Prime Publishing LLC

AllFreeCrochet and AllFreeKnitting Host Second Annual Prayer Shawl Drive

Northbrook, IL — AllFreeCrochet and AllFreeKnitting are proud to partner with Rush University Medical Center’s Prayer Shawls at Rush initiative for a charity drive.  This is the second year Prime Publishing is hosting a prayer shawl drive on the blog.

“Prayer shawls often provide the patient warmth and a comforting embrace during difficult times.  Something so simple can be the brightest thing that has happened for the patient in some time, as many have often driven from great distances for treatment and have nothing comforting from home with them,” said editor Julia Wiatr.

Readers can knit or crochet prayer shawls to donate using their own designs or those provided by AllFreeCrochet and AllFreeKnitting:

• Crochet Prayer Shawl http://www.stitchandunwind.com/free-crochet-prayer-shawl/
• Knit Prayer Shawl http://www.stitchandunwind.com/free-knit-prayer-shawl-pattern/

Editors will be collecting all donated shawls at our offices in Northbrook, IL and personally delivering them to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.  Please send handmade prayer shawls to:

Prime Publishing LLC
Attn: Prayer Shawls for Charity
3400 Dundee Road, Suite 220
Northbrook, IL 60062

Shawls need to be postmarked no later than December 5th, 2016.

Email Marketing Is Most Effective Platform For Building ROI, Research Shows

Northbrook, IL –With the increasing popularity and appeal of social media, it may come as a surprise to learn that email marketing is the most effective form of communication with consumers. A recent article from Skyword Inc. entitled The Top Email Marketing ROI Trends to Watch in 2017 shows that email marketing is the best way to build brand awareness and convert long-term customers, out-performing even social media. “Its effectiveness shines across demographics and devices,” the article states. Email may arguably be the fastest-growing channel for marketing ROI in 2017. When you consider the emergence of mobile use, staying up to date with developing trends has never been more important to the email marketing industry.

So, what does this mean for the modern email marketer? To optimize your ROI, email campaigns should fall in line with current trends, meeting the following requirements: mobile optimization, platform integration, and visual impact. According to Skyword Inc., these trends are predicted to carry the industry through 2017 by appealing to millennials. While you may assume millennials prefer to communicate via social media outlets, studies have shown the opposite to be true. In fact, according to the article, “58 percent of Millennials report that email is their preferred method of communication with brands.”

The first trend mentioned in The Top Email Marketing ROI Trends to Watch in 2017 is mobile-friendliness. “Across all age groups, 42 percent will delete an email immediately if it doesn’t display properly on their smartphone.” This rather alarming statistic should make converting to mobile-friendly templates the top priority for email marketers striving towards a healthy ROI. Additionally, integrating social media campaigns is a sure-fire way to target millennials. By including a large social media campaign in your email, you give customers the chance to further engage with your brand. The last trend to apply in 2017 is creating a visually stunning product. This technique will help your brand stand out from the competition. Some simple ways to achieve this effect include using professional grade images and incorporating emojis.

Email marketing is only increasing in its effectiveness, and these three trends and techniques are certain to boost the ROI of your next campaign, the article concludes. While it appears that email marketing is here to stay, it is important to continue to evolve with the industry and meet the needs of new demographics, like millennials.

Prime Publishing Hosts Food Drive with Greater Chicago Food Depository

Northbrook, IL – From November 7^th to November 11^th, Prime Publishing hosted a food drive open to all of its employees. The food drive, in which employees could bring non-perishable food items into the office or donate money online, was hosted in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a food bank which provides food to the people of Cook County. With Thanksgiving occurring on November 24^th this year, it was an appropriate time to give back to the local community.

During the week of November 7^th, each of Prime’s 70+ employees were divided into four teams that competed to see which team could donate the most food items and money. For every individual food item and dollar raised, a team would receive tree “meals,” or points. The competition provided a fun way to inspire employees to donate as much as they were willing! All seven boxes of food were dropped off at Garvey’s Office Products of Niles, IL, which then delivers the donations to the food bank’s headquarters.

This is the first time that Prime Publishing hosted a food drive with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, but the great total response of 192 food items and $709.78 means that partnership with the food bank is likely again in the future.

