Angie Pedersen's Scrapbooking Industry News

GTCR Golder Rauner Completes Acquisition of EK Success

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2006--GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC, one of the nation's leading private equity firms, announced it has completed the acquisition of EK Success Ltd. (EK). Also, as previously announced, GTCR and EK Success have entered into a relationship with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE:MSO) to manufacture, market and sell Martha Stewart Crafts(TM) products.

EK Success is a creative consumer products company with the leading market position in the fast-growing $3.0 billion scrapbooking segment of the $30 billion U.S. craft industry. EK Success markets products such as stickers, multi-dimensional embellishments, tools, albums, punches and writing utensils for use in scrapbooking and related paper crafts, such as card making and invitation creation. The company has a demonstrated history of consistent, successful product innovation, having won over 40 design and reader's choice awards since 2002.

The Martha Stewart Crafts product line will include a wide range of craft products to provide consumers with a one-stop shop for their crafting needs. The first Martha Stewart Crafts products introduced will be paper-based craft and scrapbooking merchandise, which are expected to roll out in the fourth quarter of 2006 or the first quarter of 2007. Martha Stewart Crafts products will be sold in the major craft chains and in numerous independent craft stores throughout the country, as well as on the internet at www.marthastewart.com. The website will feature Martha Stewart Crafts tools, templates, and paper products as well as Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's (MSLO) inventive scrapbooking content and ideas to inspire and guide consumers through the creation of their own projects.

"EK's management team and employees are thrilled with our partnership with GTCR and MSLO," said EK CEO Chris Skinner. "GTCR's financial support and experience will be invaluable as we evaluate acquisition opportunities in the fragmented crafts industry." Skinner added, "Our excitement about our partnership with MSLO has continued to grow. It is a pleasure to pair our marketing, education, product development and retail distribution expertise with a trusted brand like Martha Stewart. With these important partnerships in place, we look forward to capitalizing on the many opportunities in both paper-based crafts and the broader craft industry."

"We are very excited about this unique and compelling investment," said GTCR principal David Donnini. "The partnership between EK and MSLO brings together the premiere platform in the scrapbooking sector with the leading source of creative inspiration and practical information on how to create handmade, homemade crafts. We are also very enthusiastic about partnering with such an exceptional management team, led by CEO Chris Skinner."

"We are thrilled with our investment in EK Success," commented GTCR principal Vince Hemmer. "We believe that EK is the premiere platform in the paper-based crafts industry and the collaboration with MSLO gives EK the opportunity to further expand its leadership position. The combination of EK's and MSLO's expertise and knowledge will further strengthen EK's product offerings and market position."

EK recently announced several key management appointments to position the company for future growth. Tom Kasvin joined the company as CFO and Dan Kochenash was promoted from VP of Operations to COO. Prior to joining EK, Tom Kasvin was the CFO of United Pet Group, a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands (NYSE:SPC).

About EK Success
EK Success is a creative consumer products company with the leading market position in the fast-growing $3.0 billion scrapbooking segment of the U.S. craft industry. EK Success designs and markets some of the craft industry's most respected brands of stickers, multi-dimensional embellishments, punches and writing utensils for use in scrapbooking and related paper crafts, such as card making and invitation creation. These include ZIG(R) Memory System(R), Sticko(R), Paper Shapers(R), Jolee's Boutique(R), HERMA(R) and Cutter Bee(R). The Company has a demonstrated history of consistent, successful product innovation, having won over 40 design and reader's choice awards since 2002. EK Success is headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey and has 228 employees. For more information, visit www.eksuccess.com.

About GTCR Golder Rauner LLC
Founded in 1980, GTCR Golder Rauner LLC is a leading private equity investment firm and long-term strategic partner for outstanding management teams. The Chicago-based firm pioneered the investment strategy of identifying and partnering with exceptional executives to acquire and build companies through a combination of acquisitions and strong internal growth. GTCR currently manages more than $6 billion of equity capital invested in a wide range of companies and industries. More information can be found at www.gtcr.com.

SOURCE: BusinessWire

Industry Veteran Says Prints Still Best Way to Save Digital Photos

Via Sys-con.com:

Industry Veteran Says Prints Still Best Way to Save Digital Photos

Key to Archiving, Accessing, and Sharing Cherished Pictures and Memories

ORLANDO, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/26/2006 --  PMA 2006 International Convention and Trade Show, Feb. 26, 2006 -- As consumers rapidly shift from film cameras to digital, one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is making it as easy to get a print from a digital camera as it is from a film camera.  Today it remains that the primary way people share and enjoy photographs is through prints, albums and scrapbooks.

