In This Issue:
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A Wide Variety of Opportunities Characterize Summer Show Season
It's time for the summer trade show season. Here are just a few of the opportunities at some of the major shows.
AmericasMart's The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market (July 8-15) will have a full roster of seminars and events, ranging from multiple hospitality events, with a variety of food and drink, to a Kindle Fire giveaway and many informational seminars. The latter include "Keep it Clean and Comfy" with Sunny Anderson of the Food Network show "The Kitchen", "From the Outdoors In: Clients' Most Wanted Design",
Presented by John Gidding, Host of HGTV's "Curb Appeal: The Block" and "
50 Store Display Ideas That Move Merchandise" presented by Becky Tyre, Senior Trends Editor of GIFT SHOP Magazine.
Dallas Market Center announced in May that renovations are underway in two areas of the Trade Mart to meet the needs of the growing luxury gift, lifestyle design, and gourmet housewares categories in Dallas.
"The Trade Mart renovations are part of a strategic plan to further establish Dallas as a leader in fine gifts and lifestyle brands," said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center. "We launched our dedicated Total Housewares & Gourmet Market in January 2013 and have seen a surge across gourmet products and luxury gifts via our professional sales agencies and temporaries."
The upcoming Summer Las Vegas Market, July 27-31, will highlight an original series of programs and educational sessions led by top industry influencers as well as many leaders from various fields of business and design. The complimentary roster of sessions will be retail-facing as well as design-focused, and present attendees with a broad range of topics including merchandising, color and product trends, e-commerce and digital strategies, customer loyalty and sales training techniques, plus much more.
"Each market, we aim to deliver a compelling slate of programs that adds value to attendees' experience and gives them meaningful take-aways that will benefit their businesses," said Scott Eckman, chief marketing and strategy officer of International Market Centers (IMC).
Las Vegas seminars will include the fashion-focused seminars, such as "Behind the Design", a panel discussion of NBC's first season of "American Dream Builders" with the show's winner Lukas Machnik, celebrity designer host Monica Pederson and some favorite contestants from the show. Business-oriented programs will include Becky Tyre of GIFT SHOP Magazine presenting the "The Big Picture: Marketing Your Store to Get the Most from the Biggest Shopping Days of the Year!".
NY NOW™ The Market for Home + Lifestyle will extend its range of resources for retailers with the launch of a new co-located event, IMPULSE at NY NOW, beginning in August 2014. Presented alongside NY NOW's NEW! Collection at the Passenger Ship Terminal's Pier 94, this new trade event will offer buyers exclusive access to some 100 suppliers of impulse and point-of-purchase specialty gifts and accessories.
"This is the first of many exciting synergies resulting from Emerald Expositions' recent acquisition of NY NOW and GLM," said Christopher McCabe, executive vice president of Emerald Expositions. "IMPULSE at NY NOW is a reimagining and repositioning of our ASD New York Wholesale Expo as an extension of NY NOW, the nation's premier marketplace for design-driven home and lifestyle merchandise. By running concurrently with the NY NOW's NEW! Collection, we can increase the number and type of resources presented to NY NOW attendees and continue to provide Emerald Exposition's ASD exhibitors with new market opportunities."
See specific information about vendors in "Quick News" below.
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Featured Vendors
indicates a CAMEO EZ© web site.
AHS Lighting Has been providing affordable lamps and lamp shades for over 40 years. We offer gift & home accent lamps and shades. Our sales and customer service department will exceed your expectations with timely delivery and friendly service. You can create your own lamp with our mix & match program.
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Badash Crystal : Our broad selection of mouth blown tabletop and decorative accessories from around the world will surely meet your needs. Every piece is individually and safely boxed. We offer superb quality and value for all your gift giving, bridal and/or personal pleasure.
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Bridge Brands Chocolate was created to provide chocolate lovers with gourmet-quality, superbly packaged chocolate at a non-gourmet price. Since debuting in 1999, our chocolates have become a favorite with San Francisco locals and visitors alike.
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Brownlow Gifts : Brownlow produces a full line of inspirational gifts for every occasion. You will find useful and attractive home decor gifts for the kitchen, bedrooms, study and all other rooms in the house. Brownlow is well known for gourmet products, journals, gifted paper items, photo albums, photo frames, decorative sentiment plaques, a variety of stationery, many different ceramic gifts as well as a large assortment of inspirational gift books. Most products are in coordinating themes that retailers can purchase in eye-catching countertop display collections.
