Sandra Magsamen
Sandra Magsamen (born August 22, 1959) is an American author, artist, art therapist, and designer. Magsamen is a leader in the gift industry with multiple lifestyle brands sold across mass markets, specialty, and department stores. She is known as the “Gift Guru,” helping people meaningfully connect through her products and ideas.
Bio
In 1987, Magsamen began creating her own art in her kitchen to commemorate the varied experiences and inspirations embedded in everyday life. She created a collection of pottery for her newborn daughter as a gift of life lessons. This gift became the essence of her life work.
In response to a growing demand for her handmade originals, Magsamen founded Table Tiles, Inc., her handmade gift company in 1991, which, in less than a decade, expanded into a multimillion-dollar gift business.
In 1997, she began licensing her ideas. Since then, she has designed successful collections for national department stores, mid-tier, specialty, and mass market through her national lifestyle brands From the Studio of Sandra Magsamen, Messages from the Heart, Wishes & Kisses, and Treasured.
Magsamen shares her time between her home in Maryland, near where she grew up, and her studio in Vermont, living artfully with her family.
Gifts
Magsamen’s adult gifting collections can be found under the following brands: From the Studio of Sandra Magsamen, Wishes & Kisses, Living Artfully, Treasured, and Messages from the Heart. Her gift, accessories, and jewelry collections can be shopped in a boutique setting at JCPenney, regional department stores, specialty stores, and Walmart.[1]
Books
Magsamen is a best selling and award-winning author of over 55 adult and children’s books and has sold over 2 million copies to date. Her children’s books consistently rank as best-sellers at Barnes & Noble, Target, and Walmart and are additionally sold nationally in wholesale clubs, independent book sellers, and online retailers. Magsamen's signature lifestyle book, Living Artfully, and “Living Artfully with Sandra Magsamen,” premiered on PBS stations nationwide on December 2006.[2]
Greeting Cards
Magsamen’s successful greeting card program can be found in over 10,000 U.S. Post Offices as well as Office Depot, Barnes & Noble,[3] and various other outlets across the United States.
1-800-FLOWERS
In 2013, Magsamen partnered with online retailer 1-800-Flowers.com and their sister companies Popcorn Factory, Cheryl’s, Fine Stationery, Celebrations, 1-800-Baskets.com, Fruit Bouquets.com, and Fannie May to design exclusive collections for their customers. Magsamen has said of the collaboration, “1-800-Flowers wants to help connect people and so do I, so our partnership is one of deep understanding and shared commitment.”[4]
Oprah
Magsamen is a featured contributor on Oprah.com[5]
Personalization
Personalization is a natural extension of Magsamen's work and in 2014 announced partnerships with Walmart.com, TysToyBox.com, and 1800Flowers.com to bring them personalized product for their customer. Magsamen is also developing a personalized publishing program with PutMeInTheStory.com launching Fall 2014.
Awards & Recognition
Bestsellers:
- Amazon’s Best Books of the Year (2013) – Count My Kisses, 1, 2, 3 and I Love You Honey Bunny
- Best Seller Publisher’s Weekly (October 2010) – I Love You Little Pumpkin
- #1 Selling Board Book Industry Wide – BookScan (October 2010) – I Love You Little Pumpkin
- #7 on the Indie Best Seller List (October 2010) – I Love You Little Pumpkin
Awards:
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio – Baby Love and My Blanket[6]
- NAPPA Gold Award – My Blanket
- #1 Selling Board Book of the Year – BookScan (2009) – Peekaboo I Love You
- Target’s Top 100 Children’s Book (2009) – Peekaboo I Love You
- NAPPA High Honors Award – Butterfly Kisses and Goodnight Little One
References
- ↑ "Walmart". Walmart.
- ↑ "LIVING ARTFULLY with Sandra Magsamen". Acorn Media Group.
- ↑ "Barnes & Noble".
- ↑ "1-800-FLOWERS". 1-800FLOWERS.com.
- ↑ "Sandra on Oprah.com". oprah.com.
- ↑ "Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winners 2007". Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. Archived from the original on February 22, 2007.