Media Contact:                                                                    

Kae Williams

Plush, Inc.

508-696-3188

kae@plushcom.com

Spark Craft Studios Wins Excellence in Retailing Award

From Retailers Association of Massachusetts

Somerville, Mass – November 17, 2005 – Spark Craft Studios has been recognized for their creativity in combining a sophisticated social venue with conventional crafting for the young metropolitan women of Greater Boston. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts awarded Spark Craft Studios with the 2005 RAMAE award in the category of Creative Concepts.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts recognizes retailers for outstanding achievement. The RAM Awards of Excellence (RAMAES) is awarded to retailers who have excelled in the areas of Display, Creative Concepts in Retailing, Service to their Community, Advertising or Promotion, Rookie of the Year, and Retailer of the Year. This year two new awards were introduced: Best Downtown Shopping District, and Best Restaurant.

“Spark Craft Studios was selected for the Creative Concepts category because of its creativity in combining two concepts – trendy socializing in a hip urban environment with traditional crafting, typical of your grandmother’s knitting circle.   We are thrilled to award Spark Craft Studios the 2005 RAMAE in Creative Concepts.” – Rick Segel, Massachusetts Retailers Association.

The genesis of this new concept grew from an MBA project that Jan Stephenson and Amy Appleyard shared during their graduate program at Boston University.  Through research, they discovered a trend among young metropolitan females, who were showing a renewed interest in crafts such as knitting, crocheting, jewelry-making and scrap booking.  These young professionals were looking for a place to unwind, nurture their creativity, and socialize with friends.

“Typical MBA students want to start businesses which tout some new technological innovation.  We were far more interested in establishing a business that creates community and offers a non-traditional way for professional women to network, while relaxing and honing their creativity,” said Jan Stephenson, CEO of Spark Craft Studios.
 

Located in Somerville, Spark Craft Studios evokes the atmosphere of both a hip, urban club and an upscale craft boutique replete with lounges and workspace furnished in stylish décor. 

About Spark Craft Studios
 

Spark Craft Studios was launched by Jan Stephenson and Amy Appleyard in January 2005.  The young metropolitan females of Greater Boston visit Spark Craft Studios to nurture their creativity in a trendy spot while socializing with friends. Each month the studio hosts nearly 40 classes, events and private parties such as professional women’s group meetings, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, baby showers, mothers’ groups, corporate retreats or just a group of friends having “a girls night out”.

###