The owner of Blaine’s in Anchorage, Rene Haag passed away Saturday June 24th 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.
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:
