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EBONY INSPIRATIONS TM GREETING CARDS TO HIT WAL-MART STORES IN FEBRUARY
Chicago - In celebration of Black History Month, the first series of EBONY Inspirations greetings cards will hit stands in select Wal-Mart stores Feb. 1. The cards will also debut in other select retail outlets including Jewel-Osco, CVS, Eckerd, Rite Aid and Kmart. This venture represents the first of many that will feature the EBONY brand. Johnson Publishing Company, the world´s largest Black-owned publishing company and home of EBONY magazine, announced the partnership with American Greetings to create greeting cards for the newly developed EBONY Inspirations brand. The cards will reiterate the positive and inspirational spirit of EBONY Magazine by honoring famous African-Americans from all walks of life. Classic and iconic EBONY cover images are used on the cards to capture the spirit of Black History Month. The images date back to 1948 and include a variety of notable African-Americans, including legendary baseball player Hank Aaron, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, feature performer Josephine Baker, musical legend Duke Ellington and EBONY magazine founder, the late John H. Johnson. "The creation of an EBONY greeting card line represents another opportunity to celebrate all that is beautiful about Black life. The cards inspire consumers to reminisce on special EBONY moments while honoring African-Americans who have positively influenced our lives," said Linda Johnson Rice, President and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company. Beyond the initial launch, EBONY and American Greetings will continue their partnership by introducing a co-branded line of greeting cards for various occasions such as birthdays, weddings and simple thank yous. Each will be inspired by EBONY´s positive and uplifting image within the African-American community. The deal was brokered by Santa Monica, California-based licensing agency TurnerPatterson. The newly formed licensing division plans to continue to build on the EBONY lifestyle brand in the African-American community as well as reach out to a larger, diverse section of the population. The programs are designed to resonate with current readers and a broader demographic by introducing new EBONY brands such as EBONY Home TM , the EBONY Collection TM apparel for men and women, and reintroducing EBONY favorites such as the EBONY Jr.! TM brand. "We are very excited about the alliance between EBONY and American Greetings. This program is the continuation of our commitment to create products to enhance the lives of EBONY readers every day," said Debra Turner, CEO of TurnerPatterson. EBONY magazine, the No. 1 magazine for African-Americans, is published monthly and reaches over 12 million readers. Published by Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., the largest Black-owned publishing company in the world, EBONY was founded in 1942 by the late Publisher and Chairman John H. Johnson. Linda Johnson Rice is President and CEO, and Eunice W. Johnson serves as the company´s secretary and treasurer. For more information on Johnson Publishing Company, visit www.johnsonpublishing.com. About American Greetings Corporation About TurnerPatterson:
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