outshines the competition. The F-301 Ballpoint is excellent for everyday writing or sketching, with an oil based ballpoint ink that allows for thick and thin lines.   Choose from four ink colors with matching grip: Black, Blue, Green or Red.  Available in a 0.7mm, 1.0mm, and 1.6mm point size.  Refillable with Zebra’s F-Refill.

G-301 Gel Retractable Pen

G-301 Gel Retractable 0.7mm Black

Gel pens are seeing tremendous growth and the G-301 is sure to be a winner.   The G-301 is equipped with the same sleek, stainless steel barrel and popular features as its M and F-301 counterparts, but is filled with gel ink. The smooth flowing G-301 makes writing and drawing both clean and effortless. The easy glide of the gel ink will make this your go-to pen for everything.  Choose either Black or Blue ink with a matching grip. Available in a 0.7mm point size.  Refillable with Zebra’s JK-Refill.

For a limited time GET 60% OFF MSRP, FREE DISPLAY, FREE FREIGHT DROP SHIP ON A $550 NET ORDER. ITEM# ZE50100 MSRP$ 425.00 SPECIAL NET $ 170.35

More details on steel can be found at http://www.zebrapen.com/product-category/brand/steel/

The owner of Blaine’s in Anchorage, Rene Haag passed away Saturday June 24^th after a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer. Much loved within the art material supplier community for her generous spirit and renowned hospitality, she will be missed and much remembered. Her husband Dave Haag survives her.  Rene’s Memorial will be held Saturday July 22nd at 2pm at the 1st United Methodist 725 W. 9th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 Preferred Florist: (she did ALL of Rene’s events!) Hummels Flowers phone: 907-272-78Z57. Any donations can be made to: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Pancan) www.pancan.org/ways-to-give/

Stacey Smith of Binders wed Rich Wetzstein on May 6th.   Stacey’s son, Jarren was happily included in the ceremony.

Office products mass market and online retailer Staples, Inc. is being acquired by the private-equity firm Sycamore Capital for $6.9 billion.  The sale includes Staples Canadian operation. Sycamore Capital plans to make the publicly traded  Staples private and has not yet revealed their plans to restructure the company who has suffered in recent years from sliding sales and profitability.

There have been sales organization structural changes at Newell Brands (Sanford’s) Art & Craft division. Senior Sales Manager Jim Kelly will be moving to lead their Home Hardware Sales Division and Heather Rooney will take over much of Jim’s responsibilities in the role of Director of Sales Arts & Crafts

Tonya Lutz joined MacPherson’s as Brand Business Development Manager on Monday, June 19th.  Tonya brings 17+ years of industry experience in both Brand Management and Sales.  Tonya has spent the last nine years at Faber-Castell where she was a Senior Leader in Brand Management for their adult brands in the US, developing programs to increase brand visibility and sales turns for our customers. Tonya’s role at MacPherson’s will be to work closely with the Derwent Brand Team. Her focus will be to set the strategic stage for Derwent and to translate brand stories into retail placement opportunities and supporting in the field execution. Tonya will be working from her home office in Berea, Ohio and reporting to Dionne Mallins.

Jim Gary, formerly Southern California-based Sales Manager at Canson, has taken a position at Royal & Langnickel, with the retirement of Andrea Hand, Western Regional territory manager.

Gail Fishback

Cliff Stieglitz, founder and publisher of Airbrush Action Magazine has announced the sale of his company to Gail Fishback and Brian Woodruff. Brian has been Airbrush Action’s Art Director for over 11 years. Gail was with American Artist Magazine for 27 years. Gail served as NAMTA President in 2002.

Jerry’s Artarama’s Nashville store will relocate from its Antioch location to East Nashville this Fall, with plans to take about 7,500 square feet of space in a building located at 711 Main Street.

MacPherson’s and STABILO proudly hosted thousands of colorful doodling fans at last weekend’s San Francisco Pride, a Celebration of Diversity.  Postcards and STABILO Point 88 pens and Pen 68 markers were provided to create messages of love and fun that were mailed far and wide.  Check out the photos:

Strathmore is encouraging artists to post a photo of their customized Vision cover art on Instagram, and they can win a monthly giveaway of $100 worth of Strathmore products! Retailers can share social media information on the giveaways, or mimic the idea on their own social media platforms.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Artists post a picture of their work made on the cover of their Strathmore Vision pad to Instagram.
2. Artists tag Strathmore in their post (@strathmoreart) and use the hashtag #strathmorecovers
3. During the first week of every month from July through December of 2017, Strathmore will randomly select a winner from the pool of participants to win a pre-selected assortment of Strathmore products valued at $100.

