Dec 8, 2010

Cristina Saralegui and Midwest-CBK Partner to Develop New, Exclusive Holiday Collection for Casa Cristina™

Cannon Falls, MN – Midwest-CBK, leading designer and manufacturer renowned for its design, style and sparkle, announces it is exclusively partnering with Emmy award-winning journalist Cristina Saralegui to develop her first designer holiday collection of inspirational ornaments, figures, nativity sets, votive candle holders, lanterns, stocking and tree skirt. The Casa Cristina™ Holiday Collection will feature more than 50 new designs debuting during the winter 2011 markets in Midwest-CBK showrooms across the country.

Midwest-CBK’s new Casa Cristina™ Holiday collection is inspirational, elegant and hand-crafted, featuring spiritual icons such as angels, nativities, birds, stars, crosses and hearts. Unique textures and materials such as metal, capiz, wood and glass combined with a fresh color palette of gold, silver, cream, blue, green and plum create a modern blend of history and culture. From the style and décor of her Miami home to the artistry and memories of her childhood, Cristina’s unique style and taste create a spiritual and inspirational collection. This exclusive new line blends the design sensibility of her heritage interpreted for today’s elegant, gracious homes. Suggested retail prices range from $3.50 to $100.

“I am excited and proud to work with Midwest-CBK to bring my own personal style and vision to this new holiday collection, and share these exquisite, inspirational designs with retailers and families across the country,” says Saralegui. “My long-standing partnership with Midwest-CBK is an excellent example of how far we’ve come with the Casa Cristina™ brand, starting nearly seven years ago from a small line of home accents to today’s range of multiple categories including tabletop, accents, garden, gift, lighting and now holiday décor and gifts.”

Midwest-CBK is also expanding the Casa Cristina™ Home and Lighting collection with more than 30 new designs in today’s best-selling home décor formats including lamps, pottery with unique turquoise glaze and distressed white finish, antique wooden mirrors and nested table sets with embossed metal detailing, that reflect Cristina’s unique Mediterranean style and taste.

“Midwest-CBK is proud to partner with Cristina in bringing independent retailers the first Casa Cristina™ Holiday collection,” says Frederic Contino, Midwest-CBK President. “Our partnership on this new holiday collection blends the best of Cristina’s exquisite style and inspirational culture and heritage with Midwest-CBK’s expertise in the holiday market. The new Casa Cristina™ Holiday Collection is a testament to the brand’s popularity in the marketplace, and now translates Cristina’s design aesthetic and success in home décor to a new group of gift and holiday retailers.”

About Midwest-CBK
Midwest-CBK, a national design leader in holiday, home décor, gifts and candles, is proud to bring independent retailers more Design, Style and Sparkle than ever before, through exclusive designs with personality and flair, and best-selling formats. New introductions feature re-imagined, trend-driven décor themes designed for today’s homes, combined with excellent prices and terms designed to boost your margins; an experienced, dedicated sales team to assist you at the store level; award-winning display ideas; a drop ship program to provide incremental décor sales; and a new Web site providing 24/7 access to account history and online ordering. Please call 800-394-4225, visit www.mwcbk.com or contact your local Midwest-CBK account manager for more information, to request a catalog or to locate a showroom near you.

About Cristina Saralegui
Twelve–time Emmy® award winning Cristina is one of the most recognizable and trusted names in the Hispanic community. Time Magazine selected her as one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America” and Home Furnishings News (HFN) Magazine named her one of the “50 Most Influential People in Design and Home Furnishings.” For 21 years Cristina was the host and executive producer of “The Cristina Show” one of the highest rated programs on Spanish-language television. In 2004, Cristina created the Casa Cristina® Collection, the first complete collection of home furnishings inspired by her personal style. To date, the Casa Cristina® Collection is comprised of home decor, accent furniture, dinnerware, lighting, bedding, bath and mattresses. For more information please visit www.cristinaonline.com.