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Welcome to Beamer’s Holiday Beat,
Bronner’s e-newsletter for everyone who shares Wally
Bronner’s and my passion for Christmas. (Wally asked
me to tell you there are only 296 days until Christmas!)
Bronner’s buyers have returned from
the winter trade shows and are busy placing orders for
beautiful new products to fill your decorating and gift-giving
needs. Our own ornament design team has finalized artwork
for Bronner’s new, exclusive, 2008 ornaments and
sent the artwork off to ornament manufacturers.
Work on Bronner’s 2008/2009 catalog,
Bronner’s Christmas Favorites, is well underway.
In addition to finalizing orders for all items that will
appear in the new publication, the catalog team is also
designing striking new covers.
Daylight savings time begins on Sunday,
March 9, and the spring equinox arrives on Thursday, March
20. It may still be snowing and blowing on Easter come
March 23, but we will joyously celebrate the resurrection
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Blessed Easter and
Happy Spring to you all!
Thank you for inviting me into your
home. You’re welcome at my home, www.bronners.com
or 25 Christmas Lane in Frankenmuth, all year long!
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Make
a purchase from Bronner’s now through March 17 and
receive 17% OFF your purchase of $17 or more.*
Simply enter COUPON
CODE PT317 at checkout or mention the
offer when you call 800-361-6736 to order or when you
shop Bronner’s in person. Offer expires
3/17/08.
Plan ahead for your spring
decorating needs and special gifting opportunities, including
Easter, bridal showers, weddings and graduations. You
can even get your Christmas shopping done early with these
great savings that also apply to Bronner’s sale
items!
*Must
reference coupon at time of online, in-store or phone
purchase. Commercial displays, wholesale, special orders,
club kits/pieces, gift cards, snack area and shipping
excluded. Discount applicable on purchases of in-stock
merchandise. Not valid with any other offer or on previous
purchases.
Annual Bronner’s Shoppers
Travel the World Photo Contest Winner Announced
| Ellie Unterbrink
of Chelsea, Michigan, won the 2007 Bronner’s
Shoppers Travel the World Photo Contest. The winning
photo features Unterbrink holding a Bronner’s
bag in front of a pyramid in Egypt. She received a
$100 Bronner’s gift certificate for her winning
entry. Entries must capture a person enjoying a visit
to a famous landmark while holding a Bronner’s
bag or brochure. One annual winner is randomly drawn
from all entries. Enter
Bronner’s Shoppers Travel the World Photo Contest. |
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Bi-annual Family Fun Photo Contest Winner Announced
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Albert Maggioli of
Williamsville, New York, recently won Bronner’s
CHRISTmas Wonderland’s Family Fun Photo Contest.
Maggioli received a $100 Bronner’s gift certificate
for the winning photo of him showing his empty pockets
while surrounded by purchases from Bronner’s.
The bi-annual photo contest runs January through
June and July through December. Three finalists
are selected by the Bronner staff and posted at
www.bronners.com where guests to the site vote to
select the winner. Enter Bronner’s
Family Fun Photo Contest.
Entries will be accepted through
June 30, 2008, for our next photo contest. View
Bronner’s Family Fun Photo Contest rules and
entry form. |
Hiipakka Is on Target for Johnny Burke Children’s
Foundation
Local media celebrities were
aiming at $1,014 in prize money for their favorite charities
February 1 at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland’s
Hot Shot Archery Contest.
Six broadcasters competed in the archery
shoot:
Larry Elliott with WJRT TV12 for the Frankenmuth International
Aid Foundation,
Amy Andrews with WNEM TV5 for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of
Saginaw County,
Jim Johnson with WGER Radio for the St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital,
Karl Hiipakka with WHNN Radio for the Johnny Burke Children’s
Foundation,
Katie Crawford with WIOG Radio for the Children’s
Miracle Network, and
Barb Sheltraw with WKCQ Radio for Holiday PRIDE in Saginaw.
Larry Elliott led all archers in the preliminary
round with 200 points. He advanced to the final round
along with Amy Andrews and Karl Hiipakka. Hiipakka edged
Elliott in the final round, 75 points to 60 points, to
win a check from Bronner’s for $1,014 for the Johnny
Burke Children’s Foundation. In recognition of Elliott’s
outstanding preliminary round and strong finish, the Bronner
family awarded the Frankenmuth International Aid Foundation
a check for $500.
The Hot Shot Local Media Celebrity Archery
Contest kicked off Bronner’s Be My Valentine Sale.
Guests received 14 percent off most in-store purchases
throughout the month of February.
(l to r) Amy Andrews, Karl Hiipakka,
Jim Johnson, Larry Elliott, Barb Sheltraw and Katie Crawford
competed for their favorite charities in Bronner’s
Hot Shot Local Media Celebrity Archery Contest.
(l to r) Karl Hiipakka from WHNN finished in first place
on behalf of the Johnny Burke Children’s Foundation,
and Larry Elliott from WJRT TV12 finished in second place
on behalf of the Frankenmuth International Aid Foundation.
National Speaker Visits Bronner’s
Craig MacFarlane addressed members of the
Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, February
27, during a luncheon program at the Bavarian Inn Lodge.
A motivational speaker and goodwill ambassador for Edward
Jones, MacFarlane has been speaking across the continent
in communities that are home to Edward Jones offices since
1991.
Blind since the age of 2, MacFarlane is also an accomplished
athlete. He has won national championships in blind competitions
in water skiing, wrestling, downhill skiing, and track
and field. Profiled by Bob Costas, MacFarlane has addressed
three Republican National Conventions.
