Michaels Announces Vendor and Supply Chain Partner of The Year Awards

IRVING, Texas, Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michaels Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIK), North America's largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, today announced the recipients of its Vendor and Supply Chain Partner of the Year Awards which were awarded at the company's annual partner conference in Dallas, TX on Thursday, August 7, 2014. At the ceremony, eleven vendor and supply chain partners were recognized for their contributions to Michaels' success over the past year.

"We are pleased to honor a few of our many dedicated vendors and suppliers who have demonstrated a commitment to surpassing expectations and continually providing excellence in service, quality and innovation," commented Chuck Rubin, Chief Executive Officer of The Michaels Companies, Inc. "Michaels' success is due in large part to our collaboration with our outstanding partners and we would like to thank each and every one of them for their dedication to the brand and in helping us provide customers quality products that inspire creativity every day."

This year Philo Pappas, Executive Vice President of Merchandising, recognized Polygroup Limited as Michaels' overall Vendor of the Year for product innovation, customer education and inspiration, quality products, and efficiency in supply chain. Jim King, Vice President, General Manager of Aaron Brothers, awarded Chartpak Inc. as Aaron Brothers' overall Vendor of the Year for its contribution to the growth of Aaron Brothers' art department. Mike Cairnes, President of Artistree, the frame and moulding manufacturing operation for Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores, named Tru Vue, Inc. the company's Custom Framing Vendor of the Year, recognizing its continuous contribution to Artistree's growth and profitability.

The following vendors were also recognized by Michaels for their dedicated partnership and contributions:

• Private Brand Growth
  • ­Spinrite LP
• Product of the Year
  • ­Choon's Design LLC
  • Coats & Clark
• Product Line of the Year
  • ­Pepperell Braiding Company
  • Plaid Enterprises Inc.
  • Pinnacle Frames & Accents

As the need for speed-to-market becomes more critical, Michaels continues to focus on strengthening and improving the efficiency of its supply chain. As a result of this continued focus the company is proud to recognize the supply chain partners who have demonstrated the hard work to become a natural extension of Michaels' business by offering innovative solutions. This year, Michaels' Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Tom DeCaro honored the following supply chain partners for their contribution to Michaels' supply chain efficiency.

• Supply Chain Partners of the Year
  • ­Con-way Truckload – Domestic Transportation
  • Kintetsu World Express, Inc. (KWE) – International Transportation

About The Michaels Companies, Inc.
The Michaels Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIK), is North America's largest specialty retailer of arts and crafts. As of May 31, 2014, the Company owns and operates 1,145 Michaels stores in 49 states and Canada and 118 Aaron Brothers stores, and produces 11 exclusive private brands including Recollections^®, Studio Decor^®, Bead Landing^®, Creatology^®, Ashland^®, Celebrate It^®, Art Minds^®, Artist's Loft^®, Craft Smart^®, Loops & Threads^® and Imagin8^®. The Company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol MIK. Visit www.michaels.com for additional information.

Media Contact: Megan Duran or Loren Rutledge
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SOURCE Michaels Stores, Inc.