Kentucky Craft Marketing and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture partnered with the Kentucky Retail Federation in presenting annual top retailer awards.
Winners were honored during the annual awards dinner, sponsored in-part by the Kentucky Agriculture Department and the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center, on March 2, 2007, as part of Kentucky Crafted: The Market’s 25th anniversary at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, Louisville.
The Kentucky Retail Federation sponsored three of the four awards and is the "Voice of Retailing" throughout the Commonwealth, representing retailers of all types and sizes since 1939. The Kentucky Crafted Retailer Awards went to an outstanding in-state retailer, a Kentucky state park gift shop manager, and an out-of-state retailer.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture sponsored the fourth award, The Kentucky Proud Award that honored a top food products retailer.
These four important categories of retailers provide outlets for Kentucky producers to sell their products not only around the state, but beyond Kentucky’s borders as well.
This year’s Top Retailer award recipients are: The Artisan Center at Maple Creek, Moscow, Ohio for Top Out-Of-State Retailer; Wilma Neace, Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (gift shop manager) Buckhorn, Kentucky for Top Kentucky State Park Retailer; Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg Kentucky for Top Kentucky Retailer; and Remke Market, Erlanger Kentucky, for Kentucky Proud Food Retailer. (Editors see list below)
Wilma Neace, Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park gift shop manager said, “this is the first award of its kind that we have received and we are thrilled that to have been a part of this event. We keep Kentucky Crafts and food products available here in the gift shop and I even place Kentucky Proud foods at the marina, which our boaters really enjoy. We will continue to buy at the Market for years to come.”
The work to promote Kentucky made products is dependent upon the development of successful relationships between the hundreds of retailers and the producers. The retailers prove to be vital links to the customers. The Top Retailer awards were introduced in 1996 at Kentucky Crafted: The Market as a way to recognize and encourage this important relationship. These Top Retailers are nominated by Market exhibitors and selected on the basis of items purchased and their overall promotional support.
Kentucky Craft Marketing is a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky. For more information, call 888 KY CRAFT (592-7238), local calls, (502) 564-8110, ext 470 or visit the Program's web site at www.kycraft.ky.gov.
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Since 1981, Kentucky Craft Marketing’s purpose is to develop the state's craft industry, support and empower Kentucky artisans and craftspeople, create an economically viable environment for craft entrepreneurs, preserve the state's craft traditions, stimulate and support product development, and generate public awareness, public support and public/private partnerships.
The Program provides assistance to Kentucky residents, individuals, or groups wanting to develop as craft professionals through economic opportunities and training, to other outside entities (e.g., craft retailers, craft and art organizations, community and government agencies), and the general public. The craft industry in Kentucky contributes 252 million dollars in annual sales and Kentucky is recognized as a model state for its craft programs and its role in the $14 billion national craft industry.
Top Retailer Award Winners
Top Kentucky Retailer
Lorrin Ingerson (craft store manager)
Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Top Out-of-State Retailer
Gwen and Steve Herndon (owners)
The Artisan Center at Maple Creek
Moscow, Ohio
Top Kentucky State Park Retailer
Wilma Neace (state park gift shop manager)
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
Buckhorn, Kentucky
Top Kentucky Proud Food Retailer
Eric Rabe (owner)
Remke Market
Erlanger, Kentucky