Local Club News

January 2019

2019 KOC Program
(Enrollment Opens January 29, 2019 at 9:00am CST)

2019 KOC Membership Enrollment opens on January 29, 2019 at 9:00 CST.  The annual membership fee is $49.99 USD (plus applicable state and local taxes).  Encourage your Local Club members to enroll early in the year to ensure they get all the 2019 Club mailings (i.e., For Keeps newsletters; which includes insider news direct from the Keepsake Studio and additional Club rewards and offers).  Unlock big Bonus Points when you join by 2/28, which is $5 in future rewards.  There are four easy ways to join; online at Hallmark.com/KOC, at your local Hallmark Gold Crown store, by phone at 1-800-Hallmark or by mailing the 2019 KOC application to the address indicated on the form.

A Few Fun Facts….what’s NEW and Different in 2019:

  • Keepsake Dream Box with over $100 value inside, includes a one of a kind Magic Ornament by Ken Crow to kick off the season PLUS $20 you can use towards any Keepsake purchase.  This is a single-use Reward Card that is redeemable in-store or online at Hallmark.com and can be used to purchase any Keepsake Ornament (including KOC exclusives).  Canadian consumers need to call 1-800-Hallmark to redeem.
  • 2019 KOC Enrollment closes on July 31, 2019.  Encourage your national KOC members to renew prior to July 31st.
    • Join the KOC by February 28, 2019 and receive 1500 Crown Rewards Bonus Points ($5 in future rewards)
    • Join the KOC from March 1 – July 31, 2019 and receive 500 Crown Rewards Bonus Points
  • KOC Members who renew by mailing a check and the application to the KOC will now be charged a $5.00 Administrative fee. Pay no fees for signing up or renewing your membership at Hallmark.com/KOC, in-stores or by calling 1-800-Hallmark.
  • KOC Members can request the Keepsake Dream Box to ship to their local Hallmark Gold Crown store for FREE (USA only).
  • KOC Exclusive Ornaments
    • Two KOC exclusive ornaments will be available to purchase starting April 1st and throughout the year, while supplies last on Hallmark.com, in-store or by calling 1-800-Hallmark.
    • Four additional KOC exclusives (releasing at Ornament Premiere and Ornament Debut) will be available to purchase and take home from any Local Hallmark Gold Crown stores this year, while supplies last. Ornaments can also be purchased on Hallmark.com.
  • All KOC Membership #’s are eligible for renewal in 2019.  When members login to their Hallmark.com Account they may see up to 5 KOC Memberships that they have purchased over the years.  Members may select to renew any number they wish.  However, to remain in Charter Membership status you must have joined in 1987 and renewed every year since to keep your Charter Member status.

Special Promotion
(Just in Case You Missed It in 2018)

Did I say 2018?  Yes!  We are excited to announce a first-time-ever promotional offer to our 2019 KOC Members.  On April 1st the KOC is bringing back a 2018 KOC Exclusive ornament favorite!  All 2019 KOC members will have the option to purchase the 2018, KOC Exclusive Christmas Window, while supplies last on Hallmark.com only.  There are no pre-orders for this ornament, quantities are limited. So if you missed it, here’s your chance to purchase and complete your beloved Christmas Window series.

The Making of the 2019 Dream Book

What an adventure this has been! We began working on this project in June of 2018, before we even had all of our 2019 ornaments finalized. The team was brought together to strategize and brainstorm about what we’d like to showcase with the 2019 lineup. It first begins with the marketing team within Keepsakes ideating around the essence of the book – what emotions do we want you, the reader, to experience as you’re going through the book. After we have a game plan in place, we work with the creative studios to come up with a concept for the book. Our concept for the 2019 Dream Book is ‘the wonder of your story.’ You’ll see this theme throughout the book via editorial and photography.


2019 Dream Book
“The Wonder of Your Story”

The photography team got together to create the look and feel of the book. You’ll see a lot of hand-made details, natural elements, and in the moment lifestyle photography. The idea was pitched to leadership and after it was approved, the teams got to work! We pulled over 100 samples to be photographed in life style photography and worked over a three month timeframe to photograph and layout the entire book. We worked hard on the two covers – this is what we stress over the most! We then laid in editorial and ornament details. What was next? We proofed the book – 10 of us read every single detail checking it twice to ensure it’s accurate. The Dream Book is now off to the printer and will soon be arriving in your Dream Box and in stores in April. Guess how many people have worked on the Dream Book this year? 50!

