IRVING, Texas, Aug. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Michaels (Nasdaq:MIK), North America's largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, continues to drive the international maker movement forward with the launch of its expanded 2015 Michaels Makers blogger program, which kicked off at the first-of-its kind Michaels Makers Summit that brought together 50 top DIY and lifestyle bloggers.
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The maker movement, which is about combining creation with inspiration, began in the early 2000s and has spread globally. The Michaels Makers Summit, held at a Northern California mountaintop retreat in late July, served as a community-building event for the Michaels Makers to focus on getting back to the basics of celebrating creativity.
"Our Michaels Makers Summit was the largest-ever craft retailer event of its kind. We brought the top DIY digital influencers together in an incredibly inspiring natural setting to further energize their creativity," said Michaels Executive Vice President – Marketing Steve Carlotti. "In our increasingly digital world, bringing these makers together face to face was powerful – we came here as individuals, but we left as a creative community."
Michaels is the top brand associated with the maker movement, according to the 2014 State of the Maker Report by Brit + Co. Originally founded in 2014, the Michaels Maker program features bloggers who participate in monthly craft challenges and share inspiration and simple project ideas that anyone can make.
In honor of the maker movement, Michaels will offer for free the four classes taught at the Michaels Makers Summit to all customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The free online classes are taught by leading experts and presented by Michaels' education partner Creativebug through August 22 on www.Michaels.com. Michaels encourages all makers to follow along with the monthly craft challenges and post their own projects on social media using #MadeWithMichaels for a chance to be featured on Michaels' social channels.
About The Michaels Companies, Inc.
The Michaels Companies, Inc., is North America's largest specialty retailer of arts and crafts. As of May 2, 2015, the Company owns and operates 1,177 Michaels stores in 49 states and Canada and 118 Aaron Brothers stores, and produces 12 exclusive private brands including Recollections®, Studio Decor®, Bead Landing®, Creatology®, Ashland®, Celebrate It®, ArtMinds®, Artist's Loft®, Craft Smart®, Loops & Threads®, Imagin8® and Make Market™. Visit www.Michaels.com for additional information.
Media Contact: Megan Duran or Loren Rutledge
817-329-3257
Michaels@spmcommunications.com