Farida Zaman

Image Connection is proud to introduce Farida Zaman to it roster of talented Artists and Designers. Farida resides in Toronto with her family. She has a wonderful hand and great command of color and design. Ms. Zaman is an established Artist in the Industry with several partnerships with top drawer manufacturers.

SURTEX

Where are we going?  A big question asked by almost everyone this year. SURTEX grew in booth numbers.  Many new Agencies have popped up, and several individual Artists/Designers bit the bullet and rented space. At a dinner of peers and good friends the last night of the show, the consensus was B  to B- for the show quality.  Not bad, but definitely not great.

The Stationery Show is about 45% of what the size was when I first attended so many years ago. As with many trade shows, they keep shrinking in size and numbers. Less attendees as several top manufacturers only sent one  or did not send anyone to the Show. This appears to be a reflection of the overall economy. The cost to exhibit is exhorbanent and prohibitive for the potential return  and long term business it is suppose to generate. As with many companies we see in Atlanta and other Gift shows, many companies are expanding their product lines and encroaching into arenas never tested on their part.  They are morphing into the proverbial chatsky shop we have all experienced at every travel destination around the world. Or, as one famous Artist put it, producing crap for the highway truck stop.

Don't blame anyone for any of this. It is a morphing of the US retail business model, of which we are a part of the supply chain. As with the other parts of the chain, we are experiencing fast and furious change and need to analyze, decide and move to meet the demands and changes or we will be left behind. Technology, social media, computer graphics, bubbles, recession, double dips, wall street, on and on and on.  And we do it with less and less and less.

I, like many, love this industry. It's unique although people outside looking in, think we're crazy the way we do business. But the people, for the most part are great, honorable and in many cases, extended family.  Who doesn't want to work under those conditions? So we continue to work through the issues at hand and jump over the hurdles that pop up to throw us off course.

It's part of the cycle. It always changes.  Better times are ahead for sure. It's only a matter of when and how long one can stand the heat..

The best to All!
Alan

Susan Rooney and Pictura

Pictura is rolling out over 70 new cards from Artist and Designer Susan Rooney. Ms. Rooney, in addition to the artwork, provided the paper engineered designs as well. Currently with four programs, Pictura will be offering additional collections.

Kathleen's Florals

Kathleen Parr McKenna has created a new collection of floral images in time for the upcoming SURTEX show. The Garden Flowers will be previewed next month at the New York show.

Julie Ueland's new rooster friend

Julie Ueland has introduced a new rooster design and will be creating a new collection from the image.
She has licensed it to Fancy That Gifts, a prominent gift company for independent and mass retail. They will be producing various products using the first image.

For information on licensing this image and future images from the collection, please contact Alan Korsgaden at 209.951.4088  or click at akorsgaden@yahoo.com.

Diane Knott and Clothworks

Clothworks will introduce a new program from Image Connection Artist, Diane Knott.
The collection, titled "Sew & Sew" is currently in development. Ms. Knott is a featured designer for the company and has had much success over the past several years with Clothworks retail partners.

For information on licensing designs from Ms. Knott's "Sew & Sew" collection for your products, please contact Alan Korsgaden at 209.951.4088, or akorsgaden@yahoo.com

New Collection from Magnetworks

Magnetworks is introducing a new collection from Artist, Kathleen Parr McKenna entitled Fall Leaves.

The collection includes a garden fag, mail box cover, address tile  and entry mat. Ms. McKenna has several other collections available through the Magnetworks Brand of Garden decorations.

MWCBK rolls out Ueland's Snowboy Collection

Midwest-CBK Atlanta 2011 Showroom

Midwest CBK introduced a new collection from Artist/Designer Julie Ueland in Atlanta in January. The seasonal collection totals over 40 sku's for decorating aorund the home and tree.

Dancing around the tree and over the mantle, the Fred and Ginger snowmen are celebratuing the season with reindeer cheer.