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BERNINA OF AMERICA HONORS OUTSTANDING DEALERS FOR 2009 AT ANNUAL DEALER CONFERENCE

BERNINA of America recognized top dealers nationwide with achievement awards in sales, service and customer education at its recent BERNINA University dealer training conference in Orlando, Fla. John and Judy Curtis of It’s A Stitch-Bernina, Humble, Texas, received the 2009 BERNINA Presidential Award, which recognizes the dealer that best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and education represented by the BERNINA brand. This includes successful promotion and advertising of the entire BERNINA product line, a modern store merchandising concept, a well-developed educational approach, dedication to total customer service and above-average growth in dollar sales and BERNINA units sold.

“BERNINA’s success is tied to the success of its dealers. It’s A Stitch-Bernina has reaped the financial benefits that result from truly outstanding sales and customer support,” said Martin Favre, president of BERNINA of America.

In addition, BERNINA single- and multiple-store dealerships with the highest sales dollar volume during 2009 were honored. The 2009 Top Five Multi-Store Dealer Awards were presented to:

  • Judy and John Curtis, It’s A Stitch-Bernina, Humble, Texas
  • Rhonda Lopez, Nuttall’s Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Richard and Rod Borget, Dave’s Bernina, Provo, Utah
  • Jack Pierce, Atlanta Sewing Center, Duluth, Ga.
  • John Ramsey, Bernina of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Okla.
The 2009 Top Five Single-Store Dealer Awards were given to:

  • Ervin and Ella Mae Zimmerman, Hinkletown Sewing Machine Shop, Ephrata, Pa.
  • Leon and Linda Hoover, Hoover’s Bernina Sew, Mifflinburg, Pa.
  • Regina Owen, Gina’s Bernina Sewing Center, Knoxville, Tenn.
  • Timothy and Lois Hoover, Top Stitch Sewing Service, Barnett, Mo.
Merrily Parker of Merrily We Quilt Along, Springfield, Mo., received the 2009 Rookie of the Year Award, which recognizes the new dealer from BERNINA’s Class of 2008 that best incorporated lessons of BERNINA dealer training into its operation, and that delivered impressive 2009 sales volume, market share, merchandising, customer service and educational support.

“Our New Dealer Training program is designed to educate and motivate our newest members to ensure their first year with BERNINA is a success,” said Martin Favre, president of BERNINA of America. “This accolade celebrates Merrily’s achievements in implementing the business development strategies she learned at BERNINA University, as well as her commitment to innovation.”

Along with this Rookie of the Year Award, Parker and her staff were the Grand Prize Winners of the One Million Pillowcase Dealer Challenge. They collected more than 5,000 pillowcases that were donated to the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, Mo. from March through May 2010.

“BERNINA has always been the only sewing machine for me. I waited five years to become a dealer, and was happy to have lived up to BERNINA’s expectations as a new dealer,” said Parker.

BERNINA also announced 2009 District Dealer of the Year Award winners from the company’s 11 districts. They include:

  • Robin Parker and Pamela Dunn, Robin’s Sewing Shoppe, Hoover, Ala.
  • Barb Perry, Aurora Sewing Center, E. Aurora and Williamsville, N.Y.
  • Terri Gunn, Quilt Quarters, Carmel, Ind.
  • Judy Munro, Bear’s Paw Fabrics Inc., Towson, Md.
  • Karen French, The French Seam, Stuttgart, Arkansas
  • Patrick and Cathy Morin, Bernina Sewing Machine Station, Brentwood, Tenn.
  • Laurie Mangold, Sew Special Quilts, San Antonio, Texas
  • Edward Leone Jr., Eddie’s Quilting Bee, Sunnyvale, Calif.
  • Jenny Yannone, The Sewing Palace, Helena, Mont.
  • Jean Graham, Quilter’s Haven LLC, Rosemount, Minn
  • Marsha Cowen, Bernina Sewing and Design Center, Las Cruces, N.M.
About BERNINA

Founded in Switzerland more than 100 years ago, BERNINA is the world’s premier manufacturer with a proven reputation for offering state-of-the-art sewing and embroidery systems, sergers and embroidery software. BERNINA’s leadership is marked by an impressive number of industry leaders, influencers and artisans who chose to partner with the company. BERNINA products are sold in the United States through a network of approximately 500 fully trained dealerships. In 2008, the company introduced the revolutionary BERNINA 830 , a machine designed to change the home sewing industry. To learn more and to find a dealer, visit www.berninausa.com or call +1-630-978 25 00.