TNNA Announces Business Innovation Award Winners

Libby Butler-Gluck
TNNA Publicist
323-644-5536
libby@genesispr.net

TNNA Announces Business Innovation Award Winners
TNNA recognizes top industry innovators at the Columbus Summer Show

Columbus, OH –(June 15, 2011) - The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) and Hart Business Research presented awards and prizes to the winners of the 1st annual TNNA Business Innovation Awards on Friday, June 10th. The judges used four main criteria to choose winners: innovativeness of business initiative, measurable impact on business, usefulness of application as a case study for others, and use of information from The State of Specialty NeedleArts 2010 report.

The judges awarded award over $20,000 in prizes in five categories, based upon TNNA membership designation:

Counted Thread and Embroidery Wholesale Winner: ICG Crafts
Team: Mark Miller, Troy Riegle, and pattern designers
Innovation: Print-on-demand chart distribution to retailers

Needlepoint Wholesaler Winner: DMC Corporation
Team: Liz Saylor, Steve Mancuso, Jay Wolf, Rosanna Gelpi-Houck, Alice Okon
Innovation: DMC Color Infusions Memory Thread Go 3D Campaign

Yarn Retailer Winner: Amazing Threads
Team: Bobbi Kreb, Tina Erickson, Angel Randall, Judy Riske, Lindsey Johnson
Innovation: Knit Wits-Knot store makeover

Yarn Wholesaler Winner: Schacht Spindle Company
Team: Jane Patrick, Barry Schacht, Liz Gipson
Innovation: The Cricket Loom Program

Open/Affiliate Winner: Handwork Studio
Team:  Laura Kelly, Julia Yosen, Alisha Tillman, Melissa Haims, Mary
Kukowski, Megan Collier, Ilyse Shapiro, Danielle Lyons
Innovation: Needle Arts Camp Road Tour

Award plaques, cash, product and advertising went to the winners and were generously donated by TNNA sponsors, Trendsetter, Interweave, Needlework Retailer Magazine, Point of It All Designs, Westminster Fibers, Lantern Moon, Bryson Distributing, Yarn Market News, Needlepoint Now, DJ Designs, Spool Magazine and Kreinik Manufacturing Company.

Business Innovation Awards winner and finalist innovations profiles will be posted on the TNNA website.

For more information on the TNNA Business Innovation Awards go to www.TNNA.org.