07-05

LOCAL DESIGNER AND ARTIST LANDS NATIONAL LICENSING CONTRACT
Small Local Business Woman, Achieves a Lifelong Dream

Maryville, Mo - Local designer and artist, Lana Rickabaugh, has dreamed for years of designing her own line of scrapbook products. Two years ago, she took the first steps towards that goal and started her own company producing handmade papers, tags and envelopes titled "The Designer's Library by Lana".

The art of paper scrapbooking has seen tremendous growth in the past few years. The Hobby Industry Association estimates that the number of scrapbookers in the US has quadrupled in the past five years to over 20 million participants and Rickabaugh wanted to take advantage in the upward turn in the industry to promote her products further.

In February, she attended a national trade show, Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) in Atlanta Georgia to approach larger corporate manufacturers with her current line, and ideas for several new scrapbooking products she wanted to release.

Rickabaugh approached Design Originals, a 40-year crafting icon, about licensing her successful line of products. "It was so exciting," says Rickabaugh, "we walked in the door at 9:30 a.m., and by 10:30 a.m., we had a promise of a contract."

Design Originals, based out of Texas is owned by crafting veteran, Suzanne McNeill. Rickabaugh remembers seeing Suzanne from her books even as a child. "Design Originals has been a mainstay of the craft industry forever. As a crafty child, I remember looking at their line of idea books that feature the panda in the corner."

McNeill also regularly appears on crafting television shows such as "The Carol Duvall Show" on HGTV showing techniques based on their line of idea books which range from polymer clay to wire art and include many popular scrapbooking design titles.

It wasn't as easy as just walking in the door though, says Rickabaugh, "I prepared a half dozen proposals on seven different product lines in hopes of making contact with one or two of the larger companies. It literally took me weeks to prepare, I had no idea that things would happen so quickly this trip."

Rickabaugh traveled to CHA in Dallas in 2004 but did not have the success that she did the second trip. "The second time I tried, I was very prepared for any questions they might ask about my products, their potential and their past sales. I really had to get myself pumped up to go and sell my products," and with the help of a great friend who is also a business owner, she succeeded.

"I came home with a contract in hand, and much work ahead of me." Rickabaugh was then set to create all of Design Originals new Christmas and Halloween line of paper and stickers. The stickers include 3 different types including faux postage, a faux postage alphabet and bottle cap stickers and there are 12 different designs of paper. All the textures and designs are based on her original line of papers.

The new line was released at the July CHA trade show in Chicago.

The new products can be seen at local scrapbook stores including Maryville's own shop, Beeing Creative on Main Street. Rickabaugh will also be releasing several new products with Design originals over the next six months.

You can also view the new line of items at www.thedesignerslibrary.com

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3-01-05
Fresh new look!!
We're so excited to be updating the site with a fresher look.... oh and come on, who doesn't love PINK!!

01-31-01
CONGRATS!
Congratulations to our own Sam Cousins on the birth of her twins Max and Molly!!

11-10-03
GRAND OPENING!!
The Designer's Library by Lana would like to announce our new website at www.thedesignerslibrary.com!

You will find lots of great new exciting products, contests and great ideas from our design team. Be sure to check out our GRAND OPENING specials and giveaways!

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A great place to pick up some scrapbook bargains!

We will be adding all the up to date news as soon as it happens right here!
Watch this space!