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Camille Beckman is known worldwide for the quality of their fine creams and lotions. For the past 18 years, this 'Made in America' product has been rated #1 in the personal care industry and continues to offer formulas based on rich and wholesome ingredients, blending small batches and using hand-crafted, old-fashioned methods that create a difference you can feel! Being that personal care products are an indispensable item for many gift shops, Camille Beckman is a natural choice because of their 27 years of service to the locally owned gift industry.
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Clarissa Tumblers: The Clarissa Tumblers' motto is: There's no order that's too big or too small - we do them all! Our customers are our priority and enjoy receiving our services to provide them with quality custom and personalized tumblers for their weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, golf tournaments, family reunions, custom brand marketing, and more. Clarissa Tumblers is passionate about tumblers, and knows that their tumblers are second to none, and pride themselves on their superior customer service.
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Coast Lamp Manufacturing was established and incorporated in the state of Florida in 1955. Now, a North Carolina Corporation since 1975, located in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. We are a family owned and operated company. Our product is UL/ULC listed and approved and made in the USA. Customer satisfaction and a long lasting relationship are our goals. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you.
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Custom Wood Gifts (formerly Sheila's) offers an assortment of architectural and specialty gift items for the home, office, or your next event. Each replica is made in the USA using a unique process to match the original design and customer specification.
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Divinity Boutique is a gift company that is focused on trendy and fun gifts that feature inspirational verse and themes.
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Elegant Baby Elegant Baby® understands that babies deserve style just as fresh as they are! Our marvelous collection of baby products is full of bold colors and spectacular designs. From traditional to contemporary, today's baby gift is sure to become tomorrow's treasure. Products ranging from My First Rubber Ducky to My First Baby Bible, My First Baby Blankie, My First Baby Jeans to the iconic silver spoon, Elegant Baby is where style meets tradition.
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Europa Home decorincluding glass, candleholders and candles for garden, lodge, awards, gourmet food, sale items and more. |
FoneFace features fun, colorful, stretchable smart phone covers, "created by a kid for kids". Christian "Crash" Sanchez was a high school freshman when he created the fun covers many with an animal theme. |
Flair Hair : Need a spikey flair to your day? Flair Hair is the answer! You can wear Flair Hair Visors anywhere. The comfortable adjustable bandanas and visors with hair are great for golfing, fishing, riding your motorcycle, hiking in the mountains and anything else you can think of. No matter where you go, our hats with hair ensure you will be the life of the party. Whether you want to sport the blonde colored hair you grew up with, or throw in a change-up with brown, black, or gray; people will notice!
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Fortune Keeper : Have you ever opened a fortune cookie, had a powerful connection to the message inside, and wanted to hold on to it for inspiration? Do you have other inspirational messages or pictures that you would love to wear? Welcome to FortuneKeeper - Beautifully designed necklaces, keychains and bracelets to safely store your prized fortunes, quotes, mantras, prayers, pictures or affirmations. |
Galt International is a family owned and managed company with its Headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. We also maintain fully staffed buying offices in China to oversee our procurement efforts there. Started in 1996, Galt International continues to grow as a major provider to the gift and decorative accessories markets in the United States and Latin America.
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Gently Spoken: Our dream is to touch a million hearts with words of affirmation and encouragement. Thanks to YOU, our dream is becoming a reality. PEAS are changing hearts and lives! Turn the pages and you'll discover why. Featuring the "Eat Your Peas" books.
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GetSassy's has fun, colorful, cool, hip gifts that are sure to bring a smile to everyones face! From flour sack towels to baby and toddler t-shirts, koozies, wooden memo holders and linens, Get Sassys designs make shopping fun! |
Gina B. Designs is an award-winning greeting card, gift and stationery products company featuring exceptional art and design. With an array of styles, variety of products and outstanding customer service, Gina B. Designs has "something for everyone." All products are proudly made in the U.S.A. |
The Grandparent Gift Co. creates unique sentimental and thoughtful gifts for all generations of the family. Specializing in innovative ultrasound gifts to memorials and all life in between. We have many products handcrafted or assembled in the USA like our popular Made Like You glass crosses and new Always an Angel pewter angels. Some of our best-selling categories include: grandparents, godparents, baptism, pet memorial, handprint frames and first grandchild gifts. Look for our yellow awning at the Atlanta Gift Show, Building 3, Booth 5-401. Show specials and our trademark candies will be waiting! |
Highland Graphics : a leader in functional gift with decorative items for gift giving and kitchen. From our topselling Absorbastone coasters, to our decorative bamboo cutting boards, everything we manufacture is made in the USA. Our high quality plus competitive pricing lets our customers make higher margins. We feature licensed art, official collegiate products and have a full range of custom capabilities with low minimums.
