iota Joins Forces with C.R. Gibson
Basalt, Colo. — Basalt, Colorado-based iota and C.R. Gibson, LLC (Nashville, Tenn.) announced iota’s business and assets have been acquired by C.R. Gibson, an affiliated company of CSS Industries, Inc.(NYSE: CSS).
A leading designer of stationery essentials such as notecards, gift wrap and notebooks, iota will continue to conduct business under its own strong brand name and will be able to devote increased resources to disseminating the signature iota patterns on more formats and more products in the marketplace. In addition, iota will continue its successful surface design and licensing program.
Chief designer and “big cheese” Kelly Alford, who founded iota in 2003, will take on her new role as Vice President of Design (iota). Iota’s marketing and design offices will remain in Colorado. No changes to iota’s existing sales force and distributors are currently expected.
“This is a dream come true for me,” exults Kelly Alford. “For the last five years, my team and I have had a wonderfully rewarding experience creating and nurturing iota, and as we approach the next steps to our growth and expansion, I realize how amazing it will be to have C.R. Gibson’s operational and distribution assets behind our unique brand.
“It will be very satisfying to provide our loyal and enthusiastic sales team with a broader product line – the new formats we have all been longing for,” Alford continued. “In the course of my discussions with CSS and C.R. Gibson, I am honored by the respect they have demonstrated for the integrity of the iota brand, and humbled by their desire to expand its presence in the marketplace.”
“C.R. Gibson is truly excited by this new association with iota,” says Don French, President of C.R. Gibson. “Kelly has created one of the most original, new design styles in the industry, and we look forward to expanding iota’s product distribution and licensing opportunities.”
Currently, iota stationery essentials can be found in over 1,600 retail locations in the US and Canada. To find out more about iota and C.R. Gibson, please visit their respective Web sites: everyiota.com and crgibson.com.
