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Nelson 2016 Year in Review |
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Dear Wholesale Customers,
How are you all in this fine new year?
This is Kevin Nelles, Mark Nelson’s Director of Sales & Marketing. I would like to offer a 2016 Nelson Year in Review for your enjoyment, laughter, frustration, inspiration, and hopefully, loyalty.
2016 was, for us and for the whole Catholic Market, a “non-Pope year.” There was nothing especially eventful happening in Rome this year that would have an effect in our market—no councils or synods, no Papal Encyclical, no Papal Visit to the United States, and certainly no New Pope.
But we do manage to keep ourselves very busy, nonetheless, whether it is a "Pope Year" or a "Non-Pope Year." Here are some highlights from our 2016: New Developments in 2016 New Stations of the CrossOur stations line was bolstered by the introduction of not one, but two new sets of image. The late-German style Emmerich stations and the baroque-Italian Bertucci stations joined our traditional set reproduced from St. Peter’s in Steubenville and quickly became popular in their own right. Vilnius Divine MercyAfter years of flirting with the Original/Vilnius Divine Mercy image and carrying only a small line of framed prints in limited sizes, we went all-in by offering the Vilnius image on large and small canvas, plaques, banners, and bibles. Sacrament Line BolsteredBefore 2016, our total number of sacrament occasion greeting cards was zero. By April of 2016, we had rolled out over 50 new cards, including popular but hard-to-find cards such as First Reconciliation, Spiritual Bouquet, Deacon Ordination, and Religious Vows’ anniversary. Added to those offerings was a much bolstered Sacrament Certificate line and new Sacrament Holy Cards.
Bibles and CoversGraphic printing and laser-embossed artwork on Bibles and Bible Covers were a truly unique addition this year and became popular as personalized gifts for stores to drop ship. Admittedly, there were a few kinks in the system recently, mostly due to a supply issue with Oxford University Press, our main bible vendor, but looking into 2017, we anticipate no problems and lots of sales!
Our best CMN show, maybe ever! We did gangbusters this summer at the CMN show in Chicago, taking home more orders than we have in at least 6 years. We saw plenty of old friends and met some new ones this year, and we will be delighted to see many of you in Chicago again in 2017! |
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| Mark and Me at the CMN show with our friend, Mike Stark, of the Truth and Life Audio Bible. |
| | Nelson Superstar Customers
These stores continue to dominate among our clientele. They are:
1. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
2. Trinity Road, LLC
3. EWTN Religious Catalogue
4. Leaflet Missal Co.
5. Generations Religious Gifts
Honorable Mentions:
Our Lady’s Gifts, San Diego
Mary Elizabeth runs the gift shop at Our Lady of the Rosary, an Italian Parish in San Diego with a vibrant community and a great love for Our Lady. This year, she used Nelson's to create an entire "Our Lady of the Rosary Parish" product line, featuring greeting cards, mugs, and ornaments with photographs of the parish and its beautiful artwork. We loved working with her on the project, and would encourage more church gift shops to look toward using us for custom products. Great job, Mary Elizabeth!
Mater Dei Radio
When you find a winner of a product, use it! Mater Dei radio surprised us all when they took two beautiful-but-common Nelson gift/decor items and used those items for what turned out to be tens of thousands of dollars in pledges.
Store Comeback Kids of the Year These stores had a big increase in business with us this year and we felt they warranted a mention as well. They are: -Holy Hill Gift Store, Hubertus, WI (+172%)
-Our Lady of Peace Gift Shop, Santa Clara, CA (+191%)
-Fullness of Truth, Kingswood, TX (+245.2%)
-Holy Family Catholic Bookstore, Pleasant Prarie, WI (+373%) |
| | Steubenville's 2nd Annual Nutcracker Village
One year ago today, we shared with you the story of Mark's greatest hobby, the revitalization of downtown Steubenville, and how those efforts have taken a physical manifestation in the Nutcracker Village.
Well folks, last year's impressive selection of 37 lifesize nutcrackers ballooned to 107 nutcrackers this year, all manufactured in our shops, all gathered together in downtown Steubenville amid christmas lights, hot drinks, family, and community. |
| | Each of you brick-and-mortar store owners can play a critical role in your own community, just as the Nelsons did here in Steubenville. It just takes people with passion and vision working together. We hope the story of the Steubenville Nutcracker Village inspires each of you to make a difference in your own communities.
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| | Maddie, Zoe, Gabe, Dominic, Mark, Callista, Gretchen, Max, Gemma, Jake, and Thérèse Nelson Christmas 2016
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On behalf of Mark and his family, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2017.
We look forward to serving you in the year to come, always offering the same quality, creativity, and breadth that you've come to expect from Nelson Fine Art & Gifts.
May God bless all of you, your businesses, and your families.
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