News From Midwest
Midwest Founder Passes Away. Ken Althoff, Midwest founder and giftware industry pioneer, passed away on Sunday, Nov.19, 2006, at the age of 85. Althoff founded Midwest in 1953 as a gift shop featuring imported gift items such as nutcrackers, music boxes, wood carvings and nativities from around the world. Althoff expanded the business and, in 1964, opened a wholesale business called Midwest Importers. With Althoff and daughter Kathy Brekken’s leadership, the business grew to be one of the top holiday and seasonal companies in the industry. Althoff retired in June 1999.
Althoff is survived by his wife of 60 years, Char; children Bill, Jean and Kathy; his sister Irene Klevens; grandchildren Kevin, Alex and John; great-grandchildren Austin and Andrew; and many nieces and nephews.
Midwest Opens New York Showroom. Midwest, home of the holiday and seasonal home decorations brand Seasons of Cannon Falls and candle brand Colonial Candle, will mark the grand opening of its 7 W New York showroom with a series of special events designed for independent retailers during the New York Gift Week from Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2007. Midwest’s new 7,800-sq.ft. showroom is located on the 5th floor of 7 W New York.
All buyers are invited to attend a special series of events during Midwest’s Grand Opening celebration, including a number of events on Jan. 26 and 27.
For more information on the details of the opening, call (800) 776-2075 or visit www.midwestofcannonfalls.com
Monrovia Growers Establishes New Camellia Nursery
Monrovia Growers has established a 60-acre Camellia nursery adjacent to its 900-acre Visalia nursery in California’s central valley. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture have supported Monrovia’s proactive move to establish a distinct Camellia nursery, according to Monrovia.
“It is truly a separate entity, across a river and canal from the rest of the nursery, and has its own nursery license and compliance agreement,” explained Gilbert Resendez, Monrovia’s president. “Camellias are now shipped on their own trucks with no other plants from our Visalia nursery.” He points out that this is the cornerstone of Monrovia’s best practices for preventing the spread of harmful pathogens, such as Phytophthora ramorum, also known as Sudden Oak Death (SOD). Three years ago SOD was discovered at Monrovia’s Azusa, Calif., location, necessitating the destruction not only of all Camellias but potential host plants that were growing nearby.
No SOD has ever been found at the 900-acre Visalia property, and Monrovia has made a considerable investment with stringent best practices, which include structural components of the new nursery as well as the actions of all Monrovia craftsmen.
Green Industry Yellow Pages Changes Names
Green Industry Yellow Pages recently announced it has changed its corporate name to 10-20 Media, Inc., in an effort to clarify the message of its diverse interactive publishing capabilities. “10-20" is the radio code for “What is your location?” which is what the company’s business model accomplishes by answering that question for the Internet user.
For more information on 10-20 Media, Inc., visit www.10-20media.com.
