FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Kentucky Collection, a pilot project of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program (KCMP), was successfully unveiled for the 2002 holiday shopping season in three Kentucky stores. The Collection is an assortment of the state's crafts, foods, visual arts, books, and music available to retailers in a custom-designed case with signage and marketing support.

The Collection had its debut at Uniquely Kentucky (Crescent Springs), The Cozy Corner (Whitesburg), and Hawley-Cooke Booksellers (Louisville). "We are thrilled to be part of this pilot project," said Audrey Schuetze, co-owner of Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville. "We have been expanding our gift department, and to include the Kentucky Collection will not only enhance our business, it will help promote local and statewide producers."

The Kentucky Collection represents only one component of a multi-faceted product development initiative for which the KCMP received funding from the Kentucky General Assembly in 2000. The purpose of the initiative is to provide assistance to Kentucky craft, visual and performing artists, food and wood producers, and publishers who wholesale on a production basis and wish to enhance their ability to produce specialized products for retailers.

Kentucky Collection products are selected through an application process from the participants of the partner groups, which include the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Folklife Program, Kentucky Book Fair, and the Kentucky Wood Products Competitiveness Corporation.

Custom-designed cases were built by Kentucky businesses -- Retail Outfitters of Manchester, Kentucky, and Lexington's Finest Woodworking Team, and placed in each store with readily displayed merchandise, available for purchase.

The Kentucky Collection will be expanded to the following three additional stores in the spring 2002: Lake Cumberland State Park Gift Shop, premieres Sunday, April 7th, 1-3 p.m. (CDT); Barren River State Park Gift Shop, premieres Sunday, May 19th, 1-3 p.m. (CDT), and Diamond Caverns, Park City, Sunday, May 18th, 1- 3 p.m.

Six additional retailers will be chosen for the second phase of the project. Interested in-state retailers may apply for consideration by contacting Nancy Atcher, Product Development Coordinator at the KCMP office. Kentucky businesses interested in having their products considered for the Kentucky Collection should contact the KCMP for participation requirements.

The Kentucky Collection pilot stores for 2001 - 2002 are:

Hawley-Cooke Booksellers
Audrey Schuetze (co-owner)
Tara Dickerson (buyer)
27 Shelbyville Road Plaza
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 893-0133
Fax: (502) 896-0452
abschuetze@hawleycooke.com
tidckerson@hawleycooke.com
www.hawleycooke.com

The Cozy Corner
Josephine Richardson
127A Main Street
Whitesburg, KY 41858
606/633-9637
Fax: 606/633-1727
chcafe@aol.com
www.cozycornercrafts.com

Uniquely Kentucky
Cordelia Schaber
2341 Buttermilk Crossing
Crescent Springs, KY 41017
859/426-8585
Fax: 859/426-8586
schaber@uniquelykentucky.com
www. uniquelykentucky.com

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
Carol Bernard
5465 State Park Road
Jamestown, KY 42629-7801
270/343-3111
www.kystateparks.com/lakecumb.htm

Barren River State Resort Park
Martha McCoy
149 State Park Road
Lucas, KY 42156-9709
270/646-2151
www.kystateparks.com/barren.htm

Diamond Caverns
Susan Berdeaux
1900 Mammoth Cave Parkway
Park City, KY 42160
270/749-2233
susan@diamondcaverns.com
www.diamondcaverns.com

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The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program provides assistance to Kentucky residents, individuals, or groups wanting to develop as craft professionals through economic opportunities and training, to other outside entities (e.g., craft retailers, craft and art organizations, community and government agencies), and the general public. The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program is a state agency in the Kentucky Arts Council, Education, Arts & Humanities Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky. For more information, call 888 KY CRAFT (592-7238,) ext. 4801.

Since 1981, the Craft Marketing Program's mission is to develop the state's craft industry, support and empower Kentucky artisans and craftspeople, create an economically viable environment for craft entrepreneurs, preserve the state's craft traditions, stimulate and support product development, and generate public awareness, public support and public/private partnerships.