Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. and Eastman Kodak Co. announced a multiyear partnership Tuesday to develop a line of branded personalized photo products under the domestic diva’s signature.
The collection, which ranges from invitations and stationery to photo books, is expected to make its debut in late September with a large selection of holiday offerings such as cards. Other products and new categories are slated to be introduced at the end of the year and in early 2007.
The new line will be sold on the Kodak Easy Share Gallery Web site at www.kodakgallery.com and at www.marthastewart.com.
Martha Stewart Living will oversee key design responsibility for products in such categories as holidays, weddings, invitations, thank-you notes and babies and will be developing designs for new emerging categories, including food and gardening. The companies noted that the deal brings together the convenience of the online experience with the quality of Kodak’s photo merchandise and Martha Stewart Living’s design expertise.
Customers will be able to upload photos and create custom photo products in a few clicks.
The partnership is part of Martha Stewart’s strategy of extending and expanding its Web site to focus on “how to content.”
“This partnership leverages the core strength of our two companies — Kodak’s high quality imaging and personal publishing products and MSLO’s unique design aesthetic, ‘how-to’ expertise and customer reach,” said Susan Lyne, president and CEO of Martha Stewart Living, in a statement. “It is also an important step in our Internet strategy to empower users to find, learn, act, create and share online.”
Lyne noted that the company sees a big opportunity for “high-quality, digital products” that will appeal to the Martha Stewart customer and “raise the bar for what’s available in the digital photography space.”