"With film cameras, consumers are used to shooting a roll, dropping it off at the 24-hour pick-up, and saying, 'I'll take one or two prints.' It was drop-dead simple to make prints that you could instantly share, archive or organize in a scrapbook or album to look at later," says Doug Rowan, CEO of ZoomAlbum, Inc, and known throughout the industry as a pioneer and leading driver of digital imaging and content management through stints as CEO at Corbis (www.corbis.com), Image Solutions Corporation, Impli, Inc., and AXS Optical Technology Resources.

The great thing about digital cameras is you can take many more pictures than with a film camera. Unfortunately, once you get to 500-1,000 digital images, it gets pretty hard to organize, catalog, and create a "digital shoebox" to easily and quickly find the pictures you want.

If you could create a "digital shoe box" you would still face two major problems:

• How do I find the picture I want?

• How can I be sure that the digital shoebox will last over time?

Relying on hard disks or CDs or DVDs as the best storage option for the digital shoebox is risky. Digital, while a superb storage media, also lays a trap: many consumers believe that digital images will last and stay unchanged forever.  This is false. For the safety and protection of their images, consumers should assume that every hard disk will fail; and that almost all CD-ROMS or DVDs will have a life of less than ten years.

Continues Rowan, "If you want a picture to be around for future generations: you should print it on archival paper. Then you can scrapbook it, because with scrapbooking you can tell a story and not just have a collection of photos."

One way to solve this problem is to provide consumers with an easy way to scrapbook their digital images in a printed photo format that:

• Offers a seamless way to sort, choose and arrange images for easy printing on photo paper that fits into an Inkjet printer
• Provides formatted, high-quality glossy photographic prints that can be folded and fit into an album cover with simple adhesive
• Uses a protective hard cover to safeguard photos from the damaging effects of light and the wear and tear of handling.

About ZoomAlbum, Inc.

ZoomAlbums™ (www.zoomalbum.com) are an exciting and patented new way to turn digital images into handmade, professional-looking albums of twelve glossy photos. These high-quality little albums fit right into the palm of your hand. All you need is a PC and Inkjet color printer. ZoomAlbum supplies everything else (software, photo sheets, album covers) to create charming and lasting keepsakes. You can even print your own personalized covers.

ZoomAlbum photo sheets come with easy-to-follow instructions that walk you through a folding routine that produces, with the help of forgiving adhesive backing, a booklet of twelve, durable and high-quality photographs. The software is simple and you can insert text captions, rotate, flip, zoom and crop photos. The hardest part is deciding on the 12 images.

SOURCE: Marketwire.com

MapMuse.com Launches Internet Mapping Services for Scrapbook Stores

MapMuse.com, an interactive mapping website has recently added an "interest page" for scrapbook shops across the US. 

The idea is for scrapbookers to add their local shops and descriptive information directly to the maps themselves.  In this way, MapMuse.com hopes to have the most comprehensive, descriptive, and up to date information for scrapbook enthusiasts. MapMuse.com suggests you check to see if your favorite shops are mapped, enhancing information as appropriate, adding shops that are missing, and deleting those you know have closed.

ProvoCraft Recalls Charms

SPANISH FORK — Provo Craft & Novelty Inc. on Thursday issued a voluntary recall of about 29,000 metal charms because they were found to contain high levels of lead.

The Spanish Fork-based wholesale manufacturer/distributor of scrapbooking and craft supplies worked in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall its Art Accentz Changlz line (Changlz Inspirational set shown left).       

"When we learned last year that a competing product had demonstrated quantities of lead deemed unsafe for children, we quickly and unilaterally decided to institute a voluntary recall of our own Changlz product," said Jim Thornton, CEO of Provo Craft.       

The recalled charms are small, silver-colored decorations for craft projects such as scrapbooking and jewelrymaking. The product was manufactured in China and sold at craft and scrapbook retails outlets from April 2004 through July 2005, and at Pamida Stores from January 2005 through April 2005.

Read the full press release here.