All artwork must be created on the blank steel blue cover of any Strathmore Vision pad to be a valid entry for the giveaway prize.

We have created a PDF for the Instagram contest for retailers to use in stores to promote the Vision giveaways. For more information on this giveaway and full listing of terms and conditions, please visit our social media sites, where you can also share information with your customers: Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn how the new Strathmore Vision products can increase the productivity of your retail space by contacting your MacPherson sales representative today!
Please feel free to share this flyer with customers and encourage people to start posting their covers to Instagram so they can have the chance to win a prize. This is a great program for Social Media posts as well as for promotion at the store level.

In addition, attached are a couple of pdfs that can be used as pad inserts between the removable cover and Customizable Cover on the Vision line. They can also be used simply as a flyer. There is a small version that is 2-up that can be cut apart and used in the 5.5×8.5 or 6×9 pads. The large pdf is a 8.5×11 sheet that can be used in the 9×12 or 11×14 pads. These can also be found on the Retailer/Distributor site at www.strathmoreartist.com under the “Ready to Print Promotional Material” tab.

Chartpak, Inc. is excited to announce that their new paper lines are now available and ready to ship!

Chartpak prides themselves on creativity which is why it is an integral part of their legacy. They strive to deliver to each artist a professional range of products – and this new paper line is no exception. Developed for artists by artists, recognizing that each brush stroke, each sketch, and each rendering deserves added benefits and unique functionality.

The papers, as well as the features built into the pads, were developed and tested by Chartpak’s staff of professional artists and their network of art ambassadors. Chartpak worked diligently with their mill partners to ensure that the papers were designed to perform at high-quality levels for the artist.

Chartpak incorporated features such as In and Out Pages™ designed with Dome Lock™ Technology to ensure that any sheet could be removed, repositioned and even transferred to another pad.

They also created some of their pads with Ink Block Panels which protect the pages underneath the artwork sheet.

From Chartpak’s hands to the artist’s hands, this new paper line continues to get rave reviews.

Marcia Neblett, Professor of Foundation Studies at Savannah College of Art and Design recently said:

“I just wanted to share with you that my current summer students love the Grumbacher® Mixed Media, 9 x 12 inch IN and Out” Sketchbook. We’ve already made use of the “in and out” feature with a class critique and with submissions of the sketchbook work. The students absolutely love that they can put the pages back in! I’ll look forward to ordering more for my Fall Classes. Thanks so much!”

Princeton has introduced a redesigned Catalyst Tools display that reduces shelf space from 48 inches to only 30 inches. It features new graphic signage, along with Golden’s hand-painted swatches demonstrating the various techniques and textures that Catalyst tools can create. Dealers can email Howard  (howard@princetonbrush.com) to request a new empty display fixture, free of charge.

FYI-The new display does not include a few of the slowest selling SKUs. Though not discontinued, they have been removed from the display in order to allow for a more compact footprint!

Show off Your Winsor & Newton Paper and Canvas Display & Win Big

Ready to show off your creativity? In celebration of the newly launched Winsor & Newton paper and canvas range, we bring you our next contest. We want to see what your paper and canvas display looks like in your store!

Take a picture of your display, share it with us and get rewarded if your display is the best of the bunch. The reward: $1,000 of Colart product at MSRP. One winner will be chosen and featured in our next newsletter. Submit your paper and canvas display photo to getintouch@colartusa.com by August 1, 2017. We look forward to your submissions!

Gamblin’s Fall Back-to-School Promotion is in full swing

School’s out and summer has arrived. Gamblin’s 2017 Fall Back-to-School promotion is in full swing! Take advantage of the deals below to stock up on inventory for a successful back-to-school promotion.

The following items will be on promotion from now thru September 30.

• Gamsol – additional 10% off  net (57.25%)
• 1980 Oil Colors – additional 10% off net (57.25%)
• Solvent-Free Painting Materials – additional 10% off net (57.25%)

Use Flyer Code = BT when ordering

MacPherson’s Dealer Workshop – with thanks from Colart!

Thank you to all the retailers who joined us at the MacPherson’s Annual Dealer Workshop and checked out the launch of the Liquitex Cadmium Free range and Winsor & Newton surfaces. The annual conference is always a special time to connect with our retail partners and offer you a glimpse of new products. This year was no different as we offered demos and workshops for Liquitex in one room and Winsor & Newton and Arches in another.

