Experience

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  Collage Crafts, Llc

  • Ceo And President

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  Collage Crafts, LLC

  • Nichols Hills, OK, USA.

  • CEO and President

    • Dec 2019 - Present
    • Nichols Hills, OK, USA.

    Invented BIG FAT YARN tm, licensed to Jazwares toys in 2020. Founded Collage Crafts LLC, and surpassed $1 Million in sales in 2020 of new, patent pending, recycled plastic bottle yarn as the lead product. Launched ITP Group in the U.S. Market in 2012 Developed and sold as sole US consultant over 10 Million in sales consisting of private label yarn programs and associated inventive devices which are currently selling in Michaels Stores, Hobby Lobby, and Knitting Fever. I developed and sold over 40 new looms, implements, accessories, notions, and storage for Michaels and Hobby Lobby private labels in recent years. Michaels yarn winners were the Facets fall program and Free Spirit which hit the highest retail price ever sold in Michaels, $34.99, with outstanding sales in millions. I have brought innovation to all clients with inventive and new fibers, toys, marketing programs, and devices or machines.

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  Betty's Brands (Licensor & Inventor)

  • Oklahoma City, OK

  • President, CEO, Sole Proprietor

    • 2000 - Dec 2019
    • Oklahoma City, OK

    Product development of my inventions and sourcing. Developing private label programs currently selling in Michaels Stores, Hobby Lobby, Tuesday Morning, Knitting Fever Distributors, etc. Product lines having sold successfully at retail include: The Serenity Loom™ with around 700,000 hits on You Tube, Weave Quick, knit Quick knitting machine, Hexagon Loom, Facets & other yarns (Michaels brands), Lap Looms, Feltpoint™ line & Feltpoint Machine, Felt Bead Shaker, Jumbo Spool Knitter, Mini Loom, Carousel Loom, Purse Knitters, Sock Blocker, Astounding yarn and others (Hobby Lobby private label), Betty's rosewood needles (Tuesday Morning), Betty's latch hook, Betty's Quickpoint, Heirloom Hooking™ Rug Kits, Fabcrafts™, Wonder Hook Locker Hook Kits (Lamon Enterprises), Zoom Looms™ (Artistic Woodworking wood looms and tools), Plush Point tm, RugPoint. The Bling Machine tm sparkle setter machine, Make it Snappy tm, Make it Furry, etc. line of boxed toy crafts. Many older Betty Brand items dating back to 1978 can be seen on eBay from time to time.I develop products from an idea to sales. I create prototypes, new brands/trademarks/logos, packaging (rapid prototyping & print ready graphics), participate in sales calls, trade shows (design sales materials, signage, displays, catalogs, etc.). I take products from inception to final retail packaging working independently or with a client's team.

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  Artistic Woodworking-Imperial, Nebraska

  • Imperial, Nebraska

  • Licensor of Zoom Looms tm, Rosewood & exotic wood devices & implements,

    • Jan 2003 - Jan 2008
    • Imperial, Nebraska

    Recently created two wood weaving looms sold to Michaels. I created some of the first knitting looms in wood (before the fad began). I also introduced exotic wood implements to the mass market through Hobby Lobby's private brand, Yarnology.

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  The Ohio Art Company

  • Bryan, Ohio

  • Licensor of KidsKrafts tm

    • 1997 - 1999
    • Bryan, Ohio

    I developed 3 craft lines (total of 18 products) under the brand Kidz Krafts which was a division formed by Ohio Art for the craft industry. Sold to major retailers such as Toys "R" Us, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, etc.

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  Craft House International

  • Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

  • Licensor of Lap Looms

    • Jan 1990 - Jan 1998
    • Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

    Sales around $1 million. Created line of boxed and blister packages of modular looms. Sold to most major retailers, i. e.,Walmart, Michaels, Joann's, Hobby Lobby.

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  Cranston Textile Group, Cranston, RI.

  • Licensor of FabCrafts tm, fabric knitting system.

    • Jan 1992 - Jan 1997

    Created line of FabCrafts which involved using seconds or recycled fabrics cut into strips for a knitting & crochet program. Created packaging, displays, signage, trade show booths, catalogs, project sheets, and line of kits, plus the jumbo spool knitter. Sales around $1 million.Sold to Joann's, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Hancock's Fabrics, etc.

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  Olmec Toy Company, division of Hasbro Inc.

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Board of Directors

    • 1990 - 1995
    • Greater New York City Area

    I designed packaging and developed new concepts. I handled sales in Hong Kong and worked with the agent. I handled sourcing and vendors in China. I worked on the business plan and arranged and attended investor meetings such as Allen & Company and then relations with Hasbro after they bought an interest in the company.

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  Technology At Play, Inc.

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Co Founder and Vice President

    • Jan 1989 - Jan 1993
    • Greater New York City Area

    Created "Talkie Teddy" and raised around $500,000 in equity capital. Scheduled for an IPO but Teddy Ruxpin came along and scooped the market. Developed a business plan. Created talking teddy bear prototypes (in China) packaging, video, and marketing materials.

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  KristiKits, Inc.

  • Dix Hills, New York

  • Founder and President

    • Jan 1983 - Jan 1988
    • Dix Hills, New York

    Start Up company, manufactured and sold over $1 million of Latch Hook kits.

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  Betty's Needlepoint, Inc.

  • Pawtucket, RI

  • Founder and President

    • 1975 - 1982
    • Pawtucket, RI

    I founded Betty's Needlepoint, Inc. in 1975 in my garage and it grew to over $10 million in sales. It was sold to Quincrafts Corporation and later bought by Colorbok Inc., the present owner. The basic line has never been off the market (over 30 years) and many of the original products which I designed are selling today. The products were based on my invention of a printed plastic large hole sewing grid which I called Quickpoint. The line also included latch hook kits and other needlework kits. Imitations of the original Quickpoint 6" square framed beginner sewing kit can be seen by many companies. Originals can be seen on EBay under Betty's Quickpoint and LatchHook.