JAVA & Co. Named One Of 100 Finalists For Audience Choice Award

Sept. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Audience Choice Winner Will Receive $10,000, a Feature in Martha Stewart Living and Be Part of The “American Made” Artisanal Fair at NYC’s Grand Central Terminal with Demonstrations, Tastings and Workshops, October 16-18, 2012

Henry, Illinois - September 7, 2012 – JAVA & Co., a local husband and wife owned and operated business, announced today that it has been named one of 100 finalists for the Audience Choice Award in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s inaugural “American Made,” a multimedia celebration of American artists, artisans and entrepreneurs presented in partnership with MSLO’s inaugural sponsors Avery Dennison’s Office and Consumer Products division and The UPS Store®. Additional sponsors include Toyota. The “American Made” program will celebrate 10 rising stars—plus an 11th Audience Choice winner—from a range of lifestyle arenas including food, fashion, design, community, gardening, crafts and technology. The winners will be honored guests at a celebratory event on October 16 and part of a unique pop-up experience at Grand Central Terminal.

The search for the Audience Choice winner began in August with an online nomination process on marthastewart.com in which more than 2,000 entries were submitted nationwide. Finalists were then selected by the editors of Martha Stewart Living and beginning today through September 24, will be put up for public vote at www.marthastewart.com/americanmade. The Audience Choice winner—the finalist who receives the most votes—will be announced online October 8. The winning entrepreneur will receive $10,000 to further his or her business, in addition to being featured in the December issue of Martha Stewart Living.

The Audience Choice winner will also win a trip to New York City to be part of the inaugural “American Made” event, an artisanal fair in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal on October 17 and 18. Consumers will be invited to take part in how-to workshops hosted by Martha Stewart, as well as other culinary, crafting, design and gardening experts from MSLO and around the country; they will also enjoy shopping, tastings and giveaways.

As one of America’s most successful creative entrepreneurs, Martha Stewart has made her career doing, teaching, and inspiring others to pursue what they love. Her example has encouraged countless others to follow their passions and launch their own businesses: chefs, bakers, caterers, gardeners, farmers, florists, landscape architects, product and clothing designers, ceramists, stationers, and more. Over the years, many of these artists and artisans have been featured in the pages of Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Avery® products empower small businesses to take their dream and turn it into a reality by offering Avery® labels, cards and free downloadable software to help them brand, sell and ship their handcrafted products.

About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.  is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging approximately 66 million consumers a month across all media platforms with unique lifestyle content, and has a growing retail presence with 8,500 products in thousands of retail locations. MSLO's four magazine brands—Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, Everyday Food and Whole Living—are available in print, digital and App formats and also makes special issues, books and utility Apps available. The Company’s television and video programming includes the new “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School” series, slated for debut in Fall 2012, in addition to a vast library of how-to video available online. Martha Stewart Living Radio is available on SIRIUS XM Channel 110. MSLO also designs high-quality Martha Stewart products in a range of lifestyle categories available through select retailers, including The HomeDepot, Macy's, Staples (together with Avery), PetSmart, Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores. The Company entered into a strategic alliance with J.C. Penney Company, Inc., in which the two will build distinct Martha Stewart stores in JCPenney department stores, and jointly develop an e-commerce site, for a 2013 launch. The MSLO family of brands also includes Chef Emeril Lagasse’s media and merchandising properties. Additional information about MSLO is at www.marthastewart.com.

About JAVA & Co.:  Chef-Inspired Coffee Infused Specialties. Handmade by a local husband and wife team - utilizing proprietary small batch recipes with fine ingredients like real vanilla and hand cracked eggs in the hand cut biscotti; locally roasted coffee beans in the syrups; freshly ground whole spices and coffee in the sweet and savory JAVA Spice; Illinois farm grown habanero peppers in the spicy habanero caramels; natural Illinois soy wax infused with botanical extracts, lead FREE wicks and phthalate free fragrance in our hand poured candles; and key recognizable ingredients in our Wake Up! Bath & Body Collection.

Visit www.javaandco.com to view the entire collection of JAVA & Co. artisan made specialties. For media requests or inquiries, please contact Jamie Knoll at javaandco@live.com or via phone at (309) 361-3276.

JAVA & Co.  | 303 Market Street  |  Henry, Illinois 61537  |  www.javaandco.com