Martha Stewart Announces Fourth Annual American Made Program

NEW YORK, June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) will present the Martha Stewart American Made program for the fourth year, with sponsors including Intuit QuickBooks, The UPS Store and Triscuit. The program will commence at 9am ET on June 18 as the nomination entry period begins for this year's American Made Audience Choice Award, and will culminate on November 7 with the American Made Summit, a networking event and creative maker lecture series held at the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia headquarters in New York City.

American Made is a nationally recognized awards program that spotlights the maker, supports the local and celebrates the handmade. Through American Made, Martha Stewart and the editors of Martha Stewart Living celebrate the next generation of makers who have turned their passions for handcrafted, well-designed goods into small businesses and proudly make their products in America. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are more than 28.4 million small businesses in the United States, employing over 56 million workers.  

Each year, Martha and her American Made team honor extraordinary makers, small-business owners, and creative entrepreneurs in the fields of crafts, design, food, and style. These makers are recognized for their dedication to creating beautiful, quality products and building successful business and communities. In addition to the nine 2015 Martha Stewart American Made honorees selected by the editors, one Audience Choice Winner will be chosen by our website audience.

Each of the 10 winners will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000, as well as a trip for two to New York City to attend the American Made Summit, the opportunity to be featured on MarthaStewart.com and marketing and public relations to help move their businesses forward. All winners will be announced by October 23.

"I am delighted to announce the American Made program for the fourth year as an extension of the Martha Stewart Living brand," Stewart continued. "With American Made, we honor the country's makers who are sparking change by creating beautiful and useful products, pioneering new industries, improving local communities and changing the way we eat, shop, work and live."

An extension of the program, currently supported by eBay, is the Martha Stewart American Made Market -- a marketplace of American made products, handpicked by Martha Stewart and her American Made team and currently supported by eBay. With thousands of products, the Martha Stewart American Made Market on eBay is available to all who want to support and shop the work of American artisans.

Last year's program, which honored businesses such as Detroit Dirt, Kalon Studios and Whit, received over 3,500 nominations for Audience Choice and more than 1.7 million votes to determine the Audience Choice winner.

"The spirit of innovation is something I have celebrated for over 20 years through my magazines, products and television and digital programming," said Martha Stewart. "Now more than ever, as we continue to see a shift in our culture where creative entrepreneurs are defining a new American economy, it is crucial to support this growing population of makers."

To learn more about Martha Stewart's American Made Program click here. To nominate your small business for the 2015 American Made Audience Choice Award (beginning June 18, 2015), click here.

2015 American Made Key Dates:

• Audience Choice Entry Period – Begins at 9:00:00 AM ET on June 17, 2015 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on August 31, 2015.
• Finalist Selection Period – Begins at 9:00:00 AM ET on July 10, 2015 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on September 14, 2015.
• Public Voting – Public Voting for the Audience Choice Award Winner begins at 9:00:00 AM ET on September 21, 2015 and ends at 11:59:59 on October 19, 2015.
• Winners Announced – The Audience Choice Award Winner will be announced on or about October 23, 2015.
• The 2015 American Made Summit will be held on Saturday, November 7 at MSLO Headquarters at 601 West 26^th Street.

About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Company reaches approximately 100 million consumers across all media platforms each month and has a growing retail presence in thousands of retail locations. MSLO's media brands, available across multiple platforms, include Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Everyday Food; the Company also offers books and utility Apps. MSLO's television and video programming includes "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" and "Martha Bakes" series on PBS, in addition to made-for-the-web video and a vast library of how-to content available online. MSLO also designs high-quality Martha Stewart products in a range of lifestyle categories available through select retailers, including The Home Depot, Macy's, JCPenney, Staples, PetSmart, Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores. The MSLO family of brands also includes Chef Emeril Lagasse's media and merchandising properties. Additional information about MSLO is at www.marthastewart.com.

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SOURCE Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

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