Chris Sutorik (left above) and Bob Spletzer (right above)
welcomed MacFarlane (center) to Bronner’s during
his visit to Frankenmuth.
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| Symbol
of the Pomegranate
Throughout the ages, the pomegranate with its abundant
seeds has represented fertility, health and rebirth.
A symbol of resurrection and everlasting life, the pomegranate
is often pictured in Christian art with Virgin Mary
and infant Jesus. Various parts of the plant have been
used medicinally, and the pomegranate is featured in
the coat of arms of several medical associations.
Pomegranate
Glass Ornament
1124530…..$9.99
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The pussy willow, soft harbinger of spring, joins the brilliant
magnolia in welcoming warm weather and the season of resurrection.
Let our tabletop display bring the promise of spring into
your home.
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Watch this space every
month for the results of our previous Question of
the Quarter.
A total of 865 responses
were received from our September e-newsletter’s
question of the quarter. The question and a summary
of the responses are listed below.
Which
tree topper graces the main Christmas tree in your
home?
27.2%
(236) answered "Star"
57.3% (496) answered "Angel"
4.2% (37) answered "Santa"
2.0%
(18) answered "Finial Ornament"
9.0%
(78) answered "Other"
Click
here to answer this
quarter’s poll question:
In which product
category would you like Bronner’s to broaden
its online offerings?
Have an idea for a
possible future
Question of the Quarter? Please email us at holidaybeat@bronner.com
Ornament Painter Reaches Half-Million
Mark
There’s a good chance that one
of the 514,073 ornaments that Linda Barrera has painted
at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland will be hanging
on your tree or the tree of someone you know. Bronner’s
recently recognized Barrera for reaching the half-million
mark in 2007.
Barrera has been personalizing
ornaments at Bronner’s since 1978 when she
was one of only two painters in the department.
“In 2007, 18 painters
personalized 246,616 ornaments,” said Barrera.
“That’s a lot of growth since 1978. In
2008, we are expecting to have 20 ornament painters
and 15 penners on staff to personalize ornaments.”
In 1977, popular names
for personalization included Jennifer, David, Chris,
John, Michael, Jeff, Sue, Brian, Michelle and Jim.
Barrera reported quite a change for 2007 where Emma,
Emily, Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Christopher, Matthew,
Ethan, Madison, Abigail, Olivia and Ava were the names
of choice.
What makes a good ornament
painter?
“Someone with artistic
flair who likes to paint and has a good work ethic,”
said Barrera, who heads up the department.
“I go and visit places and look forward to seeing
ornaments I’ve painted on family and friends’
trees,” Barrera said. “During the summer
months when it’s my turn to be painting out
in the salesroom, I enjoy talking to customers. It’s
always interesting to hear why we’re painting
what we’re painting – the story behind
the ornament. Sometimes it’s a wedding, sometimes
a death or a special accomplishment. Everyone has
a story to tell. Some people tell them with ornaments.”
Bronner’s
Flavorful Favorites
We thought you might like to try one of the recipes
from Bronner’s staff cookbook, “Bronner’s
Flavorful Favorites.” The cookbook features
over 400 recipes submitted by Bronner’s staff
and is available
online or in-store for $13.99. *A second cookbook
is in the works and should be available in the summer
of 2008.
Mexican Beef-Cheese
Soup
Submitted by Jessica Simpson
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies,
undrained
1 (11-oz.) can Mexicorn, drained
1 lb. Mexican or American cheese, cubed
In a large saucepan,
cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is
no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, Mexicorn
and cheese. Cook and stir until cheese is melted.
Serves 6.
Recipe Note: Also makes
an excellent dip for tortilla chips.
| Bible
Verse
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:8
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Coming
Events At Bronner's...
Egg-stra,
Egg-stra … Read All About It!
Visit the Easter Bunny at Bronner’s March
7 through 22. Bunny’s hours will be Monday
through Saturday from 10-10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–noon,
1-1:30 p.m., 2:30-3 p.m. and 4-4:30 p.m. On Friday
evenings, the bunny will make additional appearances
from 6-6:30 p.m. and 7:30-8 p.m. Sunday afternoon
hours for the Easter Bunny will be noon-12:30 p.m.,
1-1:30 p.m., 2:30-3 p.m. and 4-4:30 p.m. Bronner’s
is closed all day on Easter Sunday. The Easter Bunny
will make a special appearance on Good Friday from
3-3:30 p.m.
German
Glassblowing and Painting Demonstration
October 10-19
Thomas and Marlene Horn, artisan
husband-and-wife team, will showcase their ornament-making
talents. Thomas, a skilled glassblower, and Marlene,
a talented painter, represent the Krebs Ornament
Factory in Lauscha, Germany. The Horns will be delighted
to sign any Krebs ornaments purchased at Bronner’s
during their visit. Watch for more information in
the September 2008 edition of Beamer’s Holiday
Beat.
Pam
Chatley Ornament Artist Signing
November 1 & 2
Ornament artist Pam Chatley will sign her ornaments
purchased at Bronner’s on Saturday and Sunday,
November 1 and 2, 2008. Watch for more information
in the September 2008 edition of Beamer’s
Holiday Beat. View
a sample of Ms. Chatley’s work.
Teresa
Thibault Returns
December 12-14
Another ornament artist favorite, Teresa Thibault,
will sign her Heart Gifts ornaments purchased at
Bronner’s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
December 12, 13 and 14, 2008. More information will
be available in the September 2008 edition of Beamer’s
Holiday Beat. View
a sample of Ms. Thibault’s work.
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