We’ve seen the book and it’s honestly one of our best yet! We cannot wait for you to experience it yourself with your loved ones, making your wish list, and beginning to dream about the memories you’ll be capturing in 2019.  As a reminder, the KOC Exclusive Dream Book is included in the Keepsake Dream Box and only to 2019 KOC Members.  To receive the KOC Exclusive Dream Book you must be a member of the 2019 National Keepsake Ornament Club.  The in-store Dream Book will be available for viewing online April 1st and in-stores starting April 15th.

2019 Keepsake Studio Sneak Peeks

There are so many tiny little details in our mini Keepsake Ornaments.  Here’s a sneak peek of just a few that you will see in 2019.

A Creature Was Stirring
5th in a six-part series.

Tick Tock Twirlers

Go to the Keepsake Community to view other 2019 Sneak Peeks, like Ken’s 2019 Tabletop Tease.

2019 KOC Local Club Rosters

As a reminder, 2019 Local Club Rosters are due by February 28.  Rosters must be emailed to [email protected] and received by February 28, 2019 to be included in the 2019 Local Club listing.  Please be sure to include the KOC Membership # for each of your Local Club Members listed. The Free Local Club Members Exclusive Ornament that mails in October-November each year will be given to only those members that are Local Club members AND a member of the National Keepsake Ornament Club.  Please encourage your club members to join the KOC in 2019 to receive this exclusive ornament.

Local Club Presidents Group on Keepsake Community…starting February 1st

Local Clubs are a very important part of our business.  I am excited to announce that starting February 1st Local Club Presidents will have a private social space as a group on Keepsake Community.  This purpose of this group is to provide another way for our Local Club Presidents to engage with each other, ask questions, and share tips and tricks on how to keep your local club vibrant and active.  The KOC will also post pertinent information in this space (i.e., Local Club Roster, PDF’s of the Local Club President Emails, Games for club meetings etc.…) I hope you are as excited about this group as I am.  This is a private group for Local Club Presidents only.  Presidents who provided an email address on Local Club Roster will be invited to join this group over the next couple of weeks.  Stay tuned….

2019 Keepsake Ornament Club Convention

Don’t miss your chance to connect with your fellow collectors, make new friends, get to know your favorite artists and more. The magic happens August 8-10, 2019 in Kansas City.  The convention is expanding with events at both the Westin and Sheraton Hotels at Crown Center. Morning and evening events will take place at the Sheraton. Mid-day sessions will take place at the Westin. The room block at the Sheraton is sold out, but rooms are still available at the Westin by calling 888-627-8538. Tell them you are with the 2019 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club Convention.

If you have already made reservations outside of our room block, contact the property directly and request to be moved into the “2019 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club Convention block.”

Mark your calendars for February 28, 2019 as registration will open for the convention! As a reminder, this experience is a benefit of membership and is only open to 2019 national KOC members.

Further details regarding registration information will be coming soon!

Sharing Your Story…Keeping Local Clubs Connected

Storytelling is what connects and brings us together.  Our Local Clubs are made up of amazing people, from the individuals and families who benefit from being part of a group that shares the same interest. Every Local Club has their own unique reason for connecting and WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Tell us all about what your Local Club is excited about right now?  Tell us what your Local Club did over the holidays to celebrate friendship and/or help support your local community!

Share your stories and photos with us of how you’re giving back to your communities. Let us know on Keepsake Community or email [email protected].  You’ll be entered in a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of For Keeps!

Are your National KOC members not receiving monthly eNewsletters from the KOC?

If so, please make sure that they are opted into receive marketing emails from Hallmark.  Here’s how:

  • Already have a Hallmark.com account?

1. Go to https://my.hallmark.com/#/ communications

2. Enter your Email Address and Password. Then click the SIGN IN button.

3. You will be taken to the Communication Preferences page. Make sure the checkbox in the Email preferences section is checked. If it’s not, check it. You will be opted in to start receiving emails.

  • Don’t have a Hallmark.com account yet?

1. Go to https://account.hallmark.com/# /signup

2. Follow the steps on screen to create a Hallmark.com account. Click CREATE ACCOUNT.

3. You will be taken to the Link your KOC membership page. Follow the steps on screen to link your KOC membership.

4. You will be automatically opted in to start receiving emails.

As a reminder, we encourage you to forward this email on to your Local Club members and/or print or verbally share at your Local Club meeting.  Attached is a PDF of this email as well.

This Local Club President Email communication will arrive in your inbox five times a year: January, March, June, September, and December.

If you have a minute, please email me your feedback and suggestions on the content you would like to see included in this update.
If you have any questions about the information above please email Anita Winter at [email protected].