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JTP Wholesale : JTP Wholesale is a wholesale website offering monogrammed bathroom tissue, coasters and a line of t-shirts for the young and old: Future Jock t-shirts and onesies and X-Jock adult t-shirts.
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Julia Knight : Designer Julia Knight creates bowls and trays, glassware and serving pieces with meticulous patterns and shapes, color and hue.
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Leslie Handpainted Glass : Leslie Hand Painted Glass is Proudly Painting in Portland Oregon USA
Specializing in Custom & Regionally Specific Designs - Personalized Wedding & Bridal Parties - Corporate Gifts & Events.
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Luvali Convertibles features "all things reversible or convertible", including women's and children's clothing, hats, handbags, handheld electronics cases and more.
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Malibu Creations collection of affordably chic home décor will turn your decorating daydreams into reality with fun and stylish designs inspired by the warm colors of sun-kissed beaches, the refreshing comforts of mountainside resorts, and the vibrance of today's active lifestyle. Malibu Creations believes you should be able to decorate and redecorate your home as inspiration strikes, and with the company's smart prices, you don't have to miss out on a single design trend you love. Live your life in affordable luxury as you spend time with family and friends in your beautifully decorated home, enjoying an evening of dining on the patio or just relaxing in a cozy, sunny nook in the living room.
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Mya Grace features unique jewelry, keychains, watches and snaps. Mya Grace donates a portion of our profits to childrens cancer research.
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Nicole Brayden Gifts : A bright and fun collection of stationery, mugs, party supplies, handbags and many other cute gifts.
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Nissan Edutainment: "VIPO Adventures of the Flying Dog" is an exciting 3D animation in seven languages - English, Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, Portuguese and Russian (User Defined)- aimed at young audiences and their families. VIPO, a cuddly cute dog, learns how to use his exceptionally long ears to fly! Together with his friends, Henry the stork and Betty the toy cat, VIPO sets out from his home in Vipoland to explore the world. Along the way, they learn about new places and cultures in many exciting fun-filled adventures.
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Obersee (formerly O3 USA) : Founded on principles of creativity, functionality and a funky spirit, O3 USA strives strive to offer products that are unique, stylish, and, most importantly, cool. From kids' backpacks and luggage with integrated coolers, to fun accessories for the family, we hope you find what you are looking for with us here at O3!
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Pure Factory Naturals: With over a decade of experience in natural skin care, PUREfactory Naturals delivers a fresh and fun approach with a modern and sincere take on skin care. Our commitment speaks loud and clear: natural is best and simplicity is beautiful.
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Red Carpet Studios, Ltd.: All Jazzed Up™ Fashion Accessories for Fall & Spring. A wide range of Giftware for the Home & Garden. Visit our website for New Products & Specials.
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snoozies!® are not socks and they're not slippers - sort of a crossover between the two and that's why we call them "foot coverings"! snoozies!® are made with a brushed fleece exterior in colorful & fun printed patterns and then lined with a soft Sherpa fleece inside. |
Shade Tree Greetings' "Actual Pictures" are recognized as one of the best-selling greeting card lines in the industry. Nostalgic photographs and clever, funny verses make these cards a success. Go to our website to browse over 300 styles. GREAT introductory programs and free fixtures.
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Stupell Industries : one of America's premier suppliers of handcrafted decorative accessories for upscale homes and offices. In business for over 30 years, our line includes a wide variety of baby products, kitchen and bathroom plaques, wall hangings, faux windows, picture frames, and other unique decorative objects. We are constantly enlarging and updating our product offering to keep abreast of the latest trends and styles in the fast-paced home decorative market.
