Impressions Magazine - January 2005

Rich Gifts By Rachel Irvine JANUARY 01, 2005

When President George W. Bush needed a little something for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, he put in a call to Saddle Brook, NJ's PhotoThrow, Inc. and ordered a personalized blanket for his staunchest ally.

ABC talk-show host Oprah Winfrey commemorated her friendship with Nelson Mandela by purchasing two of the chic coverlets. And most recently, a fan presented NBC's The Today Show host Katie Couric with one of the blankets on-air.

PhotoThrow, the brainchild of textile veteran Andy Concilio, makes warm and cozy consumer keepsakes. With 30 years in the knitting business, Concilio thought the idea of placing a photo on a throw, pillow or sweater was an idea that would sell — and he was right. Some 1,000 vendors throughout the world take orders for PhotoThrow's 15 product lines at kiosks in malls, trade shows and theme parks. Customers provide the photos and vendors send the orders to the company's headquarters, where the blankets are knitted.

For details, visit www.photothrow.com. – Rachel A. Irvine