Dear Friends:

Welcome!

Dick Blick's first catalog originated in 1911 in the form of a small pamphlet issued by its two founding partners, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Blick. The warehouse was located in their kitchen and shipping was done through the local post office. Their first product was a lettering pen, which quickly became a best seller.

Thirty-seven years later, sensing a tremendous business opportunity, my grandfather Robert Metzenberg, purchased Dick Blick from its founders. Although my grandfather was not a great artist, he loved serving artists and he had an eye for quality merchandise. Along with Jack Wyatt, my grandfather's hard-working associate and partner, who joined Blick in 1958, the company soon realized triple-digit growth.

Today, Dick Blick remains the premier art supplies source for professional artists, students and teachers, and continues to be a family-owned business. A full-color sale flyer is mailed monthly to millions of customers. We also publish annual school and artists' catalogs, and our website features the widest range of art materials available at the best prices.

We're thrilled to offer an updated gift section, tips for artists and lesson plans for teachers, a well-stocked, low-as-we-can-go clearance center and much, much more. We've also expanded the reach of our retail stores, adding new locations with the acquisition of The Art Store chain, for a total of 29 stores nationwide. What was once a two-person company now employs hundreds of full-time Blick team members.

Size alone is not the measure of our success. Rather, it is the faithful adherence to our founding principles that guides us:

• Provide our customers with the best pricing, selection and service available
• Create a working climate that calls forth the best in every employee
• Fully capitalize on emerging technologies and opportunities for growth

With our recent acquisition we will support artists and the art community in a fashion that is unprecedented given our incredible blend of service, selection and value. I am tremendously excited about our future and the opportunities that will be provided to you.

Sincerely,

Bob Buchsbaum, CEO
Dick Blick Company

P.S: See my other letter, "About This Website," for more information on how Dick Blick serves our online artist community.

P.P.S: Dick Blick Art Materials has always been a leader in informing consumers about health and safety issues. See our special section on Health and Safety.