Art Materials Retailer Q1

For People Who Sell Art Supplies

Q1 2021

Gomez Art Supply At the Heart of the Art in Lincoln, Nebraska Owner Peggy Gomez (right) with her staff: Toan Vuong, Keith Buswell and Amanda Durig

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e r s p e c t i v e

Riders on the Storm

by Kevin Fahy time I’ve been inside a restaurant.

From a business standpoint our company was pretty fortunate in the timing of the pandemic, at least in the short-term. The first quarter of 2020 was very strong for us, so we had a backlog of orders, new projects underway, and money in the bank. The pantry was full.

That changed, of course, as the weeks of shutdown dragged into months of struggling to run a depressed business in a nearly comatose economy. Without public assistance, I don’t know whether we would have survived or not.

In that respect my metaphor does not quite hold up, as we never experienced an endless snowstorm. The worst one that I recall was in March of 1971, and it took about a week to get all the downed trees cut up and cleared out of the way. The pandemic has now gone on for a full year, and it’s not done with us yet.

One thing for sure, the power definitely stayed on.

When everyone was sent home last March, we suddenly had to figure out how to run a business without actually being there. Our forebears would have considered such an idea ludicrous, but then they could not have conceived of the tools we have available.

Most of us hadn’t even given it much thought ourselves. A year ago I had never heard of Zoom conferences. Now Zoom is a noun, a verb, an adjective, or whatever else you need it to be.

For office-based companies like magazine publishers, the pandemic served as a gigantic experiment in management, an experiment that no one could have afforded to conduct if they had any choice in the matter.

If you had asked business executives whether or not their companies could function with the entire staff working from home, they wouldn’t have known. Now they do.

Other types of businesses have faced more existential questions. That restaurant for example, remains open at least according to its website, but it is severely restricted in its legal capacity. I drive by it quite often and it always looks deserted, which makes me wonder what became of the wait staff, the cooks and the bartenders.

We have an eight-screen multiplex movie theater continued on page 5

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If you live in the northern half of the United States, or grew up there, you understand what the phrase “digging out” means. I grew up near Buffalo, New York, in a corner of the world formed by the proximity of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

That made it one of the snowiest parts of the country, and the winter storms of my youth were legendary. Sometimes the drifts swelled up over the doors and windows, and everyone was literally trapped inside their houses until they could dig their way out.

Then we would take pictures of ourselves standing next to the snowbanks.

There were two very important factors that you needed to go your way during a blizzard. One was that you hoped the pantry was stocked up (which any real northlander would always bear in mind in winter) and the other was that the power stayed on.

We had pilot lights in those days, so the furnace and stove might work without electricity, and the back porch served pretty well as a backup refrigerator.

Candles, kerosene lamps and fireplaces were available if needed.

The thing we really couldn’t manage without power was the television. Back then there was no cable or Wi-Fi required, but unlike our transistor radios, TVs didn’t run on batteries. Without electricity, we were faced with several days of dealing with each other.

Over the past year I’ve given a lot of thought to those snowstorms and how it felt to have our lives suspended by an act of nature. There was a certain sense of resignation involved, an acknowledgment that it didn’t matter how important you thought your plans, responsibilities, or activities were. They weren’t going to happen.

When the viral blizzard struck last March, coincidentally around the same dates as some of our greatest winter storms, we were all told to go home and shelter in place until we got the all clear. I can remember sitting in a restaurant in Geneva with my wife on the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day, as a few stragglers finished a last drink at the bar before heading for home.

It was eerily quiet in a normally bustling place, with that ominous air of calm before a storm. It was the last

Q1 2021 • ArtMaterialsRetailer.com

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For People Who Sell Art Supplies

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Perspective

Riders on the Storm by Kevin Fahy

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Blossom Out

Q1 2021

For artists who think Tombow’s new ABT PRO alcohol-based marker and flagship Dual Brush Pen are one in the same, think again.

Artful Behavior 8 Playing With Art & Barbies 12 An Artist Reimagines Our World Using Fractals

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Over the years and through many changes, Ranger has continued manufacturing in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.

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More Than a Paper Moon

Crescent Cardboard acquires Nielsen Bainbridge.

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Paints Made with Passion

Chroma introduces Jo Sonja Matte Flow Acrylic.

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Expanding the Tent

Departments

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An interview with AFCI Executive Director Peter Finn

Business Notes

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NAMTA Expands Education for Members

New & True

Index of Advertisers

During closures and cancellations, the International Art Materials Association found a way for its members to safely connect, network and converse.

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Holding It Together

Pro Tapes are used for everything from crafts and fine art installations to face-shield fabrication during the pandemic.

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The Heart of the Art in Lincoln

Meet Peggy Gomez, owner of Gomez Art Supply

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Sam’s Golden Years

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Still Family Owned and Made in the USA

ArtMaterialsRetailer.com • Q1 2021

After a long career as a paintmaker, inventor and chemist, Sam Golden retired. Then he started a new company.

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“Perspective” from page 3

here in town, which has been closed now for almost a year.

It is part of a small chain of theaters in Upstate New York, and although I don’t know anything about its finances, I can’t imagine that they’re very good.

Then there are the stores. Like my own business, retailers had been operating under a great deal of stress for more than a decade, and a lot of observers didn’t think they could survive a shutdown, particularly one that benefited the very competitors who had already taken so much market share.

Walmart, for example, was allowed to stay open because it sells things considered essential like groceries and hardware, but it also sells many of the other categories, like clothing, that were not. That hardly seemed fair.

In June of 2020, after nearly three months of near total closure, most retailers in New York State were allowed to reopen. It was a celebratory moment, but stores were not quite the same.

First of all, there were strict limits on the number of customers allowed in the store at the same time. Suddenly every little shop was like an exclusive nightclub, with a bouncer at the door keeping a head count and waving in those who were acceptable.

Second, everyone was masked up, which in some cases may also suggest a nightclub, particularly one in New Orleans. It may not be true everywhere, but in the rural area of the country where I live, people simply wear masks in stores. It is not considered a political statement, nor a mere request one can choose to ignore.

I don’t know how everybody came up with it so quickly, but every store in town has a Plexiglas shield at checkout and a lot of them have stickers on the floor showing us where to stand. (If we’ve learned nothing else in the past year, we should all have a pretty good idea how far 6 feet is.)

Somehow, all the local stores that I shop at have managed to stay in business through the whole ordeal, and I believe that may generally be the case through the U.S. Just yesterday I read an article in the Wall Street Journal which claimed that the expected retail extinction of 2020 did not happen. More stores were actually closed in 2019 than in 2020.

So now we dig out. There is still a lot of snow on the ground, but we can get out of the house and make our way around town. Others, everywhere, are doing the same thing, and we will start making new connections and renewing old ones.

