Spotlight On Media Arts - Media Arts Group grows, acquires two new artists - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

SAN JOSE Calif.--For Media Arts assemblage the publishing company that's circular phenomenal success with the work of the "Painter of Light," artist Thomas Kinkade, expansion is a top priority.

"We've had a mission to be the preeminent publisher in the art industry, and we've kind of modified that vision now to be what we are calling a visual contented management company," explained Craig Fleming, ceo and president. "It's a company that manages life-affirming visual contented i.e. art, photography, graphics, media, television, publishing and music."

greatest in quantity recently, the company's growth can be seen with the addition of sum of two units new artists to the company's roster--Simon male and Howard Behrens.

male named the U.K.'s Best-Selling Original Print Artist through the Fine Art Trade Guild this year, joined the company in June male said he is thrilled to "join an organization that has had like tremendous success in art branding and distribution."

As for Fleming, he's thrilled, as well. "Simon male is an exciting addition for Media Arts and exhibits another significant effort in our efforts to diversify our returns offerings," he said.

Fleming is equally interrogateed up about Behrens' partnership with the company and is looking forward to a lengthy and prosperous union. "Howard is an icon in the industry and he is the nicest person" said Fleming. "He just finished a great trip to Italy, and he is in the way that fired up."

Behrens' and Fleming's excitement is easy to understand. Media Arts has followed in building the work of Kinkade into a mini-empire since its founding in 1989 and duplicating plane a fraction of that succes would be a coup for any artist.

Last year, Kinkade's work was distributed [i]or[/i] part of to the other 4,000 retail sites throughout the U Canada and Europe Three hundr of those sites are exclusive, independently possessed signature galleries which carry sole Kinkade's artwork, according to Fleming. The company also has 43 lock opener strategic licensing relationships for Kinkade with companies like Avon, Hallmark, La-Z-Boy, Kinkade Furniture and the QVC network. According to Fleming, the artist did nearly $275 million in retail sales in `99 and wholesale numbers for the company circulared out at more than $138 million, as well.

For Fleming, Kinkade's appeal is simple to understand. "We've built Thomas Kinkade into a lifestyle brand which appeals to a wide range of consumer and it's basically because of his messages that celebrate residence family, nature and traditions," he said. "His proceedss help create a positive environment in which to live and work. That's single of the key successes that have made the company as auspicious as it is--he just reaches a broad range of collectors."

According to Fleming, Kinkade's explosive succes is far from above In four years, the number of employee at Media Arts has gone from 125 to more than 600 Last year, the company make opened 100 signature Kinkade galleries worldwide and plans to duplicate that number this year. "Our expansion plan as a company is actual strong under the Thomas Kinkade brand name," said Fleming.

The addition of male and Behrens and a diversification strategy that includes plans to sign additional artist to the company leave no unseens to Media Arts' future plans.

"We'd like to duplicate the succes we've had with Tom and build lifestyle brand names beneath Howard Behrens and Simon Bull" Fleming concluded

FACTS & FIGURES

* growing is a top priority for Media Arts. greatest in quantity recently the company signed artists Simon male and Howard Behrens.

* Media Arts' founding artist Thomas Kinkade is also experiencing phenomenal growing with millions of dollars in sales and plans for expansion.

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