An exclusive private viewing of the Roma Home Décor Spring 2008 Collection took place at Roma's head office in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada on January 17, 2008. The event marked the largest launch of new Wall Décor in Roma history with a collection of over 200 new pieces of framed art in five new categories, including, Classic-Traditional, Global-Contemporary, Urbane-Metro, Casual-Chic, and Gen XY2. The art was framed in Roman Italian handcrafted mouldings. There were also 55 new trend-forward mouldings used in the design of its new Spring 2008 Photo Frame and Mirror Collections.
     The party highlighted the inaugural launch of the art series Translucido™, an innovative, state-of-the-art design, successfully balancing art and science. Photographs were taken by Tony Koukos, world travel photographer, in Thailand and Morocco and images were then printed on the industrial translucent material polycarbonate and framed with Roma's sleek contemporary Metro moulding to create an innovative, never-before-seen art series.
     For more information call 800-263-2322 or visit www.romamoulding.com.

Bob Victor's Eco-Friendly Program
Bob Victor's has announced that all picture frame mouldings it manufactures come only from “Verified Sustainable American Hardwoods.” “American Hardwoods” means hardwood that grows natural in America. The term “hardwoods” is not restricted to species like ash-oak and maple, but also applies to any tree that drops its leaves. The company offers more than 450 different frames from woods, including real cherry, real walnut, ash, basswood, and maple.
      All woods purchased by Bob Victor come from wood sources that do not practice clear cutting and purchase timber from regions where the United States Forest Service ascertained the timber is “sustainable,” as a result of a 15-year study done from 1990-2004. After harvesting timber from the region, the Forest Service inventoried and analyzed the standing timber. Studies found that it had grown from 65.1 million acres in 1990 to 65.5 millions acres at the end of 2004. The cutting size of the standing timber had increased from 57 percent in 1990 to 64 percent of cutting size in 2004 in the region studied. The acknowledgment of sustainability is based on timber growth versus removal data compiled by the Forest Service's inventory and analysis program. The findings confirmed that there were approximately 2.29 new trees being replanted for every tree harvested in the region.
       When Bob Victor's moved to its new plant in 1994, the local government required it to use only water-based finishing materials. As a result Victor's pioneered the development of environmentally safe finishing in the picture frame industry. Today the finishing materials that have been developed do not have a single ingredient that is hazardous. This finish is clear and smooth and environmentally safe. All patterns are created from “Verified Sustainable American Hardwoods” so there is no need for gesso.
      Bob Victor's has also developed a marketing tool to help framers inform the public that its frame shop is eco-friendly by creating a door decal, that announces it is an “Authorized Dealer for Verified Sustainable American Hardwood frames, with Environmentally Safe Finishes, Made in USA.” Additionally, a sticker is sent with every order shipped to place on the back of the frame to let the customer know, “Your Frame Is American Hardwood, Environmentally Safe Finishes, Made In The USA.”
      For more information, contact Bob Victor’s at 785-234-3219.

Larson-Juhl Supports Global ReLeaf
Since 1991, support from Larson-Juhl has funded the planting of over a quarter million trees in Global ReLeaf ecosystem restoration projects within the United States and around the world. By the end of 2007, Larson-Juhl made the planting of 300,500 trees possible from the United States to Ecuador and from Indonesia to Cambodia.
     The Larson-Juhl Global ReLeaf program stems from its parent organization, American Forests, and was put in place to educate people and take action to improve the global environment. By the end of 2006, American Forests had planted more than 25 million trees with help of 500 projects like the Larson-Juhl Global ReLeaf program. To learn more, visit www.larsonjuhl.com.

Crescent Announces Sweepstakes Winners
Four lucky framers out of 1,000 entries, won Crescent’s “Improve Your Business” Sweepstakes. Winners received roundtrip airfare to the West Coast Art & Frame Show, held in Las Vegas in January, hotel accommodations, three days of classes at The National Conference, and $500. The winners were Garnetta Sullivan, Art Impressions, Sedalia, MO; Tammy McLaughlin, Bella Framing, Chesterfield, MO; Morgan Kimble, The Great Frame Up, Austin, TX; and Kristin Jarinko, Affordable Framing, Windsor Locks, CT.
      “We wanted to focus our promotion on providing additional skills to framers who are building their businesses in a very competitive environment. The National Conference at the WCAF show has always offered outstanding education that can benefit the framer,” said Kate McCarthy, Crescent’s senior vice president, marketing.

Gumina Opens New World Headquarters
On Thursday, December 13, 2007, Peter Gumina, president and CEO of National Picture Framing Centers, Inc., dba Frame-O-Rama and Cheap Pete's Frame Factory Outlet,  dedicated his new world headquarters. The building in San Francisco, CA, is located at 1555 Pacific Avenue, just around the corner from the original building where he has overseen his eight stores since 1974.
     The famous and talented White Crane Dance Company of San Francisco, especially trained in the old Chinese art of welcoming good spirits performed at the event. The show featured a traditional dancing lion, many drums, and firecrackers, and guests were treated to a dim sum lunch.

PPFA Announces Annual Service Awards
The PPFA, a PMA member association, presented the annual PPFA Service Awards during the PPFA 2008 All-Member Meeting and luncheon January 31 in Las Vegas, NV. Each year, the PPFA Board of Directors awards those whose past actions, deeds, and vision have greatly strengthened the art and framing industry.
     The PPFA Lifetime Achievement Award went to Shirley Damon, CPF, Damon Galleries, Ltd., Vienna, VA. Distinction for Leadership was awarded to Chris Paschke, CPF, GCF, Designs Ink, Tehachapi, CA. Frank Chavez, Frank's Fabrics, Inc., Van Nuys, CA, received the Recognition for Innovation award. Chapter Volunteer of the Year was presented to Paul Rojik, CPF, Frame Gallery, Inc., Sharpsburg, PA., Tri State Chapter. The Service Award was given to Don Berkman, MCPF, Framemakers, Austin, TX.
     Winners in the 2007 PPFA Membership Contest also were honored. Awards were presented in three categories: Educator, Supplier, and Chapter. The Arizona Chapter brought in the most new members during the contest. Vivian Kistler, MCPF, GCF, was the Educator who brought the most new members to PPFA, and SoftTouch Solutions in Petrolia, Windsor, Canada, won in the Supplier category. Merrill Grayson, MCPF, was honored as founder of the PPFA Online Exchange, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last October.

Framerica Honors Wayman
Framerica has named John Wayman to its internally coveted “All Framerican” list for the fourth consecutive year, a first-time ever achievement. Wayman is the company's national sales representative for California and Nevada.
The award, based upon the growth, management, and success of a given territory, “is a testament to John's work ethic and commitment to customers,” notes Todd Hranicka, vice president of sales.