New Canvas Lines Launching in 2012:
Premium Canvas: An expanded line of 21 Studio sizes (8x8 - 36x48) and 27 Gallery sizes (8x8 - 60x72) will be launching in May at NAMTA. The canvases feature a dense double woven cotton canvas which provides a tight evenly-stretched surface that is less susceptible to temperature and moisture fluctuations and better able to protect the integrity of the paint film over time. The canvas has folded corners and is back-stapled to heavy weight pine stretcher bars.
Artist Linen Canvas: Available in 11 Studio sizes (8x10 - 30x40) and 10 Gallery sizes (8x10 - 36x48), this linen canvas has a medium-texture and is 7oz pre-primed and 13-14oz after priming. Like the Premium line, the canvas has folded corners and is back-stapled to heavy weight pine stretcher bars. It is suitable for use with all painting media.
Studio and Gallery Canvas Upcoming Changes:
Spec Changes: Over the past couple of years, we've implemented strict quality standards for our canvas during each step of production and even installed our own full-time QC inspectors at each of our factories. Based on inspections we've done in our warehouses, these efforts seem to be reducing the overall rate of defective canvas by 20-30%. While significant, I realize that this doesn't mean much when you are still seeing defective canvas. Since warpage continues to be the #1 issue, we're looking to make some major changes which you will hear more about and begin to see over the next several months, including the possibility of using a denser wood such as pine for the Studio and Gallery canvas, particularly on the larger sizes.
Carton Quantities: During inventory inspections in our warehouses of the larger sizes of Art Alternatives Studio and Gallery canvas, we found that about 5% of the defective canvas was stained, due to the way the canvases are lined up in the box. In order to prevent dents or punctures during shipping, the face of the canvases are always turned in, away from the carton sides. To prevent indents and marks, we also line up canvases so that the faces of 2 canvases are together and the backs of 2 canvases are together. However, when there is an odd # of canvas pieces in a case, one canvas surface will be directly against the stretcher bars of another. In all cases, this 5th canvas is the one we found to be stained, caused by the cross bracing of the other canvas. To prevent this, we are adjusting the carton quantities of all Studio and Gallery canvases to even numbers. In general, the carton qty for larger sizes will decrease from 5 to 4, while the smaller sizes will increase from 5 to 6. Sizes already packed in cartons of 10 will not change. The first order with these new carton quantities will arrive in Reno in mid-March and in Elgin and Suwannee soon after. The warehouses will rotate our inventory but there will be a period of time during which you may receive cartons containing different quantities of the same item. You will only be billed for the exact number that is shipped. Once the first affected PO’s arrive, a comment will be added to each affected item that will alert you on OEX as well as one packing slips and invoices that we are in the process of making this transition and that there may be a difference between the qty ordered and received. - Lisa D x 6635
Art Alternatives Canvas News – New Items and Quality Control Updates
Launching in 2012:
Premium Canvas: After a substantial delay due to quality concerns, Art Alternatives will be launching a Premium canvas line at NAMTA in Orlando. One of the great features about this line is the dense double woven cotton canvas which provides a tight evenly-stretched surface that is less susceptible to temperature and moisture fluctuations and better able to protect the integrity of the paint film over time. Not many factories use a canvas as densely woven or heavy weight as this and even fewer know how to properly prime it. The original (rejected) shipment was primed with a gesso that would have been great for a lighter weight canvas; however, it was not able to penetrate or bond with the tighter weave of the Premium canvas, making it susceptible to peeling. That problem has been resolved and we're finally ready to launch the line which has been expanded to include 21 Studio sizes (8x8 - 36x48) and 27 Gallery sizes (8x8 - 60x72).
Linen Canvas: To round out our line of canvas offerings, we will be launching a line of white acrylic primed artist-quality Linen canvas at NAMTA. It will be available in 11 Studio sizes (8x10 - 30x40) and 10 Gallery sizes (8x10 - 36x48). The linen has a medium-texture and is 7oz pre-primed and 13-14oz after priming. Like the Premium line, the canvas has folded corners and is back-stapled to heavy weight pine stretcher bars.
Studio and Gallery Canvas Quality Improvements:
Spec Changes: Over the past couple of years, we've implemented strict quality standards for our canvas during each step of production and even installed our own full-time QC inspectors at each factory. Based on inspections we've done in our warehouses, these efforts seem to be reducing the overall rate of defective canvas by 20-30%. While significant, I realize that this doesn't mean much when you are still seeing defective canvas. Since warpage continues to be the #1 issue, we're looking to make some major changes which you will hear more about and begin to see over the next several months, including the possibility of using a denser wood such as pine for the Studio and Gallery canvas, particularly on the larger sizes.
Carton Pack Changes: During inventory inspections in our warehouses of the larger sizes of Art Alternatives Studio and Gallery canvas, we found that about 5% of the defective canvas was stained, due to the way the canvases are lined up in the box. In order to prevent dents or punctures during shipping, the face of the canvases are always turned in, away from the carton sides. To prevent indents and marks, we also line up canvases so that the faces of 2 canvases are together and the backs of 2 canvases are together. However, when there is an odd # of canvas pieces in a case, one canvas surface will be directly against the stretcher bars of another. In all cases, this 5th canvas is the one we found to be stained, caused by the cross bracing of the other canvas. To prevent this, we are adjusting the carton quantities of all Studio and Gallery canvases to even numbers. In general, the carton qty for larger sizes will decrease from 5 to 4, while the smaller sizes will increase from 5 to 6. Sizes already packed in cartons of 10 will not change. The first order with these new carton quantities will arrive in Reno in mid-March and in Elgin and Suwannee soon after. The warehouses will rotate our inventory but there will be a period of time during which you may receive cartons containing different quantities of the same item. You will only be billed for the exact number that is shipped. Once the first affected PO’s arrive, a comment will be added to each affected item that will alert you on OEX as well as one packing slips and invoices that we are in the process of making this transition and that there may be a difference between the qty ordered and received.
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