In the Liquitex room, Cadmium Free demos were the focus. Attendees tested the product side by side with the Cadmium paints and saw just how comparable the two are. In addition to the demos, we unveiled a blind sampling kit concept that customers can use in their local art communities. Attendees were also impressed with the Liquitex Cadmium Free merchandising kits for offering a complete introductory merchandising solution.

Liquitex also launched the new Basics sizes and Basics planogram at the event, and customers were excited about the various Liquitex sets, particularly the $14.99 BASICS Acrylic Mediums Textures & Effects Set. In the Winsor & Newton room, we explored the newly launched surfaces: the Stretched canvas and Watercolor paper. We also featured Arches’ new free-standing floor display, five-sheet pack, and the 16 x 20 oil sheets. Both were a big draw for attendees.

Throughout the workshop, we discussed the features and benefits of the new ranges, as well as product pricing, merchandising opportunities, launch materials strategy, and specials.

Thank you again to MacPherson’s and all the retailers that attended the conference.

MacPherson’s Dealer Workshop A Great Success (a thank you note from GOLDEN)

Thank you to MacPherson’s personnel for hosting an incredible workshop! Your planning and preparation led to a very organized, valuable event. The hands-on demonstrations were interesting and informative for all. We were pleased to see so many retailers in attendance. Having such commitment and enthusiasm from our retail partners in support of all three GOLDEN brands is appreciated tremendously!

Williamsburg Oils Brand Strategy

This Spring, Golden Artist Colors introduced a new digital marketing campaign to drive awareness and trial of the Williamsburg Handmade Oils brand. The campaign integrates new informational videos on the brand, a new dedicated Instagram page (instagram.com/williamsburgoilpaints), social media advertising on Facebook, and direct outreach to influential oil painters. Details of the campaign are being made available to Distributors and Retailers through 3 weekly e-blasts being distributed from mid- June to the end of June. Segments of the video are available for viewing on williamsburgoils.com/videos. Contact your GOLDEN Sales Representative for more information about this campaign.

Get Artists Excited About Exploring Acrylic Beyond Color!

GOLDEN offers an extensive range of Gels, Pastes and other mediums to provide artists with limitless opportunities for creative expression. The limited-time GOLDEN Mediums Explorer Set includes three popular mediums that allow artists to extend paints, alter sheen, adhere collage projects, create glazes, build texture and so much more!

The Mediums Explorer counter unit holds six sets, with another six supplied for restocking. Each set contains a 4 oz. jar of Molding Paste, a 4 oz. jar of Regular Gel Matte and a 2 oz. cylinder of Gloss Glazing Liquid. These displays will start shipping July 10 and will continue through September 15.

Digital assets are available to help you communicate this offer to your customers. Visit https://marketplace.goldenpaints.com, log in and navigate to the Documents and Media section then click on the Initiatives folder to access the information.

GOLDEN Mediums Explorer Counter Unit

Item #: 0000P84-0, UPC: 10738797012544, List Price: $183.48

GOLDEN Mediums Explorer Set

Item #: 0000P83-0, UPC: 738797012547, List Price: $15.29

Mediums Explorer Set only available via Counter Units. Display drop ships direct to retail.

Contact your GOLDEN Sales Representative or call Customer Service at 800-959-6543 with questions.

Get an Extra 10% Discount on 2017 Holiday Sets!

The gift of paint is the perfect holiday present for artists. With this in mind, GOLDEN is offering a discount on select sets for the 2017 Holiday Season.

• # GD0910-0 – GOLDEN 6 Professional Heavy Body Acrylics Set
• # GD0957-0 – GOLDEN OPEN Slow-Drying Acrylics Landscape Set
• # GD0905-0 – GOLDEN 10 Professional Fluid Acrylics Set
• # GD0945-0 – GOLDEN Acrylics Gels & Paste Textures Set
• # GD0953-0 – GOLDEN High Flow Acrylics Assorted Colors Set
• # GD0954-0 – GOLDEN High Flow Acrylics Transparent Set
• # GD0964-0 – GOLDEN High Flow Acrylics Drawing Set
• # WB6008005 – WB Signature Oils Colors Set
• # WB6008010 – WB Landscape Oil Colors Set
• # WB6008015 – WB Traditional Oil Colors Set
• # WB6008020 – WB Modern Oil Colors Set
• # QR7000001-0 – QoR Introductory Six Watercolor Set
• # QR7000003-0 – QoR High Chroma Six Watercolor Set
• # QR7000002-0 – QoR Earth Colors Six Watercolor Set
• # QR7000010-0 – QoR Introductory Twelve Watercolor Set
• # QR7000020-0 – QoR Twenty-four Watercolor Set

For ordering terms and additional information visit https://marketplace.goldenpaints.com.

