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Niche names top craft retailers

August 04, 2009

Philadelphia--Niche magazine has announced the winners of the 2009 Niche Top Retailer Awards, an annual program that recognizes craft retailers who are committed to fair business practices and to growing and strengthening the North American craft community.

Earlier this year, professional fine craft artists throughout the United States and Canada nominated nearly 600 galleries, retail stores, arts nonprofits, museums and guilds, and more than 200 applications were submitted for consideration by a jury of craft industry professionals.

Maddi's Gallery in Charlotte, N.C., won the coveted Retailer of the Year nod, and "Top Retailers" honored were: Artisans Gallery in Santa Cruz, Calif.; Avalon Gallery in Delray Beach, Fla; Circle Arts in Tobermory, Ontario; Crescent Moon at the Cotton Exchange in Wilmington, N.C.; Don Drumm Studios and Gallery in Akron, Ohio; Don Muller Gallery in Northampton, Mass.; Down Creek Gallery in Ocracoke, N.C.; The Escape Fine Crafts and Gifts in Georgetown, Texas; Fire Opal in Brookline, Mass.; From Our Hands in Des Moines, Iowa; Handworks Gallery of American Crafts in Acton, Mass.; Hillyer House in Ocean Springs, Miss.; Iris at the Basin Park in Eureka Springs, Ark.; Langman Gallery in Willow Grove, Pa.; The Laughing Dog Gallery in Vero Beach, Fla.; Luma Gallery in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, Ore.; Max's in St. Louis Park, Minn.; The Muse in Frederick, Md.; Petroff Gallery in Toronto, Ontario; Pinnacle Gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Sedoni Gallery in Huntington, N.Y.; Spectrum Art and Jewelry in Wilmington, N.C.; and Timothy's Gallery in Winter Park, Fla.

"This awards program honors galleries and retailers for their commitment to supporting the artists," Niche Publisher Wendy Rosen said in a media release. "It's not about the biggest sellers or fanciest shops. The 'Top Retailers' are often mentors who work hard to build and maintain good relationships with emerging and established artists."

The retailer nods were presented during an Aug. 2 ceremony held at the Buyers Market of American Craft, and awards were also presented in a variety of specialized categories.

The Village Artisans Gallery in Boiling Springs, Pa., picked up the award for Best Advertising/Direct Mail Campaign; Hanson Galleries in Houston won for Best Customer Newsletter; Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, Ore., won for Best In-Store Event; The Muse in Frederick, Md., won for Best Community Outreach; Poppy of Columbia, Mo., was recognized as having the Best Visual Merchandising; and Spectrum Art and Jewelry in Wilmington, N.C., won for Best Web site.

Winning an award as the Best New Store was Craftsman House Gallery in St. Petersburg, Fla., while Allanstand Craft Shop in Asheville, N.C., was recognized as Best Guild Store. Finally, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Museum Store in Madison, Wis., won as Best Arts Nonprofit, and the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco, as well as the Alternatives Museum Shop at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts in Wilmington, Del., tied as Best Museum Store.

Niche, a trade magazine for independent craft retailers, is published by The Rosen Group, which produces the Buyers Market of American Craft, a well-known wholesale craft show.
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