Cover Article:
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| Hélène Métivier, vice president and artist, and Daniel Tate, president of Magenta. |
Hélène Métivier and Daniel Tate discovered the art of rubber stamping—which was something that almost did not exist in Quebec. As a successful artist, Helene began designing stamps and Daniel, a French history professor and airline marketing executive, began cooking rubber and sawing wood in their basement evenings and weekends. Magenta—a name that evokes color and is the same in English, Spanish and French—was chosen, and the first line of rubber stamps was released in 1992. Magenta has grown steadily since its inception and employs 25 people to design, create, manufacture and ship Magenta products all over the world.
The Magenta Style
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| Nathalie Métivier, artist and coordinator of special projects. |
To become one of the best names in the art stamp and scrapbooking industry worldwide, Magenta relies on a unique and talented group of artists. Hélène, her sister Nathalie and a team of outstanding Canadian artists developed what would become the famous "Magenta style." Artists, professionals and clients who recognized it as a unique combination of sophisticated design, elegance and art, coined the expression "Magenta Style"—a style that lends itself to layouts and coloring techniques developed by the Magenta group of artists, such as the techniques "direct-to-paper," "Joseph's Coat" and "Ghost Stamping."
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| Brigitte Lejossec, coordinator of administration, and Micheline Lavoie, customer service and sales. |
Nathalie Métivier's appearances on the Carol Duvall television show, her yearly workshops at the CHA Convention and other trade shows as well as her collection of educational videos and DVDs and her Paper Magic Magenta Style book are well known and very inspirational.
Listening to the Trade
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| Marie-France Perron, artist, produces stamps and scrapbook products. |
The success of Magenta, says Nathalie, is certainly based on several facts. One is that for approximately 10 years we owned a small boutique, where we sold our line of rubber stamps. The boutique helped us understand the problems retailers face. We had to answer questions, satisfy customers, keep inventory but move the stock fast enough to make money. As a retailer, you have to be inventive, share ideas and information and react fast to every situation. You alsomust answer every customer's famous question, "What's New?"
Projects
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| Sakina Belayachi, production employee, precisely places cut rubber stamp images on wood handles. |
There is an educational potential behind images like these. We understand that the rubber stamps we design are not always easy to understand or easy to sell. With a minimum of teaching Magenta Stamps inspire so much creativity for our customers, allowing them to create endless projects with just one stamp. And the point is to keep your customers constantly inspired.
Education and Workshops
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| Huguette Boiteau, production employee, moulds and bakes stamp images on gray rubber. |
Magenta artists not only travel and offer workshops and classes in many regions, they also create handmade original samples. Magenta is one of the only companies that provide actual hand-stamped card samples to their customers. Hélène knew at the very beginning that this would increase sales for Magenta and the retailer. Most retailers use Magenta samples in their stores to promote sales of the stamps and related products, as well as inspire class projects for the store.
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| The Magenta building. |
For the past few years Magenta has offered special "information days" for store owners in and around Quebec and Ontario. Three to four times a year retailers can spend a day at Magenta, discovering new products and ways to use them. These retailers go back to their stores full of inspiration and ideas. It is also a great opportunity for store owners to meet and share their experiences and recipes for success. These seminars have been so popular, Magenta is considering expanding these educational seminars to their U.S. retailers as well.
Beautiful... and so Different
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| Projects created with Magenta self-cling stamps. |
Magenta has always been one of the artistic leaders of the industry with its innovative products and unmistakable design style. Magenta's mission is to create, manufacture and provide instruments of artistic creation and communication. Not everyone can draw, but most of us can create, decorate and express ourselves with the tools that Magenta offers—giving individuals the opportunity to develop their own creative and artistic expression.
Magenta
2275 Bombardier
Sainte Julie (Quebec) Canada J3E 2J9
450/922-5253, 800/565-5254
FAX 450/922-0053
Web: www.magentastyle.com
