New November Event
Hallmark will be adding a new in-store “snowman” event in November called: Snowvember (LET it SNOW) Weekend Event.
Stay tune for additional details!
Debut Reveal and Frosty Mystery Ornaments Return
In order to create excitement for this years Ornament Debut, Hallmark will once again be releasing four Reveal Ornaments* and three New Frosty Mystery Ornaments** in conjunction with the event. The mystery ornaments, which will be based on the same blank used for last years pieces, will include: Frosty’s Sweet Ride (based on the Santa’s Sweet Ride series), Winter Fairy (based on the Fairy Messengers series) and Astronaut Frosty (Frosty dawning a space suit, in preparation for his latest venture away from the North Poll).
Frosty Mystery Ornaments
* Reveal Ornament – An ornament whose identity is not revealed until it is available for purchase during an in-store event.
** New Mystery Ornament – An ornament whose design is modified to create different variations and then packaged using a single uniform box design, thus creating a concealed random sample. In addition to having the Keepsake box sealed, the ornament is sealed in a non-see-through bag to prevent peeking!
Additional Historical Information
During the 2011 Ornament Debut, Hallmark released four Reveal Ornaments: Corvette® 100th Anniversary Corvette® (QXI2349), Tribute Barbie® Doll Barbie™ Ornament (QXI2479), DJ S.C. (QXG3207) and Hickory Tree Harmony (QXG3209) and a New Frosty Mystery Ornament blank painted in three different ways including: Hawaiian Frosty, Toymaker Frosty and Kris’ Penguin Frosty.
2012 Sneak Peek: KOC Members Ornament Premiere Gift
Sweet Mouse
Keepsake Ornament Club (KOC) Members will once again receive a free ornament during the 2012 Ornament Premiere when they purchase a Hallmark Keepsake ornament priced $7.95 or more. This years KOC Ornament Premiere gift, “Sweet Mouse”, was created by contributing artist Katrina Bricker. It depicts a chubby little gray mouse sitting down holding a white glazed star shaped cookie at his side.
NOTE: A scaled down version of “Sweet Mouse” was Katrina Bricker’s contribution to Santa’s Armoire, the 2010 Keepsake Artist In-Store Signing Events collaborative piece. He can be found hiding on top, behind the crown molding.
In-Store Artist Signing (Signed Pieces)
Mrs. Claus’s Stove
In order to create excitement at this years ‘In-Store Artist Signings’, each of the 16 locations (local clubs/stores) hosting an event, will be having a Register-to-Win drawing. Two lucky winners, at each event, will walk away with a fully signed Mrs. Claus’s Table.
Additionally, each club will be given one fully signed Mrs. Claus’s Stove, to be used at the event, for either a charity raffle or silent auction with the proceeds to be donated to a charity of each clubs choosing.
Announcement: Local Club Challenge Participation Gift
Frosty Fun Decade
Special Edition
Hallmark is acknowledging the efforts of all local clubs, who sent in a submission for the 2012 “In-Store Signing Events Local Club Challenge,” by sending each participating club a 2011 Special Edition, Hallmark Associate, “Frosty Fun Decade” repaint.
Although it is suggested that this gift could be used for a drawing or fund raiser, clubs may use it in whatever way they choose.
2012 (Susan G. Komen For the Cure) Ornament
Beauty and grace come together in this Keepsake ornament celebration breast cancer awareness. Features a white bisque angel standing in a full length dress with her arms out stretched to her side. A bright pink ribbon loops around her waist and folds over on itself to create the symbol that has come to be identified with this cause. $2 from the sale of this ornament will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.
Angel of Grace
For breast cancer information, visit www.komen.org.
2012 Dream Book Covers Revealed
There will be two print versions of this years Dream Book. In addition to the in-store Dream Book, which will be available at local retailers in early April, Hallmark has once again produced a Keepsake Ornament Club Edition.
As previously reported, this Special club edition will be mailed directly to KOC members starting at the end of March.
The cover of the in-store Dream Book spotlights the 13th in series, Toymaker Santa, by Ken Crow on it’s cover. This year Santa is standing up (stepping forward) holding a Jack-in-the box in one hand while he cranks it with his other hand.
The Keepsake Ornament Club Edition Dream Book showcases “Trimming The Tree”, the 2012 Magic-Cord Frosty Friends ornament. Frosty and his pals (penguin and polar bear cub) are depicted decorating a Christmas tree. The ornament features a round circular snow topped base and surrounded with an underwater scene.
Additional Historical Information
Although the first booklet containing a pictorial review of the then current Keepsake ornament line was released in ’79, it wasn’t until ’90 that the “Dream Book” name was first included on the cover of the annual Keepsake ornament catalog.
Announcement: Mattel properties (Barbie and Fisher-Price) to end in 2012
Hallmark takes pride in offering all of the top five licenses for their product categories, and seven of the top 10 licenses. Having contracts with companies like Disney, Warner Brothers, Lucasfilm and many others means they can create products that their customers look for in their stores.
Unfortunately, in the highly competitive licensing arena, the game is constantly changing.
That is the case with Hallmark’s 20-year relationship with Mattel. In the past couple of years, Mattel changed its licensing strategy, which means Hallmark’s licensing requirements no longer align with Mattel’s approach. Hallmark and Mattel wished to continue to work together on ornaments, but because Mattel had changed its long-standing approach to licensing, it was not possible for Hallmark and Keepsakes to remain in the relationship. As a result, 2012 is the last year Hallmark will have any Mattel properties – most notably Barbie and Fisher-Price. And the place where this will be most evident is in Keepsakes.
In the 2012 Dream Book that mails in mid-March, two series Barbie ornaments are noted as “final in series.”
2012 Sneak Peek: Thanksgiving Keepsake Ornament
A Thanksgiving Feast
The PEANUTS® Gang
Later this year, Hallmark will be releasing it’s first ever Thanksgiving Keepsake ornament.
This ornament will feature Snoopy, sporting both a Pilgrim hat and jacket, serving his infamous toast, candy and popcorn meal. Woodstock who is also dressed for the occasion, is wearing an Indian headband complete with a single feather, is perched on the brim of Snoopy’s hat.
2012 Sneak Peek: Halloween Keepsake Ornaments
The 2012 Halloween Keepsake ornaments will once again focus on The PEANUTS® Gang.
In addition to having three individual figural ornaments featuring various characters standing on a patch of grass, holding their pumpkin counterparts, there will be a fourth ornament that captures the iconic moment when Lucy, bobbing for apples, bites down on one only to find Snoopy at the other end while Charlie Brown cheers on in the background.
Charlie Brown o’Lantern
The PEANUTS® Gang
Snoopy and Woodstock o’Lanterns
The PEANUTS® Gang
Lucy o’Lantern
The PEANUTS® Gang
Bobbing for Apples
The PEANUTS® Gang
ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Halloween Keepsake ornaments debuted in 2003. Among the introductory offerings were 8 coordinating ornaments: Van Ghoul (QFO6007), Sneakaboo (QFO6009), Mr. Tap Happy (QFO6017), Zephyr (QFO6019), Acrobats (QFO6029), Mesmerelda (QFO6039), Midnight Serenade (QFO6047), Stack O’Lanterns (QFO6049) and a display piece, 1300 Oak Road (QFO6037) for this collection.