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Sunbelt
Marketing Group, Inc. Licensed and non-licensed products tailored for the men's market. Items include both functional and decorative giftware for the home, i.e. wall décor, clocks, shelves, coat and key racks, etc. Licenses include Coca-Cola, General Motors, Ford, Carroll Shelby, Farmall, John Wayne and Elvis Presley. Product mediums include wood, resin, ceramic, glass and mixed mediums. Sunbeltgifts recently developed its own line of gifts for the aviation market and acts as a contract manufacturer. |
Sunday Greetings
is a greeting card company that started when Brenda Kellman made a homemade birthday card for her husband Alan. Brenda's photography is on the cover of the company's greeting cards for every occasion. |
Tripar International Inc.: Tripar International is your source for both displays and decorative accessories. Our extensive product line includes a wide assortment of easels, risers, ornament stands, plate racks, mirrors, jewelry displays, and unique display pieces. We are also an excellent source for wine accessories, wall decor, inspirational signs, and cookbook stands. We offer quality with style, low minimums and fast shipping. |
Under Stella's Umbrella features long-time favorites Bellemonde and Finewhines, plus newer lines like Whispers, as well as Garden Party, The Born Identities, and Pewter-A-Peel. Products range from luggage to tabletop to baby products. |
Wellspring makes functional products with fresh designs for companies that sell gifts. Great fun and cute personal accessories designed for the purse, stationery designed for organization and Flip Notes- the best-selling slim notepad consistently ranked by retailers as a top 10 in sell through. Perfect 4th quarter pick up gifts at under $10 retail- a sweet spot with today's consumer. Now with collegiate logos! www.WellspringGift.com. |
White Mountain Puzzles is ahead of the pack when it comes to puzzles with educational content. Why not learn something while doing a puzzle? If you love to travel, why not put together an entertaining birds eye view of KEY WEST, MARTHA'S VINEYARD, BOSTON or NEW ENGLAND? Or work on a puzzle of states like MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, OHIO, VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA or GEORGIA? Or learn something about PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY or THE CIVIL WAR? These challenging projects take artists like DAVID HARRISON WRIGHT, DEB MARCONI, GARY TORISSI, and MAUREEN RUPPRECHT months to create. |
Wild Habitat Lin Mfg & Design (Wild Habitat) is located in Logan, UT, and is a manufacturer of hosiery and apparel. BAMBOO Loungewear and MICROFIBER Seamless Cami/boyshort are new additions to their collection. Other items that are part of their Wild Habitat Collection are: Baby Booties, Plush Hats, Backpack Buddy's, and over 100 designs of socks.
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WOW Window Posters , for Halloween and Holidays, are brilliantly colored, backlit plastic window posters that illuminate with your household lamps to delight all people who pass by! They fit big and small windows alike, and quickly decorate your home by transforming your windows into an incredible display of holiday art! |
Zingz And Thingz : Located in Santa Monica, California, Zingz & Thingz proudly offers more than 700 products to retailers. The company's merchandise strengths are in our wide selection of affordable and fun Garden Decor items and our continually expanding Lighting collection. Discover Zingz And Thingz' extensive collection of fun and functional products today and put a little zing in your life.
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Slay That Dragon!
Dear friends,
At the beginning of each new year, I like to give the year a name to inspire me to become a better and more productive member of society.
Frankly, I often fail.
- The Year of Listening was especially hard.
- The Year of Organization was soon forgotten.
- The Year of Gratitude wasn't a big enough challenge.
In January, I had this brilliant idea to call 2014 "The Year of No Excuses". You guessed it. It wasn't
long before I started making excuses for my excuses. With the word "loser" written all over my
forehead, I soon lost hope in ever becoming a more dynamic leader or individual.
And then one morning, everything changed.
I woke up with three words that would change my year forever — Slay That Dragon. Within
minutes, I jumped out of bed with a gesture resembling a karate chop. 2014 would become the
Year to Slay My Dragons! With a renewed spirit to conquer and gain control of my crazy family
and entrepreneurial life, I prepared to go to battle and slay all 3,042 of my dragons.
So where does a new dragon slayer begin? The big fangs and searing hot fire of the
Procrastination Dragon was my worst and most relentless enemy which lead me to loads of
little dragons or sub-dragons, like the:
The Dreaded Paper Dragon — After sorting through the papers on my desk and stacking them
in order of priority, I gave myself 3-5 minutes to slay each one of them. Filing the papers or
shredding them had equal satisfaction. Action never felt this good . . .
The Phone Call Dragon — One by one, I crossed each name off of my list. Chop. Chop.
The Decision Dragon — Making a decision was better than making no decision at all. Sure,
sometimes I'd screw up. I had to learn to trust my gut again.
The Conversation Dragon — You know, those tough but necessary conversations with an
employee, vendor, spouse, or sister. It was time to have them.
I won't bore you with the Email Dragon, the Wellness Dragon, the Passive-Aggressive Dragon —
you already get the picture. So what have I learned? More karate chops, more slaying my
dragons equals free time to enjoy the rest of my life with less burden, guilt, and worry.
Slaying ALL of my dragons is a process and it will take a lifetime. My husband wanted to make
sure I'd never forget. On Valentine's Day, I woke to a beautifully wrapped package on the bed.
