The Valiani Company announced the formation of Valiani North America, LLC, at its new offices in Gainesville, FL. Sales Director Nico Valiani says, “Our association with the Fletcher-Terry Company has created tremendous growth in the North American Market, and it became clear that we needed to focus even more of our attention to this market.” Valiani is based in Certaldo, Italy, and has been a leader in the development and distribution of mat cutting equipment for over 35 years.
      Simultaneously, The Fletcher-Terry Company has announced that it will no longer be distributing Valiani computerized mat cutters. According to company officials, the decision to end the partnership between Fletcher and Valiani was mutual. Jim McNickle, Fletcher's director of marketing, says, “The significant weakening of the dollar against the euro during the past few years has put a strain on both companies' profit margins.”
      Valiani adds, “We feel that having office and warehouse facilities as well as personnel based in the U.S. to focus on the business here is essential. We sincerely appreciate the tremendous job Fletcher-Terry did as they represented our CMC line, and we will continue to work with them to provide the highest level of customer support for the existing Fletcher-Terry/Valiani customers.”
      Chris Heffter will run Valiani North American operations. He brings 20 years' experience in the picture framing industry and over 10 years with computerized mat cutters. Valiani says that Heffter is credited with creating the largest CMC distribution network in North America and is a well-known educator at industry trade shows and distributor open houses.
     For more information, visit www.valiani.com or send e-mail to chris.heffter@valiani.com.

Decor Moulding Launches New Website
Decor Moulding has launched a comprehensive and easy-to-use site for the custom framing industry, www.decormoulding.com. A highlight of the site is the ability to view the new 180-page color catalog, including detailed close-ups and dimensions of more than 2,000 moulding styles. Search options include product categories, style number, width, finish, and collection name. Customer log-in for authorized framers, designers, and specifiers allows for fast access to pricing and ordering.
      Other areas of the site include new styles, supplies, monthly promotions, and industry news.  For more information visit the website or call 800-937-1055.

New Distributors for Nickell Moulding
Nickell Moulding's new Craftsman Collection features 10 different profiles in four finishes. New distributors that are featuring this traditional moulding made from quarter-sawn oak, include Superior Moulding, MN; Frame Specialties, IN; New York Frame, NY; Warehouse Framing Supply, UT; Vicki Schober Company, WI; and Wyman Frame Supply, OK.

Stas USA Partnership Announced
Richard Levey, president of Walker Display, has announced the company's partnership with Stas, forming Stas USA. Walker Display and Stas are leaders in art hanging systems for the U.S. and U.K., respectively.  
      Two new products for the U.S. market will be the Clip 2 Hang & Light and the Minirail. The Clip 2 Hang & Light features a 12-volt light system utilizing LED lamps, while the Minirail is a sleek moulding measuring only 5/8" on the front. Both systems use either cable or perlon cord for vertical hanging.
      Levey says, “With a combined 55 years of picture hanging experience, we have the experience to handle any situation for presenting art with a hanging system.”
      For more information, call 800-234-7614. 

“Inspirations” Section Added to Framerica Website
A special “Inspirations” section has been added to www.framerica.com, aimed at stimulating design by showing new and exciting framing combinations using Framerica moulding. The section will feature some of the newest items and hottest designs in framing. For more information call 800-372-6422 or visit the website.

Legion Paper Wins Addy Award
Legion Paper has won a Regional Addy Award for Creative Excellence for its Rising Museum Board ad series. The American Advertising Federation (AAF)
      presents the ADDY Awards annually. A 2007 silver honor was presented to Legion Paper in the Consumer or Trade Publication category. Designed by Coalesce Marketing & Design of Appleton, WI, each ad appears in national publications and features the tagline, “The Art of Preservation” along with graphics depicting a nature or wildlife scene. A portion of each scene is framed within a Rising Museum Board, showing bright colors and thriving nature, while the graphics outside the frame are fading, representing superior preservation qualities of Rising. 
      “We looked to create an ad series with impact that creatively conveys the astounding preservation capabilities of our Rising Museum Board brand-and we felt this work hit the mark,” says Marc Schotland, director of marketing for Legion Paper. “To be honored for a marketing campaign that resonated with the advertising community is extremely rewarding.”

Swain Galleries Celebrates 140 Years    
Founded in 1868 by Phillip Swain, the Swain Galleries of Plainfield, NJ, is celebrating its 140th year in business. This fourth generation frame shop and art gallery resides in a large Victorian house in one of the town's historic districts. It is the oldest art establishment in New Jersey.
      Philip Swain died in 1943 at 100 years of age. His son, Walter Sr. took over the business in 1919 and Walter Jr. joined him in 1953. The gallery is now run by Phillip's great granddaughter, Ann Swain McQuillan.
      Swain Galleries provides complete fine art services, including appraisal, consultation and recommendation on acquisition, installation, conservation and restoration of art, and museum quality framing. The store's four levels house eight separate galleries, a private viewing studio, plus shops for framing.

Universal Framing Products Adds to Sales Staff
Universal Framing Products has announced the addition of Michael Keeling and Rusti Gioiosa to its sales team.
      Keeling, key account sales manager, will focus on new business development while servicing a local geography in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Mississippi. Keeling brings more than 19 years' experience to this position. He can be reached at company headquarters at 800-668-3627 or at his local office at 502-290-3540.
      Gioiosa has been appointed to manage sales in the Los Angeles area and has more than 14 years of field sales experience in the framing industry. She can be reached at 310-780-9930 or via e-mail at rusti@universalframing.com.

Bouffier Celebrates 10 Years at Framerica
Ray Bouffier, Framerica's intra-company logistics coordinator, recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary with the  company. As part of an ongoing company tradition, Bouffier will receive an all-expenses paid vacation. He will be visitng the Pacific Northwest.
      “Ray has played an integral role in our company for the past decade,” notes Co-chairman Gene Eichner. “He is a terrific employee and an even better person.”

Bingham Launches Marketing Monday
Todd Bingham, Art World News columnist and sales trainer, has announced a new addition to his website— Marketing Monday. Launched in February 2008, it consists of a short audio stream reachable from his website, featuring an 8- to 10-minute spoken word “mini-workshop” on a vital aspect of art gallery sales training.
      Bingham says, "These little audio files are very handy. They deal with random aspects of a retail gallery or frame shop that you probably wouldn't find addressed anywhere else; merchandising, discounting, hiring, display, things like that."
     The audio files are a free download and will be offered regularly from the TBFA home page at: www.toddbinghamfineart.com. For more information, call 800-697-8935.