GOLDEN Educator Residents & Top Finalists Announced!

Golden Artist Colors and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 GOLDEN Educators Residency:

Lucy Harackiewicz from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, Westwood High School

Margaret Minardi from Ft. Salonga, New York, Northport East Northport High School

Elizabeth Stainton from New York, New York, The Brearley School

Collectively, these educators have been teaching for over 65 years.

The residency is a partnership between the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and Golden Artist Colors, who have partnered for a third year to offer an unprecedented opportunity for Art Educators with a student who received recognition in the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The three selected educators are invited to participate in this two-week artists’ residency in a sylvan setting in upstate New York through the Sam & Adele Golden Foundation in July/August 2017. They will also each receive a gift certificate for $1,000 for GOLDEN paints.

Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers said, “Golden Artist Colors is to be commended for making this exceptional opportunity available to outstanding educators. We were most impressed by the quality of the applications we received this year. Teachers are part of the lifeblood of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and we are privileged to have this moment to show our appreciation for their efforts in the classroom as well as our respect for their work as artists.”

The Alliance partnered with the National Art Education Association to review the applications to the residency. In addition to the three residents selected, nine additional finalists were identified and they will also receive $1,000 gift certificates for GOLDEN paints.

Congratulations to the 2017 GOLDEN Educator Residents and Educator Finalists! If you’re interested in learning more about these artists and seeing their artwork, be sure to visit http://blog.artandwriting.org/.

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

The most important thing when choosing the right screen ink is knowing your customers and what they need. Screen printing is a complex category and customers often need assistance making the right choices. Do you have mainly professional printers, novice, or both? Are they printing primarily on paper, fabric or vinyl? Is the main concern cost, durability, color selection, or…? Jacquard offers two lines of screen printing inks that cover all the bases. Below is a great reference guide for understanding the differences between Jacquard Professional Screen Printing Ink and Versatex Ink.

Jacquard Professional Screen Printing Ink
Professional quality and unlike any other ink on the market. For virtually any surface from posters to t-shirts to bumper stickers, these water-based inks simulate many characteristics of solvent-based inks, making them a great option for the old-school professional. Jacquard Screen Printing Inks air cure in 72 hours after printing or can be heat set for added permanence and durability.

• Great on paper – no buckling due to high solids
• Prints on vinyl, glass, wood, metal, paper, fabric, acrylic (plexi) and paper
• Extra-long open time in screen
• Superb wash fastness on textiles, etc.
• Heavier bodied than Versatex, excellent for super fine detail.
• Extensive palette:

• Transparent colors
• Opaques
• Metallics
• CMY Process Color System

• Available in 5 sizes
• 3-day cure time with no heat setting needed, which saves time and money
• True opaque colors for dark garments
• Professional Grade with unparalleled versatility
• Heavy body and heavily pigmented makes these inks easy to dilute with water to get more for your money
• Will not clog your screen even though very heavy body
• Unparalleled coverage and opacity

Versatex
A water-based screen printing ink ideal for screening, stenciling and/or block printing on fabric with a wonderfully creamy rheology. The colors are intermixable and can be thinned with water. Versatex printed fabric must be heat set for permanence and washability (or use the Versatex Fixer Additive). Beautiful, transparent overlays can be achieved when mixing colors with the Clear Extender.

• Great on paper – can buckle light weight stock, best on heavier paper
• Not recommended for non- absorbent surfaces
• Good open time, easily increased with the Screen Life Additive
• Great wash fastness on textiles, now sets at a lower temperature
• Unrivaled SOFT HAND
• Large palette:

• Transparent colors
• Fluorescent colors
• Metallics

• Available in 3 sizes plus 2.25 oz sets
• Cures with heat setting, OR mix the Versatex Fixer with the ink and there is no need to heat set
• Softer body than JSI
• Performance far surpasses comparably priced screen inks. Professional quality textile ink
• Printers rave about its smooth and creamy consistency and texture
• Beautifully transparent