We are all a year older, sadder but wiser, yearning to breathe free.

You can e-mail Kevin at kfahy@fwpi.com.

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Blossom Out For artists who think the new ABT PRO alcoholbased marker and Tombow’s flagship Dual Brush Pen are one in the same, think again.

Yes, they look similar: both feature two tips and a slim barrel, but there are several key differences between the two marker lines.

Introduced in late 2020, the ABT PRO Alcohol-Based Marker can be distinguished by its gray barrel and tip options – a flexible nylon brush tip on one end and a firm polyester chisel tip on the other. The flexible brush tip consistently distributes ink as pressure changes, and the chisel tip retains its shape after heavy use. Designed with air-tight caps to prevent the alcohol ink from drying out, the ABT PRO also features inner caps that automatically center to protect the nibs when re-capping.

It comes in 108 colors including a blender pen.

So does the water-based Dual Brush Pen. Their color numbering systems

are similar to help users easily identify which colors are the same in both lines. The difference is the 18 colors that are unique to the ABT PRO line.

“We’re confident that anyone who already uses our Dual Brush Pens is going to love the ABT PRO,” said Cathy Daniel, Tombow’s chief marketing director. “It is especially easy for beginners to use, but it also provides the quality and color range professional artists need.”

Its alcohol-based ink offers intense color saturation and streak-free coverage. It’s great for layers and shading to create fully saturated, rich color blends.

“The ink is vibrant and a little goes a long way,” said Dani Manning, artist and owner of PopFizzPaper.

“The fine point of the brush tip is perfect for tiny details and precise coloring. I love that I can get a beautiful blend using only two or three markers, unlike other brands where you need several tones of the same color to get a good blend.”

“I love using them for portraits, architectural sketches and food illustrations,” said Grace Myhre, artist and owner of Grace Anne Studio. “The brush tip creates really lovely organic strokes and the chisel tip is durable and great for different media.”

Tombow is a leader in the crafts, art, and office products markets. The ABT PRO is the newest addition to its marker assortment, and is ideal for artists and crafters alike.

The company that began in 1913 as a woodcase pencil provider in Japan has since become a worldwide operation. Tombow provides liquid glue and adhesive tape, fine writing pens, correction tape, drawing pencils, colored pencils, erasers, and art markers manufactured in facilities located in Japan and throughout Southeast Asian countries. Throughout its growth, it has upheld a history of unparalleled customer service. For more information, visit tombowusa.com.

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ArtMaterialsRetailer.com • Q1 2021

TAKING ART TO THE NEXT LEVEL Tombow’s new ABT PRO Alcohol-Based Marker features permanent ink, dual tips and a slender barrel for a natural, comfortable grip. Available in open stock, 5-pack blendable sets, and 12-pack palettes.

800-835-3232

TombowUSA.com

Artful Behavior Playing With Art and Barbies

by Tina Manzer

Mardie Rhodes with her mini-me Barbie. Above: original miniature artwork in a Barbie bathroom, below: residents enjoy the dog park

During the pandemic shutdown, artist and journaler Mardie Rhodes started a dollhouse project of sorts in her home in the Pacific Northwest. It combines several of her loves, particularly art, Barbie dolls, and storytelling. What began as a miniature art museum with a café and gift store, galleries, and a staff of Barbie docents, has become an entire community. “Barbieville” features two museums, a dog park, cocktail lounge, sewing studio, hair salon, community kitchen, co-living apartments, and a garage to house an entire fleet of Barbie vehicles.

“I’ve always made ‘stuff,’” Mardi explains on her website, laughingmamastudio.com. “My dad, a journalist, used to joke that he could take me anywhere and I would occupy myself for hours if I had a pencil and paper. My mother and grandmother were artists, so I’ve grown up with creative people around me all my life.

I am grateful that retirement has given me an opportunity to focus on my art practice fulltime and fuel my delight in making and creating. I enjoy exploring the intersection of spirit, art and humor in my work.”

Mardie received her first Barbie when she was nine. Today that original doll is the doyenne of Barbieville; retired and living in a Barbie dream house, alone since the death of her Ken. Each of the village’s 60 or so residents, including GI Joes and Creatible World dolls, has been given a backstory full of personality traits and purpose within the community. Lily, a cook in the community kitchen, is famous for her phenomenal pho. Summer is a special Barbie who lives with two caregivers because she believes she is a real princess. Hank is a GI Joe who has PTSD, and feels most comfortable outside, cooking on the grill. Red, another GI Joe, is a pianist.

“I do mixed media art mostly which enables me to use a variety of art products,” she explains. “Actually, the art practice has

continued on page 12

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helped inform Barbieville in terms of construction and decoration.

I use hand-printed or painted papers for wallpaper in several of the houses. I also spray paint and texture the furniture and appliances.

Still Family Owned and Made in the USA

Over the years and through many changes, Ranger has kept the manufacture of its inks, embossing powders, paints, mediums, dimensional glitters, glues and stamp cleaners in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. It takes pride in getting product to customers quickly and meeting the demands of a rapidly changing industry landscape.

Ranger’s mission is simple: provide a creative and successful experience for artists and crafters by developing new products and offering comprehensive educational support. The company is famous for its hands-on education, both on-the-road and virtually, that inspires consumers and storeowners with creative ideas, projects and techniques.

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Ranger Industries was founded in 1929 as a manufacturer of commercial ink products for the banking industry. In 1975, Vincent A. DiLascia bought Ranger, and with his wife Anne Generas, expanded the family-owned company with new ink colors. They opened the door to a new market – arts & crafts.

Ranger developed the first art stamp pads in 1979 and began marketing its own product lines; first inks and then mediums. Vince’s sons-in-law Justin Russo and Alain Avrillon joined Ranger in 2001 and lead the company today.

With a continuous focus on innovation, Ranger produces art supplies used by creative people worldwide, from mixed media artists to home-decor crafters, and from jewelry designers to card makers.

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More Than a Paper Moon Crescent Cardboard Company rebrands as Crescent Brands.

Crescent Cardboard Company recently acquired the U.S. businesses of Nielsen Bainbridge. Crescent is the recognized worldwide leader of manufacturing and marketing high-quality paper and board products for artists and custom framers. The Nielsen Bainbridge Group is a leading provider of high-quality products for framing professionals and conservators, including matboards, foamboards, aluminum frames and picture frame moulding.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Crescent Brands to strengthen and expand the products of both Crescent and Nielsen Bainbridge,” says Crescent President Matt Ozmun. “Both companies have always maintained the same core principles of manufacturing the highest quality products in our industry. That will always continue.”

As a result of the acquisition, the following products will be added to Crescent’s portfolio.

