(Frankfort, Ky.) -- Seven Kentucky Craft Marketing Program (KCMP) businesses, who are a part of a special group selected to premiere new products, will be exhibiting their wares at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), Jacob Javits Convention Center, August 9-13, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day. KCMP's booth is a doublewide end cap, #5304/5403, located in the Handmade Section. The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program has been exhibiting at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), since 1985.

The new products being exhibited were developed by participants of the "Platinum 10", a pilot project of the Product Development Initiative, first funded by Kentucky Legislators in 2000. The KCMP is working intensively with ten businesses to help them develop new products based on market trends and information. The 10 Kentucky craft businesses that were chosen to participate in the project applied to the Program in the winter of 2002 and were selected from 20 applicants.

Each participant received a $500 grant to develop a collection of new products that can be featured for the first time in the KCMP's NY booth. Criteria for products to be featured in New York were newness, quality, reliability, salability, and coherence. This criteria was established with the assistance of national consultant, Keith Recker, formerly of Aid of Arstians, and Craft Marketing Program staff.

"We hope the NY buyers will take the opportunity to visit the booth in New York and find out how Kentucky is poised to work with retailers to fit their individual needs," says Product Development Coordinator, Nancy Atcher.

Participants Include:

Alley Cat Pottery
Kristal Kokinda
246 W. Main Street #100
Richmond, KY 40475
Telephone: 859-623-1224
alleycatpottery@yahoo.com

Heartland Basketry
Jacquelyn Lawrence
3 Gemma Circle
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Telephone: 270-765-6836
reedarama@aol.com
www.heartlandbasketry.com

Judy Geagley by Hand
Judy & Gordon Geagley
Rt. 1, Box 90A
Tollesboro, KY 41189
Telephone: 606-798-3901
judyskc@hotmail.com

Natural Accents
Sharon Haines
5294 Park City-Glasgow Road
Park City, KY 42160
Telephone: 270-749-8862
kenny.sharonhaines@gte.net

Soapwerks
Kathy Werking
5123 Bryan Station Road
Paris, KY 40361
Telephone: 877-985-7877

The Weavery
Harriet Giles
2525 Delong Road, Overbrook Farm
Lexington, KY 40515
Telephone: 859-245-0019
hgiles@theweaveryonline.com
www.theweaveryonline.com

Watson Studios
Larry Watson
3404 Upper Tug Fork Road
Alexandria, KY 41001
Telephone: 859-635-5599
watsonclay@fuse.net
www.watsonclay.com

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.

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