Learn about hosting a food drive with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Prime Publishing Hosts Food Drive with Greater Chicago Food Depository

Northbrook, IL – From November 7^th to November 11^th, Prime Publishing hosted a food drive open to all of its employees. The food drive, in which employees could bring non-perishable food items into the office or donate money online, was hosted in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a food bank which provides food to the people of Cook County. With Thanksgiving occurring on November 24^th this year, it was an appropriate time to give back to the local community.

During the week of November 7^th, each of Prime’s 70+ employees were divided into four teams that competed to see which team could donate the most food items and money. For every individual food item and dollar raised, a team would receive tree “meals,” or points. The competition provided a fun way to inspire employees to donate as much as they were willing! All seven boxes of food were dropped off at Garvey’s Office Products of Niles, IL, which then delivers the donations to the food bank’s headquarters.

This is the first time that Prime Publishing hosted a food drive with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, but the great total response of 192 food items and $709.78 means that partnership with the food bank is likely again in the future.

Learn about hosting a food drive with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Prime Publishing to Launch Luxury Watch Website

Northbrook, IL – Prime Publishing LLC is excited to announce that they are partnering with Ebner Media Group, Germany, to create a new website, TheWatchIndex.com. This new site will be written for those interested in fine timepieces. The Watch Index’s mission is to explore and celebrate quality wristwatches and watch culture. With an innovative technology platform, The Watch Index will cover all aspects of luxury timepieces: the watches themselves; the companies and countries that manufacture them; and the community of watch lovers who design, manufacture, wear, and appreciate them.

This joint venture between Prime Publishing and Ebner Media will allow the two companies to use their respective strengths to create separate top-tier watch databases, content, and publications. Ebner’s CEO, Gerrit Klein, stated ‘We are delighted to partner with Prime Publishing. Prime has achieved fast growth utilizing innovative digital-first approaches to engaging consumers holistically. Ebner is one of the world’s leading publishers of luxury watch media and we look forward to sharing best practices with Prime Publishing. It is our intention to increase the market size of the watch industry beyond existing collectors’.

As a go-to source for watch consumers, The Watch Index will be an innovative database with easy-to-use consumer features. It will showcase thousands of the most popular brands and styles, as well as offer informative guides to buying watches. Whether you want a timeless classic or an up-and-coming favorite, The Watch Index will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

The Watch Index will launch January, 2017.

Prime Publishing to Launch Luxury Watch Website

Northbrook, IL – Prime Publishing LLC is excited to announce that they are partnering with Ebner Media Group, Germany, to create a new website, TheWatchIndex.com. This new site will be written for those interested in fine timepieces. The Watch Index’s mission is to explore and celebrate quality wristwatches and watch culture. With an innovative technology platform, The Watch Index will cover all aspects of luxury timepieces: the watches themselves; the companies and countries that manufacture them; and the community of watch lovers who design, manufacture, wear, and appreciate them.

This joint venture between Prime Publishing and Ebner Media will allow the two companies to use their respective strengths to create separate top-tier watch databases, content, and publications. Ebner’s CEO, Gerrit Klein, stated ‘We are delighted to partner with Prime Publishing. Prime has achieved fast growth utilizing innovative digital-first approaches to engaging consumers holistically. Ebner is one of the world’s leading publishers of luxury watch media and we look forward to sharing best practices with Prime Publishing. It is our intention to increase the market size of the watch industry beyond existing collectors’.

As a go-to source for watch consumers, The Watch Index will be an innovative database with easy-to-use consumer features. It will showcase thousands of the most popular brands and styles, as well as offer informative guides to buying watches. Whether you want a timeless classic or an up-and-coming favorite, The Watch Index will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

The Watch Index will launch January, 2017.

Seams and Scissors Celebrates National Sewing Month 2016

Northbrook, IL – Prime Publishing recently joined the sewing community in celebrating National Sewing Month. This month-long event brought brand new content to SeamsandScissors.com, the companion sewing and quilting blog for AllFreeSewing.com and FaveQuilts.com. Readers were treated to brand new holiday content, sewing and quilting tips, and an exclusive weekly sew-along for a stylish autumn tote bag. SeamsandScissors also ran a month-long comment contest sponsored by BERNINA featuring their Bernina 215 Simply Red Sewing Machine. This grand prize giveaway with BERNINA generated over 55,000 contest entries and over 1,400 comments.

The sew-along focused on one of the hottest trends for fall, woodland animals. This adorable sewn fox bag captured the whimsy style seen on runways, in magazines, and in quilt studios for Fall/Winter 2016. Popular on Facebook and Pinterest, the free Fox Tote Bag tutorial was just one of many on-trend blog posts that also included stylish fall home décor, easy refashioning projects, and beginner guides to quilting and sewing.