• Nielsen aluminum moulding • Bainbridge artboard, matboard, foamboard and mounting board • Nurre Caxton wood moulding

“There is no need to be afraid that your favorite products will go away,” says Matt Ozmun, “Having all these brands and lines together under one house will give us the opportunity to expand offerings. We want to bring more to the table, not less.”

To that end, Crescent Cardboard Company will rebrand as Crescent Brands. It will operate as a portfolio company and utilize its resources to manufacture, supply, promote and support the Bainbridge, Nielsen, and Nurre Caxton brands and more, in addition to Crescent’s brands.

“We are making this change out of respect for the brands, which we intend to operate independently to keep continuity in the products many in the industry have come to know and love,” Matt adds.

According to Tom Fuller, Crescent’s VP of sales and marketing, the company plans to maintain as much consistency as possible in the production and distribution of Nielsen Bainbridge products. “We have every intention of keeping the distribution channel consistent,” he says.

“We’ve been in conversations with all the distributers and they’re all very excited for what the future holds. So, at this point we don’t expect any changes. If anything, we’ll look at enhancing it.”

The Ozmun family founded Crescent in 1902. Today the company is entering the fifth generation of ownership led by Scott and Matt Ozmun. With headquarters in Wheeling, Illinois, Crescent conducts business around the world and operates in more than 20 countries. Its focus is on color, innovation and design.

Nielsen Bainbridge began in Brooklyn in 1867. In 1890, the company applied for the world’s first official patent on matboard. Today, it combines advanced scientific research with the latest styles and trends to deliver groundbreaking products used by custom framers and museums worldwide.

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“Artful Behaviour” from page 8

A homeless Ken named Beau lives in a tent made from ice-dyed fabric. Best of all, when I need a tiny painting for a specific spot, I just paint what I need.”

With a degree in communication and marketing, Mardie chose a career in healthcare marketing. When she retired, she became a volunteer docent at the Bellevue Art Museum, “but I have always made some kind of art.”

She calls herself a perpetual student of the arts. “I have taken art classes for decades, depending on what interests me. I buy GOLDEN Acrylic products and I’m a real fan of Daniel Smith watercolors, especially the PrimaTek line for my other artistic adventures. I’m also a fan of independent art supply stores and the folks who run them.”

Mardie is currently working on a series of interviews with the Barbieville residents. She takes notes and sketches each character using Copic markers. “I do it with the idea that somewhere down the road there may be a graphic novel … who knows?”

She makes it clear she’s not a Barbie collector, but a player. “As a retiree, I started reading about staying active and healthy. And one of the things that hasn’t been documented much is the importance of a sense of play. You know, we’re told how to eat, how to exercise, how to see the doctor, but not how to have joy and delight in one’s life.”

I think she’s found a way.

Artist Reimagines Our World Using Fractals

The exhibit “Geometric Properties,” by Julius Horsthuis, an awardwinning visual and fractal artist based in Amsterdam, will open March

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Available for consult Hands-on Solutions Art aMaterials World for Colorful World NAMTA CREATIVATION+

1 at ARTECHOUSE, the nation’s first digital art destination.

The immersive audio-visual installation is the latest in the ARTECHOUSE series of collaborations with leading artists who work at the intersection of art, science and technology.

“A mind-bending journey through the infinite geometric patterns

of fractal worlds, ‘Geometric Properties’ takes us on an exploration from our recent past to an ideal future – one that returns to nature and math as a source for inspiration,” explains Sandro Kereselidze, founder and chief creative officer of ARTECHHOUSE.

Described as “the most technologically advanced art platform in the world,” ARTECHHOUSE occupies the formerly unused boiler room underneath the main concourse of Chelsea Market. The space utilizes Barco-powered, 16K resolution, 150 megapixel, laser projection technology and L’ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology with 32 separate channels. It enables artists to create and deliver new multidimensional sound experiences for live and recorded productions.

ARTECHOUSE also operates locations in Washington, DC, and

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Our mission continues with new Jo Sonja Pouring Medium and Fine Mist Water Sprayer for exploring paint-pouring techniques. The Pouring Medium combined with Jo Sonja Matte Flow Acrylic is great for ribbons and swirls of color. The dynamic mixture dries clear, glossy and flexible.

Start with 9 parts Pouring Medium with 1 part Jo Sonja Matte Flow Acrylic, and then adjust for desired consistency. The Jo Sonja Fine Mist Water Sprayer keeps the palette and painting wet and workable.

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Chroma was founded in 1965 by artist and educator Jim Cobb.

The company’s focus is, and always has been, on the development of innovative and quality products.

“I am an artist myself,” Jim explains. “When I’m developing a new paint, I always look to add something extra – a quality that is missing or a fix for an inherent problem, such as acrylics drying too quickly, or a children’s paint needing color richness.”

As a high-school teacher, Jim was frustrated at not being able to source artists’ paint with the qualities he wanted for his

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Expanding the Tent As AFCI and NAMTA prepare to present their first collocated trade show, we spoke to AFCI Executive Director Peter Finn about his expectations for the show and the future of the industries.

AMR: A collocated tradeshow of these two creative products

What kind of feedback are you getting about the collocation? Do you expect there will

associations was a long time coming. Why did it seem to

be a lot of interest in the other industry’s products?

make sense this year?

Great feedback thus far and, yes, I think part of the advantage in the collocation is that buyers are exposed to a greater catalog of products and connections. Our goal was to present our members with a greater variety of products, and in partnership with Namta, expand the tent.

Peter Finn: I think this happened in part because NAMTA’s Executive Director Leah Siffringer and I had an initial meeting in 2019 about future opportunities. It was clear from the beginning that we both saw a lot

What kind of feedback are you getting on

of upside for our members and the broader community to pull together a collocated conference

the virtual nature of the show? What kinds of bells and whistles will they experience?

and show. Due to the restrictions around in-person meetings in 2020 and 2021, the opportunity presented itself for us

Will there be a place for this virtual experience post-pandemic?

to collocate virtually – essentially accelerating our plan to collocate Creativation and Art Materials World.

Great questions. This is a total paradigm shift for our members and attendees. Typically,

How many AFCI-member exhibitors do you expect

the Creativation conference and tradeshow is very much a touch and feel type experience, so to

to have? How about buyers? How will you measure attendance?

Our goal for the virtual conference and show, Creativation+ featuring Art Materials World, is to have more than 100 exhibitors and more than 750 attendees – many of them buyers.

go virtual makes it hard to replicate that kind of tangible quality. That said, we have encouraged exhibitors to distribute products to attendees ahead of Creativation +.

The bells and whistles of the virtual meeting platform that we think will appeal most are the AIpowered matchmaking, interactive booth capabilities with video and chat, 30 hours of education, and 50 hours of on-demand content following the virtual event. We are hosting the event on a virtual platform that is pretty dynamic and is being used by a number of larger-

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ArtMaterialsRetailer.com • Q1 2021

scale events, including SXSW.