SOURCE: deseretnews.com and ProvoCraft Press Room

Lucidiom Pairs Digital Photo Creativity with Scrapbooking

New Luci Kiosk Program on Display at PMA Show in Orlando

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2006--Lucidiom Inc., creator of the original Automated Photo Machine (APM), will showcase its new Luci scrapbook kiosk program at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Show, February 26th through March 1st in Orlando, Fla. Luci is the first photo kiosk with features tailored just for scrapbookers, such as 12x12 photo printing, unique mats and template layouts.

"Luci is much more than just a photo kiosk. It's an entire program designed to bring the digital photo business and the paper scrapbook business together. Luci offers new custom-designed creativity tools for consumers and new profit opportunities for retailers," said Lucidiom Vice President of Scrapbook & Craft Business Development Kesley Anderson. "With Luci, retailers will garner higher profits, expand their product offerings and reach out to a wider range of customers."

Lucidiom is collaborating with two well-respected companies in the scrapbook market to help retailers coordinate Luci prints with their other merchandise. Luci offers photo mats, Prism Prismatics Borders that coordinate with Prism Prismatic Packs. Plus, designers from DigitalScrapbookPlace.com have created distinctive scrapbook layouts from their online kits exclusively for Luci. Retailers get a new set of templates each month to keep customers coming back for new designs. With these two Luci partnerships, retail customers can make quick and beautiful scrapbook pages right in the store.

Luci is built upon Lucidiom's APM 1100 which debuted last December. The kiosk features a 17-inch touch-screen to make ordering prints fast and easy. Lucidiom's APMs support every digital media type. Consumers also can choose to print standard size photos, enlargements, index prints or burn images to CD.

Plus, with the integration of Lucidiom's Photo IQ suite, consumers get the best photos possible with red-eye elimination, cropping and image enhancement. Consumers also can scan in old photos and scrapbook pages to make duplicate albums.

Luci comes with Lucidiom's award-wining APM software and network support that allow retailers to manage all its APMs online from any location and handle every business need--from analyzing business operations to tracking sales trends to providing customer support.

At the PMA Show, attendees can print their photos for free at Lucidiom's booth #4361, while test-driving Luci and Lucidiom's other digital imaging solutions. During the show, retailers also can learn how to expand their business by playing Lucidiom's Maximize Your Profits Contest. Attendees get their contest cards stamped at three of seven demo areas within Lucidiom's booth to enter the contest and are eligible to win one of many iPod Nanos and a 42" plasma high-definition television.

About Lucidiom
Based in Vienna, Va., Lucidiom Inc. is the worldwide provider of more than 15,000 intelligent, networked digital photo solutions and creator of the original Automated Photo Machine (APM) - a self-service digital photofinishing kiosk. Lucidiom's advanced APM Network(TM) equips retailers with flexible, customizable photo category products and services that allow individual business visions to become profitable consumer realities. Businesses large and small, Fortune 100 companies and independent photofinishers, rely on Lucidiom for APM Network data and millions of prints each month. More information about how Lucidiom is bringing business into focus is available online at www.lucidiom.com.

SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance

Related: Digital Scrapbook Place Partners with Lucidiom

Lasting Impressions Launches New Digital Photo Solution

MemoryMixer Software Makes It Easy for Users to Mix Digital Video, Their Own Music, Personal Narration - Then Prepare Their Albums for High-Quality Printing

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Lasting Impressions, a leading provider of multimedia solutions for digital photography, will be showcasing its new software product, MemoryMixer, at PMA 2006 in Orlando. Helping photo retailers create a Digital Media Showcase for their stores; MemoryMixer is the ideal flagship product because of its simple, easy-to-use design and features.

"With the increasing number of digital photos being taken and stored on personal computers, MemoryMixer is a great way to creatively design and share those important memories," said Linda Malek of LJM Associates, a leading expert on the digital photo market.  "This new digital solution is extremely easy to use and offers a wide variety of tools and output options that take sharing memories to a new level."

Compatible with either PC or Macintosh, MemoryMixer allows users to easily mix video (that will play automatically or manually), embed sound clips, and add narration and music from personal libraries on individual pages or throughout the album.  Users can add links to the Internet, computer graphics, typewritten text, photos and more.  The product also lets users insert digitally scanned memorabilia such as report cards, diplomas, ticket stubs, or a child's drawing.  In addition, users can choose their output option at any point in the process, including a hardbound album with high resolution pages, whereas earlier digital solutions forced the user to choose their output option upfront.  High resolution pages can be printed up to full 8 1/2" x 11" (landscape) or 12" x 12" (square) page sizes.