Could it be that candelabra from Patina I had been yearning for? Not a chance. Instead, it was
a two-foot tall lime green plastic dragon! With an actual symbol of my year to live by in my
office, I am now reminded daily that Slaying My Dragon will make 2014 an especially exciting,
peaceful, and prosperous year. Now my friends and family members want their own dragon. I
guess I'm not the only one with dragons in my closet. Oh, you too? I'd love to hear your story.
Ever grateful,
Cheryl Karpen
As a speaker, author and product developer, Cheryl Karpen thrives on telling stories that inspire the heart and mind. With nearly a million gift books sold, her self-publishing company, Gently Spoken, is best known for the Eat Your Peas Collection (www.gentlyspoken.com). Cheryl can be reached at 877-224-7886 or at cherylkarpen@aol.com.
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Quick Industry News
TRADE SHOW NEWS
Sassy Stuff to Show In Dallas and Atlanta
Hot Springs, AR, June 4, 2014 - Sassy Stuff will be showing their "unique girly gifts" this summer at the Dallas Market in the June Kidwell & Co. showroom (#209 WTC) and in Atlanta in the Gift Temps with BK Enterprises, Building 3, 5th Floor. Many of the products are embellished with rhinestones, embroidery & hand printed "attitude" phrases.
Show Specials Featured by All For Giving
Scottsdale, AZ, June 4, 2014 - All For Giving is offering five percent off orders written at the Atlanta Gift show of $501 or more and three percent off orders written at for orders of $300-$500. All For Giving will be in the DHR Showroom (Building 2, Space 1500) at AmericasMart. The vendor's wide array of accessories includes: wine stoppers, wine glass charms, wine boxes and faux fur wine bags, Along with coordinating picture frames, magnetic note pads, votive candles and coasters. All For Giving collections include: coastal, vintage, classic, animal print and a old world style that will impress even the most difficult. Decor Magnets are pictured.
Don Mark Exhibiting New "Toilet Accessories" at Summer Shows
Atlanta, GA, June 4, 2014 - Don Mark has gone to the Crapper. A must see are the Toilet Accessories by Don Mark, new this Summer. Between 52 different styles of "Toilet-Tattoo's" and 3 styles of "Bob's Butt Wipes" Don Mark has something you just have to see. Over 100 new items debuting at the summer shows in the company's Atlanta showroom (Building 2 734), New York (Booth 5435) as well as our rep showrooms in Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis.
Desden Rolls Out Collegiate Items for Summer Shows
Houston, Texas, June 9, 2014 - Desden has added several new items to its line of collegiate licensed, Made-in-the-USA and everyday items. New are Collegiate licensed Clear stadium totes as well as canvas totes in several colors. They are great for monogramming and all made in the USA. Desden will be showing in The Southern Link showroom in Atlanta (Building 1, 16th floor) and the Next Generation showroom in Dallas (Trade Mart 1028).
PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS
Shade Tree Greetings Announces Marianne Richmond Card Line
Rochester, New York, May 2, 2014 - Shade Tree Greetings announced a completely new release of an inspirational line of cards. Written and designed by the well-known talented writer and painter, Marianne Richmond, "Art from the Heart" will feature several categories from birthday to sympathy and include a range of associated items such as travel mugs, magnets, and note pads. Shade Tree president Rich Cancilla says, "We feel very fortunate to have found such a fresh and exciting look which Marianne has created for Shade Tree. Since Shade Tree is widely known for it's humor lines, "Art From The Heart" gives us an opportunity to offer our customers a totally new type of product."
Recently cited as a top 10 line by Giftbeat, 22-year-old, Rochester, New York-based company attributes it's growth to quality products with a constant commitment to refreshing it's lines, all of which are supported by industry leading customer service.
New (or New Look) Wholesale Websites
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Paulson Designs built a brand new CAMEO EZ© wholesale website this month. The company is a college decor and accessory manufacturer, specializing in quality canvas prints for college fans everywhere to enjoy. It's motto is "KEEP TRADITION", which stems from its founders' commitment to honor those who "KEEP" each University's "TRADITIONS" sacred.
Uniformed just opened its new CAMEO EZ© website. The Uniformed mission is simple, to provide a means for past, present and future service members and their families to strengthen and preserve their memories of serving our great nation. It is about more than just providing an album that looks great: we want our military community and its supporters to feel pride and secure their memories forever, laying the groundwork to inspire others to make a difference by serving.
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