I do think virtual is here to stay, but never as a replacement for in-person meetings. I think we will see more hybrid or blended meetings in the future – where a year-round virtual program will complement the in-person experiences.

Does this event reflect a changing product mix on craft store shelves? On art-materials store shelves? A further blurring of the line between traditional art and craft?

I do see that there is more and more crossover for the end consumer or prosumer, so the retailer needs to make sure that this is reflected on the brick and mortar shelves and/or e-commerce “shelves.”

Has the consumer of craft products changed in the past five years? If so, how?

I believe today’s consumers are very savvy and discerning. They can drive a lot of innovation in new products and have become in some ways a marketing asset for so many suppliers and manufacturers. Many crafters use a variety of social media channels and platforms like Etsy to showcase their creativity and connect with others with the same passion. In many ways, the creative community has never been stronger.

Do you think the number of creative consumers has grown during the pandemic? What does that mean for AFCI in the future?

With many people wary of travel, and at home more than ever, the demand for craft and artistic supplies has grown exponentially. We know that this has created supply chain challenges for some manufacturers due to the sheer demand.

Speaking anecdotally, I see this with my wife who has returned to painting (after many years). I’m continually impressed with what she’s painted over the last year.

Certainly a silver lining to what we’ve experienced for almost a year.

As for the future of the association, I believe that as the creative industries evolve, so must AFCI. The traditional tradeshow format may not have the same value proposition it once had, and the future of Creativation will likely be more of a mix of traditional elements – like order writing – along with a dynamic space for the full ecosystem (e.g., suppliers, retailers, educators, makers, and influencers) of the creative industries to connect, learn, be creative, and celebrate.

The virtual tradeshow begins Monday, March 15 and ends Friday afternoon, March 19. It kicks off at 10 a.m. CST with the keynote, “Agile Organizations Thrive During Turbulent Times,” presented by HR strategist Joe Rotella.

The exhibit hall “opens” Monday at noon – there were 75 exhibitors as of February 5. To register, visit namta.org or creativeindustries.org. In 2022, the two associations will combine for an in-person show from Sunday, April 10 through Tuesday, April 12 in Orlando.

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Demos, happy hours and educational seminars used to be limited to Art Materials World show week. Now, through your Namta membership, you can participate in Namta Connect, a program that broadcasts, on average, two virtual sessions each week. “In 2020, when our members were confronted with closures and cancellation, Namta found a way to safely create connection, networking and

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ArtMaterialsRetailer.com • Q1 2021

The Café

The Gallery

conversations to support and promote the art materials industry,” explains Leah Siffringer, Namta executive director.

Namta Connect sessions are divided into three categories: The Theater, The Café, and The Gallery and they are hosted on the Zoom platform.

The Theater features virtual education and product demonstrations.

The expansive selection of relevant and timely topics ranges from brand building to content planning, and from online selling to social media strategies, and more. Frequently the sessions feature speakers who are industry experts, including David Pyle and Kizer & Bender.

The Café is a more casual opportunity for members to exchange ideas or provide feedback and opinions through roundtables or happy hours.

Namta members look forward to our once-a-month happy hours, with their themed cocktail kits, trivia, guest speakers and more fun. Through the roundtables of the Café, we deliver vital information to and from our members on upcoming membership related items, such as the Art Materials World virtual show in partnership with AFCI Creativation+. Opening up this flow of communication between the association and the members has been absolutely vital in such an unprecedented year.

The Gallery is the only non-virtual platform in Namta Connect, our members-only forum. It’s an excellent resource that’s particularly perfect for people who have Zoom fatigue.

The Theater Using The Gallery, members can ask questions and share ideas – ultimately collaborating and generating specific threads of information. We look forward to seeing this platform grow to become a vital source of information in the months to come. ___________________________________

After its launch in May, Namta Connect has received rave reviews.

The new platform has given suppliers and manufacturers an opportunity to get their products demoed and described in front of an audience, and it has presented retailers with an opportunity to explore new product. All members agree that it’s a valuable forum for live and interactive questions and answers and educational seminars.

Best of all, say members, all of the sessions are recorded and sent to anyone who registered for the event.

The recordings are also archived, available at namta.org/zoom-scheduleand-more, so that members can access them any time. That particular feature is especially popular among retailers unable to leave their selling floor to tune in live. They have the ability to watch the videos later in the evening or over the weekend, and then use them as training videos for their staff to better understand the products they sell.

All sessions are facilitated by Namta’s director of meetings, Rick Munisteri. For information on participating in a Namta Connect session – as spectator or a presenter – contact Rick at rmunisteri@namta.org.

To become a NAMTA member so that you can take advantage of the benefits of Namta Connect, visit namta.org or contact kbrown@namta.org.

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Namta Expands Education for Members

Discover Pro Gaff®

Holding It Together

Write on it. Tear it. Cut it. Layer it.

Pro Gaff® tape is as versatile as you are.

by Steve Espinal, Graphic Arts Market Manager, Pro Tapes

For more than 40 years, Pro Tapes has supplied adhesive tapes to the fine arts community.

Artists have grown to love and trust our products and, over the years, our tapes have been used for everything from crafts to fine art installations.

Since the pandemic, they’ve also served a medical purpose.

Last March, we quickly worked to provide tapes for face shield fabrication, medical tapes, and medical-bag sealing tapes essential for testing. By marketing them both locally and globally, we were able to restock tape supplies at many hospitals and medical facilities.

Our clean-removing adhesive tapes were used to mark intervals for social distancing. Many of those marks are still on the floors of pharmacies, grocery stores, warehouses, manufacturing plants, and art-supply stores.

We also established the Small Business Advisory Network to help small businesses get up and running after the shutdown. It provides access to the best ideas from our customers, suppliers and longtime business associates on topics that include operational safety, cash management and finance strategies, sales and marketing strategies, and material and services sourcing.

Pro Tapes continues to “hold it together” for the fine arts community and other markets. Please let us know how we can help you – visit protapes.com for more information.

Pro Gaff® is excellent for both indoor and outdoor installations.

It applies easily to many surfaces and removes cleanly. Pro Gaff® comes in 20 colors, is pH neutral, and is made in the USA. With over 40 years of experience in the adhesive industry, our products can be relied on for quality and performance.

To find a distributor near you or to become a distributor, please email Steve Espinal, Graphic Arts Market Manager, at: sespinal@protapes.com 732-743-4183 www.protapes.com

Artist Sasan Nasernia uses Pro Gaff® tape to add dimension to his artwork. www.nasernia.com @nasernia.art

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The Heart of the Art in Lincoln

by Tina Manzer

Meet Peggy Gomez, owner of Gomez Art Supply in Lincoln, Nebraska.

