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O C G S h o w D a i l y Fe b ru a r y 1 & 2 , 2 0 1 4 4 By Anna Wallace Barrett, VP Sales, Anali Inc For over 20 years now, Anali has been providing USA luxury embroidered linens for the table, bath and bedroom. In the past, we have been importing fin- ished towels from Turkey by container. After struggling with quality and consis- tency, as well as being able to fulfill requests to have our embroidery run the entire width of the towel, we found through our Italian supplier a higher quality terry that we bring in from Italy by the yard. This has given us the capa- bility to produce what we call the Roma towel, which we feel is a higher quality towel. We hoop the terry on the machine like we do the bed linens so we have the capability now to have our border designs run the entire width of the towel. The terry comes in white and ivory, and is finished with cording which comes in eight different color options. We are incredibly excited about this new product, putting us more in control of production and quality like in our table, guest and bed linens. At the booth at the NY NOW show, you will see ROMA in a variety of new patterns and colors. Taking pride in how Anali is a custom linen house, we have redesigned the booth so customers can shop a wide variety of designs in new custom colors and choose what they want the embroidery on. An entire side of the booth will be dedicated to new and old designs shown in a range of color options on a wide range of backgrounds. In 2014, we are looking forward to continuing to make high-end, USA made luxury linens and showing the most exquisite embroidery designs possible. For more information, visit www.anali.com, call 425-558-4316, email anna@anali.com or stop by booth #2532 at NY NOW. ANALI DEBUTS USA MADE ROMA TOWEL MICROWAVE CAKE MUGS STIR UP RETAIL EXCITEMENT New Abbey Press mugs provide easy recipes, whisks and inspiration. Abbey Press's new mug line, "My Cup Runneth Over," lets you have your cake and eat it too – made right inside a mug in the microwave. Each of the six 8-ounce stoneware mugs in the collection has a recipe print- ed on the outside for mixing and baking a personal-sized mug cake in the microwave in just a few minutes. The mugs retail for $13, and each includes a wire whisk for mixing. The trendy-colored mugs feature recipes for Chocolate Cake, Coffee Cake, Banana Cake, Celebration Cake, Cinnamon Roll Cake and Irish Coffee Cake. Each mug also displays an inspira- tional sentiment with a touch of whim- sy – for example: "God sends no stress that chocolate and prayer can't handle." "Initial reaction to 'My Cup Runneth Over' has been very strong from retailers and key accounts," said Kelli Harding, Key Accounts Manager at Abbey Press. "We started noticing the 'mug cake' trend, with recipes being passed around by email and on Pinterest. And we wanted to tie into this need we all have to indulge our sweet tooth a bit – but in a really easy, clever and convenient way." Harding feels that "the beauty of these mugs is that you can just mix up your own personal lit- tle treat in no time at all with simple ingredients that you have on hand." She added that "kids are fascinated with making the little mug cakes too. They love to help measure, mix, whisk up the batter and then watch the cake rise in the microwave. What could be more fun?" According to Harding, the mugs make great impulse buys "for favorite people or even just to treat yourself." Abbey Press, which is owned and operated by Saint Meinrad Archabbey, is a wholesale marketer of inspirational and religious products that help consumers cel- ebrate seasons and everyday occasions in a special, spiritual way. Abbey Press stands for spiritual values, quality and good taste. For additional information, contact Sue Kloeck at Abbey Press, 1 Hill Drive, Saint Meinrad, IN 47577, call 800-621- 1588 or visit www.abbeytrade.com. Lee M. Oser CEO and Editor-in-Chief Kim Forrester Paul Harris Jeff Rosano Associate Publishers Lorrie Baumann Editorial Director Jeanie Catron JoEllen Lowry Associate Editors Yasmine Brown Vicky Glover Graphic Designers Ruth Haltiwanger Traffic Manager Enrico Cecchi European Sales OCG Show Daily is published by Oser Communications Group ©2014 All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 www.oser.com European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy. AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH NY NOW LIFETIME BRANDS APPOINTS VARAKIAN TO GROUP PRESIDENT CUTLERY/CUTTING BOARDS & COOKWARE/BAKEWARE DIVISIONS Lifetime Brands, Inc., a leading global provider of branded kitchenware, tabletop and other products used in the home, today announced the appointment of Bob Varakian as Group President over its Cutlery/Cutting Boards and Cookware/Bakeware divisions. Varakian will assume his new role this year and will report to Jeffrey Siegel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lifetime Brands. Lifetime also announced the promotion of Stephen Spitz to President for the Cutlery/Cutting Boards division, effective immediately. Spitz will report to Varakian. In his role at Lifetime Brands, Varakian will have overall responsibili- ty for the Cutlery/Cutting Boards and Cookware/Bakeware divisions. Varakian, formerly CEO and President of Nambe, LLC, has more than 25 years of experience in the housewares indus- try. Prior to joining Nambe, Varakian served as CEO and President of Catalina Lighting, Inc, President and Founder of Lectrix LLC, and President of EKCO Housewares (a division of Ekco Group). As Division President for Cutlery/Cutting Boards, Spitz will contin- ue to develop Lifetime's brands and cate- gories and will help take the businesses to the next level. Since joining Lifetime Brands in 2005, Spitz has held various positions, including the most recent posi- tion of Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Cookware, Cutlery, and Bakeware divisions. Spitz began his career at Macy's and has worked with many brands including Calphalon, Krups and Delonghi. Siegel commented about Varakian, "We are pleased Bob is joining the Lifetime Brands family. He is well respected in the industry, has excellent credentials and possesses a robust back- ground in management, marketing, product development, sales, manufac- turing and sourcing. Bob's proven track record and strong leadership skills will be valuable assets to the Cutlery/Cutting Boards and Cookware/Bakeware divi- sions. We look forward to working with Bob to solidify Lifetime's position as an industry leader and to expand our busi- nesses globally." About Spitz, Siegel added, "Steve has made significant contributions to the company, expanding the reach of our brands across multiple retail channels, and driving innovation in the cutlery, cut- ting board and bakeware categories. His wealth of knowledge and industry experi- ence is invaluable. I am confident Steve will continue to be instrumental in the ongoing success of the Cutlery/Cutting Boards division in his new role as Division President." Varakian said, "I look forward to joining Lifetime Brands. I have known the Siegels for a long time and they have done an outstanding job in building a tremendous business. It will be exciting to join their excellent group of execu- tives, and I hope to contribute to their continued success. Bob Reichenbach did an outstanding job and I will attempt to continue the momentum that he devel- oped. I am proud of what we accom- plished at Nambe. I leave behind many friends and I wish them nothing but the best," Varakian added. GASTROLUX COOKWARE EXPANDS ITS U.S. MARKET Kitchen Kapers, a 13-store retail chain in the Philadelphia, Pa., Wilmington, Del. and Princeton, N.J. markets, has added the Gastrolux Cookware line. Gastrolux is now available in Kitchen Kapers' stores as well as from its website. "At Kitchen Kapers, we are always seeking to bring our customers the best in innovative kitchenware. After nearly six months of careful product evalua- tion, we're excited to announce that we now carry Gastrolux Biotan Nonstick Cookware. The products are carefully crafted in Denmark and this cutting edge cookware features a durable non- stick surface that stands up to heavy use unlike any other nonstick on the market. Plus its thick 8mm ther- mophore base gives you a precise and even heat for a superior cooking expe- rience", said Bob Kratchman, President of Kitchen Kapers. "It's been a pleasure to work with Kitchen Kapers during their due dili- gence and we're pleased they have given our products their thumbs up. With their long history of success based on quality products, depth of product knowledge, and customer service – we know our unique cookware line is in very good hands and that this will become a very strong partnership for all of us," said Gastrolux Cookware's Johan Jensen.