Mary Engelbreit Studios Celebrates $1 Billion
in Lifetime Retail Sales and 20 Years in Art Licensing

CONTACT:
Beth Lauver
Mary Engelbreit Studios
314-726-5646

UPDATED May 23, 2005:

St. Louis, MO – 2006 will mark twenty years in art licensing for Mary Engelbreit Studios [MES] and more than $1 billion worth of ME products sold at retail. Engelbreit will kick off celebrations with a 10-city tour this fall to introduce Mary Engelbreit’s Mother Goose, a 128-page children’s book of 100 best-loved rhymes – a product which represents the pinnacle of MES’ licensing story to date. In honor of the anniversary, products developed in 2005 for a 2006 release will include a commemorative logo (pictured at right).

Strong History
MES signed its first major license in 1986 for greeting cards with Sunrise Greetings. That relationship continues today and has just been extended with a new contract through 2010. In addition to Sunrise Greetings, other long-term licensees include Andrews McMeel (13 years), which has published dozens of calendars and more than 150 book titles over the years (including gift, decorating and cooking books). Mary Engelbreit remains one of the top calendar programs in the country, selling more than one million units annually.

Following the license agreement with Sunrise, MES’ licensing program quickly grew from greeting cards, to calendars, gifts and collectibles, tabletop and other home accents. Mary’s lifelong dream of illustrating children’s books came true in 1993 with the Snow Queen from Workman Publishing. And, in 2001, Engelbreit’s contract for more than twenty books with children’s publishing powerhouse HarperCollins (including the best-selling The Night Before Christmas) solidified her position as a force in children’s publishing.

Breaking New Ground
MES has pioneered several unique areas in art licensing, as well. In 2004, The Night Before Christmas was one of the first children’s books by an art licensor to be translated to animation. The company has also launched three collections of women’s sleepwear and infant apparel since 2003 in a direct license with Mervyn’s department stores. Most notably, MES also remains the only art licensor with a successful national women’s shelter magazine, Mary Engelbreit’s HOME COMPANION, founded in 1996, with a circulation today of 525,000 (readership of 1 million per issue).

MES’ work has been recognized with dozens of awards over the last twenty years. Mary Engelbreit was chosen as the official artist for the White House Easter Egg Roll in 2000. She was also one of the artists selected to create artwork commemorating the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. In both 2001 and 2003, MES was voted the Best Art License of the Year by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association.

“Longevity is rare in this business, with retailers and manufacturers always looking for the newest trend or look. We’re proud that we’ve stayed on top as one of the leading art licensors by adapting to demands of the marketplace, while continuing to produce high quality products with Mary’s unique artwork,” said Mary Engelbreit Studios CEO Greg Hoffmann. He added, “Not only have we been able to adapt to the significant changes in the market, I think our longevity also shows that Mary’s style and the sentiments she expresses are timeless classics. I’m proud of the team of professionals we have developing this brand everyday. I’m often told by our licensees that they’re the best in the business.”

Mary Engelbreit also expressed her gratitude for the company’s success, saying, “I feel so fortunate to be successful doing something I love. I’ve always said I would have continued to draw regardless of any commercial success, but to have so many people appreciate what I do is more than I could have imagined twenty or thirty years ago. This is truly a dream come true, and I couldn’t do it without the support of this incredible company."

The company’s goals for the future include expanding direct licenses with national retailers, increasing national distribution, continuing to grow relationships with consumer products manufacturers and developing additional children’s books and animation titles.

About Mary Engelbreit
Mary Engelbreit is known throughout the world for her colorful and intricate designs, which adorn 14 million greeting cards and 1 million calendars sold each year. Engelbreit holds license agreements with dozens of manufacturers to reproduce her popular illustrations on nearly 6,500 gift and home décor products including books, best-selling children's books, stationery, fabric, crafts, kitchen accessories, dinnerware and other home accents. Her art has also come to life through the children's animated video based on her best-selling book, “The Night Before Christmas.” Thousands of retailers worldwide (including The Mary Engelbreit Store in the Saint Louis Galleria) have sold $1 billion worth of ME products. Engelbreit is also editor-in-chief of a national 525,000-circulation magazine, Mary Engelbreit's HOME COMPANION. For more information, visit www.maryengelbreit.com.