It’s a store full of printmakers at Gomez Art Supply. Peggy (pictured here) and her staff screen the paper bags used for customer purchases. They frame and feature their art for sale in the in-store gift shop called The Glove Box.

She has a BFA from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and an MFA from the University of Minnesota – Minneapolis.

Before she opened her store in 2003, Peggy spent about 10 years teaching drawing and then printmaking at UNL. “I was there every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and I would hear the students’ disgruntled conversations about the stores where they bought their art supplies,” she explains. “I think they felt not appreciated. Supplies are expensive, so I get it.”

When Peggy was an undergrad, she shopped at momand-pop art stores – Lincoln had a few then. She loved their personalized service and product knowledge, and wanted today’s students to enjoy the same experience. “At Gomez Art Supply, we make sure they get the right things on their student supply lists,” Peggy says, “and if we don’t have a kit put together for someone taking a class at the university, we make sure they don’t overbuy.”

Gomez Art Supply occupies two storefronts – about 1,400 square feet – on the ground floor of the Parrish Building downtown. “The basement has retail on one side, back stock on the other and then we have two lofts,” Peggy says. “One of them is my office and the other is a gift shop we call The Glove Box Collective. It’s stuff made by people who work here. We’re all printmakers and we do a lot of printing in-house. We screen our canvas bags, aprons, and the paper bags that hold customer purchases.”

In response to my question, “How’s business?” Peggy told me that her numbers for 2020 were the same as they were in 2019. “I’m

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happy with that. Normally I’d expect some growth, but given the year we had, I’d call it a success. My holiday season has never been anything to write home about, but in 2020 it was the best I ever had.”

In a recent interview, we talked about her store in the pandemic (she never shut down), how she gets the word out, and doing business in a college town.

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They’re so important! The university is only a few blocks away. But last semester was not typical so I was surprised at the way our numbers turned out.

For instance, the university’s beginning painting class might normally have 22 students, but in 2020, that was too many for the size of the classroom.

Instead of all of them going to class twice a week like they usually do, the instructor taught one group on Monday and the other on Wednesday. It meant that the students did half the amount of work that they normally would, so they didn’t have to replenish their supplies!

What made business even more difficult was the architectural students

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– they built no models at all! They were doing everything virtually, which, of course, made sense.

Thankfully, we’re three weeks into this new semester and they are building models. I think the art department is still doing half and half with the classes, but we’re very happy to see the architecture students coming in!

continued on page 27

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Who are your non-student customers?

They’re all kinds of people, and all ages.

Some come in with their 10-year-olds looking for activities to do together.

Faber-Castell and some other companies make really

Q1 2021 • ArtMaterialsRetailer.com

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Step by Step with Search Press

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Everyone’s Talking about Southampton’s Storefronts

On March 1, empty shops in Southampton that do not display art in their windows may be fined $1,000 to $2,500 based on a new town ordinance.

On February 11, only three storefronts had complied with the law, reports The Real Deal Real Estate News. The Washington Post chimed in with its estimate that 75 storefronts on the two biggest commercial stretches of the Long Island community – Jobs Lane and Main Street – remained empty.

The stores in compliance exhibited “a pair of wavelike assemblages made from coat hangers, price tags, and aluminum can tabs” by Alice Hope, says Artnet; photographs by Kerry Sharkey Miller; and a suite of ceramics resembling baked goods by artist Monica Banks. “Meanwhile, there’s a stack of additional proposals still to sort through as more windows become available.”

“Even without a pandemic, off-season months on the East End can sometimes feel like a dry-run for the zombie apocalypse,” explains The Southampton Press. “But in the winter, perhaps most telling are those shop windows covered with brown paper by tenants who only operate their stores in the summer, or worse yet, empty cavernous storefronts that host no tenants whatsoever.”

The Storefront Art Project, spearheaded by the Southampton Arts Center was launched as a solution. It’s supported by the village code, which applies to shops that have been empty for more than one month.

The displays come at no cost to the buildings’ owners. The center chooses each artist and handles the installation for free. The artists are paid via honorarium by the art center. The real appeal for the participating artists is the free exposure that hopefully leads to sales.

In a phone conversation with Artnet, Southampton Mayor Jesse Warren said he doesn’t expect landlords will be fined come March. “Our goal is to partner with them, not to fine them. We want them to succeed, so we’ve been pretty lenient with the enforcement.” He is encouraging them to market their artists’ work the way a gallery might, and suggests they can even take a cut of potential sales.

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Retail Forecast Calls for Perseverance and Agility

Three big trends are setting the stage for retail this year, according to Retail Customer Experience. “As they continue to evolve and adapt to new challenges, stores need to consider these trends and develop new strategies that address them in order to stay relevant in one of the most competitive landscapes to date,” writes Ignatius K.C. Lau, vice chairman and CEO at SML Group, a global business and branding solutions provider.

1. The “new” consumer

A dramatic shift toward e-commerce was already taking place before the pandemic, but COVID-19 lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing norms have accelerated changes to where, how and what people buy. “The convenience of click and ship with zero health risks will continue to drive people to shop online, and for those that do leverage a storefront, BOPIS and curbside pickup will remain the preferred method,” said the retail information web portal.

Enticing shoppers back in will be the challenge, especially in the first half of the year as news of the viral variants potentially cast a pall over regular business hours and store capacity levels.

Retail real estate will need to continue to adapt, and stores will need to reevaluate their footprint. They should also continue to build up their e-commerce strategies wherever possible, and improve the technology they’re using, their inventory availability, and their price points to keep customers coming back.

2. Consumer trust and confidence

With so many options at consumers’ fingertips, stores will have to rebuild loyalty by reinforcing these two major influences.

To drive engaging and memorable moments, immersion and personalization will be key. Since in-store shopping remains limited, a store’s website, promotions, social media posts and product mix should work together to help shoppers feel they’ve been identified and cared for. For inspiration, look to the big brands like Coca Cola, Kleenex and Vans. They’ve embraced consumer personalities and given shoppers the ability to customize products.

Younger shoppers increasingly appreciate companies that have values that align with theirs. Stores that sell products made from ethically sourced and sustainable materials, use fair factory production conditions, and practice socially inclusive and responsible efforts address some of the factors that young shoppers look for when deciding to buy.

They’re not as interested in the latest trends, and many prefer shopping for second-hand items including furniture and clothing. It presents an opportunity for art materials stores that carry the supplies shoppers need, like textile color, to make their used items their own.

