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Craft Business News Briefs - August 2005

Rwandan Genocide Widows Find New Market for Crafts

A leading US department store chain has agreed to sell baskets hand-woven by Rwandan genocide widows in a deal that could generate millions of dollars for survivors of the 1994 massacre, an official said. The women will sell their "peace baskets" and other crafts to Federated Department Stores Inc., which owns the Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores, from September.

"This partnership is an important step to the economic empowerment of women in Rwanda and a step forward in elimination of poverty," said Manasseh Nshuti, Rwanda's trade and commerce minister. A portion of the income generated would be donated to education programmes, HIV/AIDS projects and housing for genocide widows and female survivors.

Rwandan officials hope the new deal will triple demand for the handicrafts, which would push local women weavers to form cooperatives and boost trade between the tiny central African country and the US. Coffee exports form the main pillar of Rwanda's economy, which is struggling to recover from the 1994 massacre in which extremists from the Hutu majority slaughtered some 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 100 days.
Counterfeit Goods Next Legislative Priority for IHA

NEW YORK (August 2) -- The International Housewares Association is turning to the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act as the top legislative priority for its Government Affairs agenda and the housewares industry.

H.R. 32, the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year and passed by a voice vote in May. The bill mandates both the destruction of the counterfeit goods and the forfeiture of any assets traceable to illegal counterfeiting activities. The legislation would also permit the destruction of any equipment used to make the counterfeit products, along with the counterfeit labels, patches and medallions that are unattached to any of the goods. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it awaits further action. IHA is joining the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, which is being organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. "Over the coming months, IHA will be lobbying Congress to strengthen the bill to better address the number-one priority of home products manufacturers - stopping the flood of counterfeit goods before they enter the U.S. marketplace," said Phil Brandl, IHA president, in a statement.
Gallery, Education Center Head Resigning

PHILADELPHIA - Janet McCall, the executive director of the Society for Contemporary Craft for a decade, is resigning at the end of the year to pursue other interests. McCall, who will celebrate her 10th anniversary with the gallery/retail/education center on Nov. 1, said her resignation is effective Jan. 1. She called the decision "incredibly difficult ... but I feel that the time is right to make it. The demands and pressures of this position, mainly the fundraising and financial responsibilities, have been enormous, and I am ready to transfer them to a new director with fresh energy and ideas."

McCall said she planned to stay involved in the arts community.No successor was named, and Society for Contemporary Craft board president Judy Cheteyan will lead a search committee. McCall in 2001 directed a $1.5 million capital campaign that resulted in the SC's expansion from 7,000 to 16,000 square feet, and the facility now houses exhibition galleries, a mini art installation space related to food, and an art-handling annex to receive, prepare, and ship traveling shows. Cheteyan said she appreciated "the multitude of successes (McCall) has achieved, both for SCC and for her personally. Although Janet will be leaving us as an employee in the not too distant future, she says she won't be far away. I'm confident that we will find many new and exciting ways to engage her in the future that will help SCC continue to grow and prosper." Society for Contemporary Craft 2100 Smallman Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: 412-261-7003 Fax: 412-261-1941
Crafts & Arts Trail Brochure

NEW YORK - The Dutchess County Tourism Promotion Agency has produced a four-page brochure, "Crafts & Arts Trail." Printing was made possible with help from a $1,500 grant from the Northeast Dutchess Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The guide will help readers plan their own tours of 24 arts and crafts facilities dotting the area as well as galleries and museums. The brochure will be distributed at craft fairs, visitor centers, AAA clubs and other tourist destinations.

Craft Marketing Network

PHILADELPHIA - A craft-marketing network that will give a portion of its income to nonprofits will be formally announced Friday 8/05/05 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where about 2,000 craft retailers are expected to gather. The Art as a Catalyst Retailer Network will give members marketing support, sales assistance and other help. Members can nominate nonprofit for grants. Artist Gary Rosenthal is leading the effort. Last year, the Gary Rosenthal Collection Foundation donated more than $70,000 in cash grants and made substantial in-kind contributions to nonprofits. "The Art as a Catalyst Retailer Network is part of a larger social venture program designed to use business as the basis for good works and good works as the basis for improving business," Rosenthal said.
Flip-Flop Trend

There was a flip-flop controversy at the White House last month. A photo of Northwestern University's national championship women's lacrosse team, taken during the athletes' visit to the White House, showed four of the nine women in the front row wearing flip-flop sandals along with dresses and skirts. The choice of footwear prompted a mini-controversy . A front-page story in the Chicago Tribune included the headline "YOU WORE FLIP-FLOPS TO THE WHITE HOUSE?!"

Aspire Media , LLC, a company formed to acquire consumer enthusiast media businesses with the backing of private equity firms Frontenac Company and Catalyst Investors, announced the completion of its first acquisition, the purchase of Interweave Press , Inc., a publisher of magazines and books for crafts enthusiasts.

Interweave Press , founded in 1975 by Linda Ligon, has more than 150 craft book titles in print; six arts and crafts magazines, including Interweave Knits, Beadwork, Handwoven, Spin-off, Piecework, and FiberArts; numerous special interest publications, including Stringing, Beadshow, Interweave Knits Crochet, and KnitScape. The executive team and staff will continue to operate the business.

Ligon will remain with the company as Creative Director, and Marilyn Murphy will continue as President. Natural Home & Garden, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Interweave Press Inc., is not involved in this transaction. Interweave Press Inc.'s partial ownership of Readymade magazine is also not being sold.

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