Xyron Enters Product Development and Marketing Partnerships

New partnerships set the stage for unprecedented creative output possibilities

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., October 10, 2005 – Xyron, a division of Esselte Corporation, today announced new strategic product development and marketing partnerships with three of the industry’s foremost designer brands – Karen Foster Design (KFD), Scrapworks, Inc., and S.E.I. The partnerships will result in custom, co-branded content for Xyron’s newest cutting and printing product platforms, and is a reinforcement of the Company’s commitment to providing creativity enhancing tools that make it easier to be creative.

For years Xyron has been the craft and hobby industry’s premier provide of innovative, creativity enhancing tools. Recent product launches have expanded the Company’s core offering to include a collection of tools that bridge the gap between digital and traditional crafting. Karen Foster Design, Scrapworks, Inc. and SEI are premier creative companies; content masters who consistently provide consumers contemporary, fashion-oriented options for papers, fonts, shapes, and embellishment designs. The coming together of these product design, development, and marketing powerhouses is sure to produce an unparalleled array of products and output options for creative consumers worldwide.

“Xyron’s newest product introductions - the Xyron Personal Cutting System™, the Xyron Wishblade Personal Media Cutter, and the brand new Xyron Design Runner™ – have taken innovation in paper craft and scrapbooking tools to an exciting new level,” stated Xyron president Chuck Ensign. “These first-of-their-kind introductions will drive the evolution of an as-yet undeveloped creative market founded on digital technologies and computer applications. Karen Foster Design, Scrapworks, Inc. and SEI each recognize this trend and through our partnerships will be the first to bring their creativity to this exciting new digital medium.”

“I’ve admired Xyron for years, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with their innovative team,” stated Karen Foster, founder of Karen Foster Design. “To combine the artwork of our talented designers with Xyron’s fabulous tools opens exciting new doors. I love the idea of providing scrapbookers with images and fonts that coordinate with KFD products. I can’t wait to use them myself!”

“This is a very exciting strategic partnership,” commented Shane Walster, vice president, product development for Scrapworks. “Innovative Scrapworks-style fonts and shapes combined with the ingenuity of the latest in Xyron products will produce powerful creative possibilities for crafters everywhere. The strength of this launch is immense and we look forward to experiencing incredible market reception.”

“The collaboration between SEI and Xyron will provide consumers with exciting and innovative products,” stated Curt Nixon, director of operations for SEI. “Truly great products are developed when companies specialize and focus on what they do best. This partnership combines the creative design strength of SEI with the technological and product development strengths of Xyron; a winning combination without a doubt.”

All co-branded content for the Xyron Design Runner™, Xyron Personal Cutting System™ and the Xyron Wishblade Personal Media Cutter will debut at the Winter Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 30 – February 2, 2006.

SOURCE: Link: www.xyron.com