3. Digitization and technology

Given the popularity of working remotely, the challenges within the supply chain and logistics, and the growing demand for more virtual and touchless experiences, digitization and technology will permeate the entire retail cycle this year and into the future. Imagine eliminating the need in the apparel industry for physical samples by replacing them with high-quality previews created using 3-D and AR.

The global pandemic has changed how retailers of every size approach their operations, but those who remain agile and embrace innovation now will be that much better positioned to meet the demands of consumers in the future.

continued on page 23

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Is it Time to Smile Yet?

Professionals in the event photography and photobooth industry are excited and optimistic in 2021, after a year of uncertainty and ever-changing business challenges.

“2020 could have crushed their spirits, but instead we were

Q1 2021 • ArtMaterialsRetailer.com

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“Autumn” by Julius Horsthuis is a visual journey through sci-fi worlds and 3-D geometric patterns. Photo courtesy Julius Horthuis and ARTECHOUSE

•

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t “Fractal Art” from page 12 Miami Beach. Its creative team uses creativity, technology and innovation to educate and delight visitors, and empower an art community looking for new ways to showcase cutting edge products.

Horsthuis considers his art “a journey of discovery” as he uncovers an immensely unique fractal reality for the viewer using free Mandelbulb 3D (MB3D) Fractal Rendering Software. He compares his artistic process to that of a National Geographic photographer or filmmaker. Like them, he searches in a world that already exists to find just the right angle to present his surroundings in the most impactful way.

“I didn’t create these worlds; I found these worlds,” says Horsthuis. “They are not organic. They’re computergenerated visualizations of complex mathematics.”

Using fractals to create sci-fi-type worlds is something of an outlier in terms of visual art and motion graphics.

Horsthius has loved film and video since he was 12, and after high school, worked on various film sets as a sound recordist, clapper loader and focus puller. Meanwhile, he developed an interest in computer graphics and in 2013, started experimenting with fractal environments to create a unique blend of abstract and cinematic animation.

“Geometric Properties” is the first solo exhibition of his work in New York City. His previous work can be seen in the 2016 Academy-Award-winning film “Manchester by the Sea,” and the 2012 “Koning van Katoren,” a groundbreaking visual-effects-heavy film produced in the Netherlands.

Open to all ages, Geometric Properties is on view March 1 to September 6, 2021.

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t “Business Notes” from page 21 pleased to see many of our customers and other companies within the industry forge ahead,” says Shinichi Yamashita, president of DNP Imagingcomm, the U.S. subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing (DNP), the world’s largest manufacturer of dye-sublimation media for photo printers, thermal transfer ribbons and barcode printers.

“We saw unlikely partnerships forged and communities come together to share, grow and learn,” he added. “As 2021 continues, and it becomes safe for people to gather together again, we expect to see a surge of events as people re-connect with friends and family for wedding ceremonies, birthday parties and other celebrations.”

Before the pandemic cancelled in-person events, photo booths were a booming business. “Within the first year of offering them as part of our service, we were getting more inquiries than we could handle,” wrote Jason Rubio, co-owner of Austin’s Best DJs and Photo Booths in Texas. Last February, in an article in DJ Times, he wrote that the number of photo booths his business booked on weekends was often higher than the number of DJs. “On a busy weekend, we can do up to 10 events in a day.”

Jason’s article, “Are Photo Booths Just a Fad?” used anecdotal evidence plus data from several sources to support the fact that the future was bright for booths. “As tech gets better, and it gets easier and more cost-effective to produce higher resolution photos, you’ll see growth. There are some cutting edge companies out there already doing amazing VR and immersive photo experiences.”

In 2020, DNP Imagingcomm America Corporation continued to introduce new technologies including a lightweight printer, and a wireless connect module. Along the way, they helped members of the photo community by holding a series of free seminars and inspirational lectures in conjunction with photo and video equipment retailer B&H Event Space. Among the topics presented for studio, event, and photo booth photographers were how to print wirelessly from an iPad or iPhone, how prints could increase the bottom-line of their business, and ways to adjust their business during the pandemic.

Joann Cashes In on the “Sewing is Cool” Trend

Joann recently filed a proposed $100 million initial public offering with the SEC. It intends to use the proceeds for “general corporate purposes,” reports Retail Dive. According to Renaissance Capital, the initial filing is a likely “placeholder” for what it estimates could be a $400 million IPO deal.

Currently owned by Leonard Green & Partners, Joann would still be controlled by the private equity firm after its IPO.

Joann’s research in the creative products industry shows a 4-percent increase in DIY activity over the past five years.

During the pandemic, 30 percent of Americans were sewing or repairing clothes, according to Bloomberg and Morning Consult data cited by Joann in its IPO papers. Joann estimates it has about one-third of the sewing market, making it a leader in the category.

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new true The ABT PRO from Tombow is a dual-tipped art marker with brush and chisel tip in one. The flexible brush tip works like a paintbrush; the chisel tip provides broad coverage. It features a slender barrel for a comfortable grip. The permanent, fast-drying alcohol-based ink produces rich, vibrant colors – 108 in all. It’s ideal for artists, designers and crafters. 800-835-3232 ext. 511 tombowusa.com

Marvelous Marianne’s SavvySoap Brush and Hand Cleaner, made from corn oil and soy solvent, is a USDA certified bio-based cleaner invented by a small-business person. It safely removes oil and acrylic paints, ink, and pastels; conditions and restores dried-out brushes; and smells great. It works on all art & craft projects. Artists say it is the best! savvysoap.com

The Mahl Stick V2 from Guerrilla Painter is helpful for adding detail to your paintings. It’s light – only 3 ounces! – and collapsible, with aluminum hardware and twist-lock adjustment. It extends to 21 inches, folds down to 11 inches, and was designed specifically to be carried into the field. 970-493-0217 guerrillapainter.com

The Tim Holtz Air Blower from Ranger is a convenient handheld tool for manipulating alcohol ink movement with air. The rubber squeeze bulb allows you to control the flow of air by adjusting the amount of pressure. Use it to disperse Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks, Pearls, Mixatives, and Blending Solution. rangerink.com

Grafix Dura-Bright Opaque White is a waterproof, USA-made, polypropylene film (synthetic paper) that won’t buckle with the use of various mediums.

It erases cleanly to fix mistakes or add white space to a design. It’s a smooth, durable surface that won’t tear! It’s also recyclable, PH neutral and dries quickly. Available in convenient 9 by12-inch 12-sheet pads. grafixarts.com

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ArtMaterialsRetailer.com • Q1 2021

SoFlat Matte Acrylic Colors from GOLDEN is a paint that helps artists create immersive fields of color without the distraction of texture and glare. The paint has a flowing consistency, offering exceptional coverage and a leveling capability as it dries. No other product offers this unique combination of qualities. goldenSoFlat.com

The Ready to Paint in 30 Minutes series from Search Press is a complete beginner’s guide to painting in eight bestselling books. The paintings are all worked at postcard size – ideal for a 6 by 4-inch watercolor pad.

