NEW YORK, July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martha Stewart Living
Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) today announced its Martha Stewart Crafts line is
expanding into Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. and Canada. Two new assortments --
Martha Stewart Create and Martha Stewart Celebrate -- are debuting in the
majority of Wal-Mart stores across the U.S. and Canada this month.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080709/NYW040-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080709/NYW040-b )
Martha Stewart Create features crafting essentials and memory-keeping
products such as paper, cutting mats, tools, pens, markers, glitter, and
ribbons. The assortment also contains craft and activity kits including
jewelry-making kits, pipe-cleaner-animal kits, memory-keeping kits, party
decor kits, and card-making kits.
Martha Stewart Celebrate showcases ready-made, paper-based weddings
essentials such as stationery, guest books, embellishments, favor boxes, cake
toppers, and customizable centerpieces, as well as flower baskets and ring
pillows.
For more than 25 years, Martha Stewart has been inspiring consumers with
unique how-to ideas for special occasions and crafts, arenas in which Martha
Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) has national brand recognition and expertise.
Created by MSLO's design teams, led by Martha Stewart, the new assortments
feature high-quality, easy-to-use products that are designed especially for
the mass retail shopper. MSLO teamed with EK Success, one of the country's
leading scrapbooking and creative consumer products companies to manufacture,
market and sell the products.
Martha Stewart, Founder of MSLO, stated, "Sharing ideas and inspiration
about crafting and celebrations are an integral part of our company and all
that we offer. With Martha Stewart Create at Wal-Mart, consumers will
experience the satisfaction that comes from making things by hand. With
Martha Stewart Celebrate, we will be able to provide beautiful, creative
solutions for party-giving from intimate gatherings to large celebrations such
as weddings. Anything that makes the job of the host and hostess easier is of
the utmost importance to us."
Martha Stewart Crafts launched in 2007 at arts and crafts stores in the
U.S. and Canada. That same year, MSLO further extended its footprint in the
$30 billion U.S. crafts market with an investment in Wilton Industries, which
owns EK Success.
"We continue to grow our crafting and celebrations-related businesses so
that our consumers have easy, convenient access to our beautiful, high-quality
products that make occasions more memorable," stated Robin Marino, President
of Merchandising and Co-Chief Executive Officer at MSLO.
"In a short amount of time, this brand has become an integral part of our
corporation's portfolio of brands," said Kevin Fick, President, EK Success.
"We are excited that this expansion into Wal-Mart fulfills the need in the
marketplace to bring a national brand to this important and growing category
while reaching so many new consumers."
About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media
and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique
lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Publishing segment
encompasses four magazines, including the company's flagship publication,
Martha Stewart Living, periodic special issues and books. The
marthastewart.com website provides consumers with instant access to MSLO's
multimedia library, search and find capabilities, recipes, online workshops,
community and personalization, as well as wedding-planning tools powered by
WeddingWire. The Broadcasting segment produces such programming as the
Emmy-winning daily, nationally syndicated television series, "The Martha
Stewart Show," and Martha Stewart Living Radio, channel 112 on SIRIUS
Satellite Radio. In addition to its media properties, MSLO offers
high-quality Martha Stewart products through licensing agreements with
carefully selected companies, including the Martha Stewart Collection
exclusively at Macy's, Martha Stewart Everyday at Kmart, Martha Stewart Crafts
with EK Success, Martha Stewart for 1-800-Flowers.com and a co-branded food
line with Costco. In April 2008, Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart
family of brands; MSLO acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and
merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and
emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products. For
additional information about MSLO, visit www.marthastewart.com.
About EK Success
Established in 1978, EK Success is a creative consumer products company
with the leading market position in the $3 billion scrapbooking segment of the
U.S. craft industry. With more than 6,000 products, EK Success focuses on
education, inspiration, and innovation through its widely-used, award-winning
scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies. EK Success, acquired by private
equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner LLC in 2006, acquired Wilton Industries, Inc
and Dimensions Holdings, LLC in August 2007. The combined companies will be
renamed Wilton Products, Inc. EK Success also is the strategic partner with
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) in developing and producing
the Martha Stewart Crafts(TM) line.
SOURCE Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
