DRG hires new advertising sales director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berne, Indiana, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) September 2, 2010 -- BERNE, Ind.—Michelle Thorpe has joined DRG as the company’s new advertising sales director.

Thorpe has a strong record of success in craft advertising sales and in leadership. Her first assignment in the craft industry was with Meredith in Des Moines, Iowa, where she managed sales efforts for more than 35 publications. Her personal sales responsibilities included Meredith craft titles, among others.

Later, she moved to the Creative Craft Group, formerly CK Media, where she sold for scrapbooking titles and was responsible for developing advertising strategies across multi-media platforms for the northern states and for overseas account revenue across 26 magazines.

She has nearly 15 years of advertising and marketing experience, overseeing print publications and Web and other non-traditional programs.

In coming to DRG, she said, “I’m excited to be part of DRG. The company is clearly a leading company in the craft market. With more than 500 million of craft consumer touch points through its variety of magazines, catalogs, clubs, and pattern downloads, DRG is uniquely positioned to serve the advertising market with some of the industry’s most modern and effective tools. I’m anxious to get the word out about how the DRG can serve the crafting community.”

Mike Klansek, DRG publisher, said, “We are delighted to have someone with Michelle’s experience and skill leading our ad sales effort. Her desire to be a solution provider for our customers sets the tone for our entire team. She will play a critical role in developing our service mindset and in communicating the strong benefits of DRG publications and services to the advertising community.”

As a recognized leader in craft market trends, DRG works with many popular designers in the needlecraft arts to develop patterns and projects in a number of special-interest areas.

Through the company’s well-known brands, it maintains an extensive Internet presence, with more than a half-a-billion consumer touch points per year, including 250 million Web page views through the company’s 40 craft consumer websites, 200 million reader requested newsletters, and more than 10 million pattern and project downloads per year.

DRG also offers its magazines, books and other craft supplies in more than 900 specialty craft shops under leading company brands that include Annie’s Attic, House of White Birches, Clotilde, The Needlecraft Shop and American School of Needlework.