Tracings are included for more than 20 studies per book, so you can just start painting!

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There are new red colors for 2021! The tools are suitable for use on EVA foams up to 1 inch (13 mm), and also various thermoplastics. Contact Logan for specially priced dealer assortments 800-331-6232, cos-tools.com

The LED Flex Lamp with USB Charging Port by Studio Designs provides 300 lumens of bright daylight. The 21-inch-long soft, flexible neck easily positions light. A durable metal mounting clamp secures it to a tabletop. The USB charging port at the base keeps your devices close and charged. The plug is UL approved. studiodesigns.com, sales@studiodesigns.com

Jacquard Textile Color has been the most trusted name in fabric paint for over 30 years. Use these professional-quality paints on natural and synthetic fabrics including denim, leather and elastic. Soft to the touch and durable enough for shoes, Textile Color never chips, cracks or peels, even with repeated wear and washing!

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Q1 2021 • ArtMaterialsRetailer.com

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MARMALS, the debut product from The Office of Design and Development, mixes creative design, STEAM play, and a canvas to ignite imagination.

Each Marmal comes with a set of washable markers to encourage character discovery and storytelling. marmals.com 1-503-832-7749

Chroma Mural Paint comes in three new and exciting colors – Acid, Brick and Camo – just in time for outdoor painting season!

Lightfast and water/weatherresistant, it has superior coverage, handling and pigment load. Use straight from the container for interior and exterior murals. Best if used with Chroma Fusion Mediums, the paint is AP-approved and non-toxic. chromaonline.com Tan-colored Clayette from Chavant, the finest name in modeling clay, is available in soft, medium and hard firmnesses.

It’s smooth and non-sticky. Dark gray Monu-melt is meltable, smooth and non-sticky. It comes in soft, medium and hard firmnesses. Spray Touché: Meltable Le Beau Touché is gray-green.

It has a medium firmness and is smooth and tacky. chavant.com

Specialty Racks from Saturn Rack/AWT World Trade are spacesaving solutions to help you optimize your working environment.

From storing classroom artwork to drying prints in your studio, these racks are versatile, affordable, and efficient.

They feature all-steel construction, a rustresistant, powder-coated finish, and a variety of shelving options. A wide range of models is available. dryingandstorageracks.com sales@dryingandstorageracks.com

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The Super Metallic Hot Sticks Set is the newest addition to the Enkaustikos family. It includes all five of our specialty super-pearl metallic colors and is ideal for all encaustic techniques, such as mono printmaking.

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“Store Profile” from page 18

Lino & Relief Carving Tool Set Professionals will like the quality and students will appreciate the value of lino Flexcut’s tool set for linoleum and relief carving.

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great kids products that we’ve just recently started to sell. We created a small kids’ section up front by the window. It was a good investment.

Many, mostly women, do dying. It’s a big trend. One customer comes in often to buy soda ash, and Jacquard’s iDye, iDye Poly, and Procion Dyes. She says she buys T-shirts at the thrift store and dyes them. She’s created a whole stockpile. When the weather is nicer, she’ll set up something outside somewhere so that people can go and buy them.

There’s a new customer in the store right now who has been watching Bob Ross and wants to start painting. He called before he came in to inquire whether or not we had the products he needed. He had no idea what to expect. Some people think that because we’re a small local store, our products are more expensive and we don’t have a wide selection. I try to dispel that perception with the ads I run on NPR that say, “Three Floors of Art Supplies!”

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Do you think more people are creating?

I think at the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of people came in to find something to do to keep busy.

Then our local media stepped up their coverage of local businesses with story after story. I think the huge push across the country to “shop local” helped save us. It brought in new customers.

TM

New Dura-Bright Black

Gomez Art Supply sells a lot of paper.

Understandably, Peggy is picky about the way it is handled.

What other ways do you use to get the word out to customers?

I’ve only recently upgraded to a POS system from an old cash register. Once I did, we were able to get more

information so we could reach out to them. We also use Pointy – have you heard of it? It’s an Irish company that was recently purchased by Google. Pointy helps shoppers find the products they need in my store. It’s an interesting company – it connects to my point-of-sale system and automatically adds my in-store inventory to my business profile and to a Pointy Page for my store. continued on page 29

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Archival, versatile films for all your artistic needs.

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Q1 2021 • ArtMaterialsRetailer.com

27

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For People Who Sell Art Supplies Publisher J. Kevin Fahy kfahy@fwpi.com

Advertising Director Tim Braden tbraden@fwpi.com

Production Manager Mark Stash mstash@fwpi.com

Editorial Director Tina Manzer tmanzer@fwpi.com

Ad Sales Representative Amy Colburn amy@fwpi.com

Subscriptions Yesenia Rangel accounts@fwpi.com

Graphic Artist Christopher Cornett Christopher@fwpi.com

Enewsletter & Online Advertising Manager Rick Kauder rkauder@fwpi.com

About Art Materials Retailer AMR has been meeting the unique needs of a creative industry since 1998. It combines the latest information on art supplies with profiles of manufacturers and stores, artist interviews, and business advice from experts, to keep storeowners on top of trends and emerging markets.

Its targeted readership and high-quality presentation make it an effective marketing tool for manufacturers of materials and tools for artists.

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ArtMaterialsRetailer.com • Q1 2021

Around the Table a publication of the Game Manufacturers Association Copyright © 2021

About Fahy-Williams Founded in 1984, Fahy-Williams Publishing specializes in magazines, directories, e-newsletters and other promotional material for a wide variety of niche markets.

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edplay dedicated to the specialty toy industry Educational Dealer for retailers who sell to teachers, parents and schools

“Store Profile” from page 27

I’m not set up to sell online yet. That, for me, would be a big jump. I’m in a quandary about what to do about e-commerce, but at least when customers search for my store on Google they can see what products I offer.

What changes did you make to accommodate customers during the pandemic?

We spent a lot of time on the phone. When it rang we would all kind of look at each other and think, “Who’s going to take this call?” We were grateful for the business, but it was hard, to be honest, to be someone’s personal shopper. If they knew exactly what they wanted – “I need a Gamblin Professional Burnt Umber in a 37 ml” – it was easy. But if they didn’t know, it took us 20 or 30 minutes on the phone, walking them through the store. We’d take their payment over the phone, too, and get it all ready for them to pick up. They’d pull up in the alley next to us and give us a call. We’d run the order out to them.

Frankly, for the customers who know what they want, it’s easier for them to just order it from Amazon.

We understand that, and are so grateful they come to us.