"MemoryMixer improves upon earlier digital solutions that were either too limited in features or too complicated for the average consumer," said Kerry Hill, CEO of Lasting Impressions.  "The average person can now easily capture their memories in a full-featured multimedia environment where they can be printed, stored digitally, or shared in a DVD and CD format."

The new software solution includes hundreds of professionally designed backgrounds, dozens of photo layouts, embellishments, titling and journaling using system fonts, and shadows and mats for images.  In addition, the product will offer photo effects such as B&W, sepia, flip, mirror, brighten, sketch, emboss, crop, rotate, and the ability to change the opacity of images. MemoryMixer can import pages from other MemoryMixer albums, can be set to auto-run or manual navigation, and can incorporate one album with multiple outputs including on-screen, print, CD-ROM, files prepared for retail photo processing, or DVD.

"Lasting Impressions will support photo retailers by promoting MemoryMixer with strategic marketing activities," said Lane Hill, COO of Lasting Impressions.  "These will include a series of print ads in key publications, commercial campaigns, and other publicity in consumer magazines, radio and broadcast television."

MemoryMixer is immediately available for a suggested retail price of $79.95.  For more information or to see a demo, visit Lasting Impressions at PMA in booth number #3169.

About Lasting Impressions for Paper, Inc.

Originally founded in the garage of Kerry and Lane Hill in 1990, Lasting Impressions for Paper, Inc. has grown from its pioneering roots in hand embossing templates to become a leading paper crafting company delivering a complete line of more than 5,000 card making and scrapbooking products. Headquartered in Woods Cross, Utah, the company has manufacturing operations across the United States and China and a worldwide distribution center in North Salt Lake.  The company's products are distributed throughout the world through a network of retailers or at www.lastingimpressions.com.

SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance.

Faithbooking Inspirations Launches New Scripture Pictures Service

Faithbooking Inspirations has just released the Scripture Picture Service.  By adding scripture or words of love or celebration, a special photo becomes a customized keepsake.

The options are endless. Give these as gifts for newlyweds or newborns.  Celebrate a special day such as graduation or moment such as first steps.  Create a reminder to a loved one that God's love is everlasting.  Create one for the front of a scrapbook album, birth announcement or special gift. 

Once created, the Scripture Picture is digital and, is yours, so, you can print it as many times as you would like!  Faithbooking Inspirations will retain your completed Scripture Picture in our database for 30 days, to ensure you have had adequate time to use the new file.

These customized pictures will retail for $14.95, but are currently available at a special introductory price of $6.95 for a very short time.

Check out the Scripture Picture page for more samples and more information.

My Life Designs custom photo jewelry

Via DigiCam News.

My Life Designs has announced a new product line aimed at mothers and other women with special people in their lives: pewter belt buckles, sterling cell phone charms, new necklace designs, leather wallets, and sterling cufflinks. Corporate logos, children's artwork and ultrasound photos are some of the many other creative images used to create these gifts. Each photo is sealed into waterproof Solid Sterling pieces.

Pieces of the new jewelry line will be on display at PMA.

Circuit City to offer PMA blog & webcasts

Via DigiCam News:

RICHMOND, Va., Feb 22, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Circuit City Stores, Inc. will offer consumers a first hand look at some of the digital imaging products and emerging technologies showcased at this year's Photo Marketing Association International Convention and Trade Show, via Web casts available for free viewing at http://www.circuitcity.com.

PMA 2006 will bring together imaging industry professionals from all over the world to hear about the latest trends affecting the industry, the newest technology and products on the market.

The video vignettes will spotlight some of the latest advances from leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and digital imaging products and will be viewable through Windows Media Player, starting February 28, 2006. In addition, the Circuit City Web site will feature blog reports offering personal insights into the PMA show, starting February 26, 2006. Visitors to the circuitcity.com home page can access the reports through March 4, 2006 by clicking on the "What's New" tab.

SOURCE: CircuitCity Newsroom

QuicKutz to Retire 5 Alphabets

QuicKutz is retiring 5 more alphabets to make room for exciting new alphabets.

• Frankie
• Paige
• Star
• Khaki
• Phoebe

These retiring alphabets will only be manufactured through March 31st--contact your local retailer to purchase them before they're gone.

The following alphabets have been discontinued. They are no longer manufactured.

• CK Handprint
• CK Newsclips
• Empire
• Gidget
• Honey
• Indigo
• Roxy
• Sonja
• Sophie
• Snow Angel
• Venus
• Zelda