Visit SeamsandScissors.com for the complete Fox Tote Bag sewing pattern, plus dozens of new fall patterns, tutorials, and more from National Sewing Month.

Seams and Scissors Celebrates National Sewing Month 2016

Northbrook, IL – Prime Publishing recently joined the sewing community in celebrating National Sewing Month. This month-long event brought brand new content to SeamsandScissors.com, the companion sewing and quilting blog for AllFreeSewing.com and FaveQuilts.com. Readers were treated to brand new holiday content, sewing and quilting tips, and an exclusive weekly sew-along for a stylish autumn tote bag. SeamsandScissors also ran a month-long comment contest sponsored by BERNINA featuring their Bernina 215 Simply Red Sewing Machine. This grand prize giveaway with BERNINA generated over 55,000 contest entries and over 1,400 comments.

The sew-along focused on one of the hottest trends for fall, woodland animals. This adorable sewn fox bag captured the whimsy style seen on runways, in magazines, and in quilt studios for Fall/Winter 2016. Popular on Facebook and Pinterest, the free Fox Tote Bag tutorial was just one of many on-trend blog posts that also included stylish fall home décor, easy refashioning projects, and beginner guides to quilting and sewing.

Visit SeamsandScissors.com for the complete Fox Tote Bag sewing pattern, plus dozens of new fall patterns, tutorials, and more from National Sewing Month.

CraftPaperScissors Partners with Operation Christmas Child

Northbrook, IL — CraftPaperScissors.com and Operation Christmas Child partnered for a week-long event on the blog from September, 5-8 with a grand prize sponsored by Plaid. Over 400 readers answered the question, “Have you ever crafted for a cause?”

Run by Samaritans Purse, Operation Christmas Child volunteers pack shoebox care packages for children in need from all over the world. Many of the children they help are affected by poverty or war.

Betsy Burnett, area coordinator for Operation Christmas Child, shared her personal connection with the organization in an interview on CraftPaperScissors.com.  “As a crafter, there are so many things you can make to put into a shoebox. Washcloths, jump ropes, toys, clothing, and more! When you create or make something, I believe you are sharing a part of your heart. What better place to share that part of your heart than with a child in need?”

Burnett provided three craft tutorials for small toys that crafters can include in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. The tutorials included a Washcloth “Boo Boo” Bunny, DIY Jump Rope & Koosh Ball, and DIY Spinning Top.

The interview and tutorials were paired with a $300 value grand prize package provided by Plaid. Burnett is a Plaid ambassador.

Burnett said Operation Christmas Child was impressed with the CraftPaperScissors.com community’s response to their week-long takeover of the blog.

Jesse Carpender, editor of CraftPaperScissors.com, said “It was great to hear about the ways our generous readership give back from all over the country. Many of our readers knit or crochet hats, scarves and blankets, or create other comforts for people in need.

Our readers donate to veterans, homeless shelters, displaced people, refugees, domestic abuse survivors and more. It goes to show that crafting can be more than a hobby – it can be an act of compassion.”

AllFreeCrochet Joins Craft Yarn Council for SuperScarf Campaign

Northbrook, IL — To welcome the fall, Prime Publishing LLC joins the Craft Yarn Council for their new Super Scarf campaign promotions. The promotion is a joint effort of Prime Publishing editors and talented bloggers Amy Ramnarine, Heidi Gustad, Jessica Potasz, and Marie Segares who created four new patterns for the campaign. These patterns, both crochet and knit, are exclusively available on AllFreeCrochet, AllFreeKnitting, I Like Crochet and I Like Knitting. This promotion also features social media shout outs to our 733k Facebook fans and a blog feature on Stitch and Unwind.

The super scarf is an oversized scarf and can be crocheted or knitted in the same way as most other scarves. With the changing of the seasons and the return of scarves and chunky knits, the Craft Yarn Council and Prime Publishing saw an opportunity to expand and grow the scarf trend – quite literally. Worked up using patterns of all difficulties and colors, the super scarf is the perfect fall and winter accessory. Be sure to check out all four exclusive patterns: the Galactic Grape Crochet Super Scarf, the Coastal Redwood Crochet Super Scarf, the Cozy Plaid Knit Super Scarf, and the White Knit Super Scarf.