We also did Free Delivery Fridays to destinations in town. That required me to leave here in the early afternoon and return three or four hours later after I made all the deliveries. Driving is not my favorite activity, but it was one more thing that we needed to do.

We started free bicycle delivery within a 5-mile radius of downtown, but then my delivery guy retired.

I’ve been thinking of doing Free Delivery Friday again. It might be easier if I made the delivery area smaller. And I couldn’t do it until spring. The weather in the last few weeks has made it really hard to get around.

We had to have a snow day during back-to-school week!

That week is always stressful, but predictably so. The snow made it more of a wild card.

Will those services continue post-pandemic?

Some of it will, if that’s what our customers want.

We’re more than happy to do whatever they want. But people like to come into an art store. They like to look around, touch the brushes, or pick up a piece of paper.

Selling paper over the phone is impossible!

What’s your product mix like?

We sell a lot of paper. It takes up a lot of room in the store. Everyone who works here is a printmaker, so we’re really knowledgeable about paper. We have a lot of support from the university.

We sell a lot of individual brushes. I’m a huge Dee Silver fan, and we carry a lot from Silver Brush. We have other brands, too.

We sell a lot of acrylic – I carry four different brands.

After that it’s oil, then gouache, and then watercolor.

We do a great kit business for students. This will be

Brushes are big sellers, especially the Silver Brush Limited brand.

our third year selling Beginning Architecture kits, which are about $400. Blick did the kits for years, even after it closed its Lincoln store in 2008. They would build the kits in their Omaha store, drive them down to the university and sell them in the classroom. If there was a problem, like a student’s T-square was not square, it wasn’t easy for him or her to exchange it for a new one.

Someone who really had my back in the architecture department said, “You know, we should be dealing locally for this.” For the university it’s not that big of a deal, but for me it is huge.

Where do you get ideas for new products to bring in?

A lot comes from Instagram, and then just listening to customers. My staff does a good job of telling me what products customers mention.

I go to the SLS conference, but not every year. I’ll do Art Materials World this year – it’s virtual so why not? I don’t typically go to the in-person event because it’s held at a difficult time of year for me. We’re always really busy in March and April because the semester is still going on.

What do you like best about running an art store?

I like how big a part of the community we are.

It’s something I wouldn’t have predicted, when I first opened. Two or three years ago, we won a Mayor’s Art Award called Heart of the Art. It recognized the contributions the store makes to the local art community.

And for some reason, I really love to order. When I was a print tech at the university, I ordered all the supplies for the shop and I was like, man – I really enjoy this. I love researching the products.

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Sam’s GOLDEN years After a long career as a paintmaker, inventor and chemist, Sam Golden retired, but soon grew restless.

He began making paint “for a few friends” in a converted cow barn on property he owned with his wife Adele in Columbus, New York. At the age of 67, with the help of Adele, their son Mark and their daughter-in-law Barbara, he created Golden Artist Colors. The new company was to embody Sam’s lifelong dedication to serving the professional artist.

His paintmaking career began in 1936, working for Bocour Artist Colors, a company he eventually owned with his uncle, Leonard Bocour. Sam and Leonard produced hand-ground oil colors for artists in Manhattan. It was a very exciting time as New York gained a reputation as the world’s art center. Artists like Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Mark Rothko, and Morris Louis were regular visitors at the Bocour shop on 15th Street. It became a hangout of sorts for artists. At times, customers would set up their pads or easels and draw or paint in the shop.

Sam was one of the first people to see the potential of new acrylic materials for artist use. His acrylic paint was created out of a dialogue with artists who needed new materials to meet their faster and freer painting styles. The products that Sam developed as a result became the inspiration for his entire career.

It was this central motif that he carried forward in the creation of Golden Artist Colors. It has resulted in an ever-expanding assortment of acrylic colors, grounds, mediums and additives that provide artists with

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limitless opportunities for creative expression.

We’re excited to introduce the latest addition to our offering with SoFlat Matte Acrylics. We spoke with artists seeking to create large, graphic, matte works of art who wanted a paint with excellent coverage, high opacity, and a flat appearance – no distracting glare or brushstrokes. SoFlat is formulated to make it easier to achieve this vision, allowing artists to create uniform fields of rich matte color in fewer layers than our other color lines. Visit goldenSoFlat.com for more information.

GOLDEN Acrylics are known for quality and archival integrity, and as the most innovative and extensive system available. The company also produces Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colors, known for its quality and extensive palette including genuine Italian and French earth colors. QoR®, a thoroughly modern watercolor, is made with an exclusive Aquazol® binder.

This patented formulation accentuates the luminosity and brilliance of pigments even after drying. QoR provides range and versatility unmatched in the history of watercolors. Furthermore, the Custom Lab at GOLDEN serves artists and organizations by formulating materials to fit their specific needs and purposes.

For information about Golden Artist Colors and its comprehensive product offering, call 1-800-959-6543 or visit goldenpaints.com, williamsburgoils.com or qorcolors.com.

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SoFlat

MATTE ACRYLIC COLORS EXTRA 15% OFF SET-UPS ORDERED BEFORE APRIL17!

Brushing out smooth, saturated color that dries to an even, glare-free surface requires paint that is more than just matte. It needs better coverage and more leveling properties – a combination of qualities that makes SoFlat unique.

■ Distinct palette of 40 colors in 2, 4 and 16 oz. jars ■ Two - six by 2 oz. color sets available ■ Smooth, flowing consistency ■ Most colors are opaque in one or two coats ■ 100% acrylic and compatible with other GOLDEN paints and mediums GOLDEN SoFlat has the quality and consistency professionals demand. SoFlat was formulated to make it easier for artists to create uniform fields of rich matte color in fewer layers than our other color lines. Artwork created with SoFlat is easy to photograph and looks fantastic online.

Set-Up: ITEM

DESCRIPTION

M020000P SoFlat 54 Facing Setup: 40 colors x 3 deep in 2 oz. Jars, 2 Sets x 2 Deep, 10 colors x 3 deep in 4 oz. Jars

LIST

$2,607.80

Available now!

Terms: Standard Freight. No Minimum Order. Extra 15% discount on setup and open stock orders through April 17, 2021. Contact your GOLDEN Sales Representative for complete details.

Golden Artist Colors, Inc. 188 Bell Road New Berlin, NY 13411-3616 USA 607-847-6154

© 2021 Golden Artist Colors, Inc.

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Brushes that leave an impression.

Zen is a diverse brush collection that will equip your customers with the right brush for the medium of their choice. Whether it be oil, acrylic, watercolor, or mixed media, this collection of durable, easy to clean brushes is sure to impress.

For more information, please contact your local Royal & Langnickel sales representative, your favorite distributor or contact us at: Email customerservice@royalbrush.com 800.247.2211

Now Available in an Endcap Footprint

royalbrush.com