GOLDEN Customers to Gain Online Shopping Convenience

––– Columbus, NY, April 27, 2005

Golden Artist Colors, Inc., a company committed to sustainability in the art materials industry, has launched a site that supports its customers through its network of local art retailers. FirePoppy, Inc., a unique Web-based product, bridges the gap between manufacturers and consumers without destroying the critical community of brick-and-mortar shops that service local communities. Artists will now be able to order from the GOLDEN Web site, yet be supplied by their nearest participating art supply retailer.

Art supply retailers form a critical network, supplying the art community with a wide range of resources from running artists’ events and workshops to supplying community bulletin boards for artists to share important information. Not only do retailers provide a wide range of products for artists, they also have staff with an incredible knowledge base about the proper use of these materials. Many retailers provide invaluable support in the form of donations for community activities as well.

This new Web-based software provides an answer to the widespread destruction of many of these unique and critical are resources within small and large art communities. Shopatron, FirePoppy’s flagship product, invites retailers to participate in sales opportunities generated by visits to the GOLDEN Web site, creating a win/win/win solution for manufacturers, retailers and consumers. Manufacturers harness the power of Shopatron to connect their message directly to consumers while simultaneously strengthening relationships with brick-and-mortar retailers. Retailers are able to participate seamlessly fulfilling customer orders, plus they are empowered with accurate sales and data leading to greater conversions of sales. Consumers, on manufacturers’ Web sites, can easily find the specialized products they need and benefit from quality local service and support.

“The company’s decision to utilize FirePoppy for online shopping capabilities demonstrates our commitment to the artist community,” said GOLDEN Sales Director, Bill Hartman. “Over time, we hope that it will provide customers with greater access to our product, while supporting local art material retailers — who play a critical role in the artist community.”

The process to use Shopatron is quite simple. All the consumer has to do is visit www.goldenpaints.com and connect to the link to review product selections and pricing. They submit payment; receive confirmation detailing pricing and shipping origination point and their products ship within 2 business days.

Customers in the United States and Canada will be able to shop online at www.goldenpaints.com toward the beginning of May. Customers can continue to access all GOLDEN Retailers through its Store Finder at http://www.goldenpaints.com/storelist/index.php.