Lifestyle Expert Katie Brown Launches Her Signature Line of Design-Driven Home Products at Meijer

PBS Host And Author Introduces Two Distinct, High Quality Product Lines For The Home

Merchandise Reflects TV Star's Midwest Roots; Hundreds Of Items Range From Patio Furniture To Kitchen Gadgets

News provided by

Mar 29, 2010, 07:00 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- From clean-cut, coastal-inspired creations to rustic and rough-hewn designs, two new exciting product lines for the home created by lifestyle maven and national television personality Katie Brown will be launched exclusively at all 191 Meijer stores this month.

The charismatic Brown, who is an author, syndicated columnist and host of "Katie Brown Workshop" on PBS, developed the Midwest-inspired products in conjunction with Meijer. The offerings will actually consist of two distinct product lines: The Orchard Collection and the Northern Shores Collection. In addition, there will also be a number of more prosaic items, including gardening tools and kitchen gadgets that will simply carry the "Katie Brown Collection" name.

The launch of these items is a departure for Meijer, as this marks the first time that the Midwest retailer has partnered with a national figure to create such a high-quality, value-driven line of signature items.

Initially, Meijer will roll out a number of fresh, design-driven kitchen textiles items, tabletop products, patio furniture, outdoor decor accents, and gardening tools to kick off the Katie Brown signature lines. By late September, the retailer will introduce bed & bath products and home decor products to the mix. And in time for the holidays, it will introduce Katie Brown's unique take on holiday-themed kitchen ornaments, stockings, skirts, tabletop textiles, accent tableware and home decor.

"This is the most anticipated new product launch for us in recent memory," said Bryan O'Connell, group vice president of hardlines at Meijer. "This is an exclusive line of products that we and Katie have been working on for more than a year. And the results are nothing short of astonishing. It's unlike anything we've ever done before in terms of creating a high-quality, great-value product line with an outside partner of Katie's stature. We're confident that Meijer shoppers will connect strongly to these designs, products and prices."

The Orchard Collection, inspired by Katie's affinity for the rustic appeal of log cabins and mountain retreats, features all the vibrant colors of nature's palette with designs that evoke a simple, unaffected lifestyle.

The Orchard Collection will include such items as a wood patio set, rustic outdoor decor, hand-thrown ceramic dinnerware, wire mesh tabletop accessories, beeswax citronella candles, rough-hewn wood serving pieces and oversize firepits.

"The relaxed feel of the Orchard Collection truly helps turn a house into a home. And what better way to achieve this than with the natural hues, shapes and textures from the greatest designer of all: Mother Nature," said Brown.

The Northern Shores Collection harkens back to Katie's days along Lake Michigan as a child. Marked by bold primary colors, crisp, clean minimal design and an All-American vibe that connotes equal parts preppy and nautical, the collection delivers a soothing familiarity, but not without a bit of an edge.

"I like to think of this line as having its roots in my preppy upbringing, while being updated by my experiences in New York," Brown said. "People will be pleased not only by the look of these items, but by the detail and construction that went into each."

The Northern Shores collection will feature such items as perfectly angled porcelain dinnerware, stainless steel serveware, heavy duty steel patio set in a striking gloss white, nautical outdoor accessories, board-and-batten planters and crisp clean table linens.

"I used my memories and recollections of the past more than anything else in creating these products," said Brown. "Virtually everything here was initially inspired by my memories of summer days on the Great Lakes or the precious time I'm able to spend in my log cabin at the foothills of one of Mother Nature's greatest designs. Both collections are vastly different from one another, but both will immediately transport you to a definitive place that is as comforting as it is beautiful."

By year's end, Meijer will have introduced more than 700 signature products from Katie Brown. Next year, the retailer expects to begin selling bakeware, picture frames, a refreshed seasonal garden line, home decor, pantryware, fresh floral, room organizers and craft organization. In total, Meijer will offer more than 1,000 products under the exclusive Katie Brown label over the next five years.

Brown began a partnership with Meijer in late 2008, serving as the retailer's "Home Solutions Advisor." Over the past year she has worked to create a microsite on the Meijer website, and to develop practical and easy-to-follow solutions for Meijer shoppers in and around the home.

About Meijer

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Michigan, based retailer that operates 191 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. As the inventor of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com.

SOURCE Meijer