Hart and NAMTA Announce 2012 Business Innovation Award ...

Hart Business Research and the International Art Materials Association (NAMTA) are honored to announce the 2012 finalists and winners of the third annual Art Materials Business Innovation Awards, given May 10, 2012 at the NAMTA show in Orlando, FL. The criteria were potential business impact, innovativeness, fit with market trends, and usefulness as an example for others.

Retailer category finalists

• Aaron Brothers ? for The Art District new retail positioning
• Above Ground Art Supplies ? for ?It?s All About You? marketing campaign
• Wet Paint (MN) ? for Pet Portraits promotional program

Supplier category finalists

• Artist Hardware and Princeton Artist Brush ? for Catalyst new product line
• C&T Publishing ? for Artful Fiber kit and new surfaces for mixed media
• Crescent ? for RENDR zero-show thru paper new product line
• Tri-Art ? for custom in-house packaging manufacturing program

The retailer winner, Aaron Brothers, developed a new positioning for their stores that ?Reflects more of a youthful, urban creative customer.? The Art District program included staff training, new urban art merchandise, a marketing campaign with bold artistic graphics, and live celebrity artist events. The 2009 and 2012 Artists & Art Materials Studies indicate artists would like a wider selection of art supplies and a more inspiring retail environment. The Art District fills those needs. The Art District appeals in particular to young artists, the key to the continuing vitality of the art materials market.?Aaron Brothers received $750 cash from awards sponsor CraftArtEdu, a plaque, and a one hour market research consultation with Hart.

The supplier winner, C&T Publishing, created the Artful Fiber pack, a kit of 15 different creative surfaces including silk cocoons, fiber rods, a blank canvas book, and moldable fiber sheets plus a downloadable vBook with 25 video tutorials. The 2009 and 2012 Artists & Art Materials Studies indicate artists would like a wider selection of art supplies (particularly for mixed media) in specialty art materials stores but these retailers sometimes do not carry them. C&T notes the Artful Fiber pack is ?The perfect retailer launching tool for new art surfaces.? C&T Publishing received $500 cash from NAMTA, a plaque, a one hour market research consultation with Hart, and a promotional package from awards sponsor CraftArtEdu valued at $2,700.

Hart and NAMTA jointly produce the awards to encourage innovation in the art materials industry and disseminate great ideas. NAMTA members have access to the seven finalist applications. The 2012 awards presentation, including overviews of the seven finalist programs, is available to all.

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