From CBN News - 'Obamanomics' Yields Big Bucks

By Erick Stakelbeck CBN News January 21, 2009

(Click on image to view video)

CBNNews.com - From breath mints to T-shirts, to coffee and pasta, President Barack Obama's likeness is on everything. But how much is being made in the booming business?

Ann Hand and her staff have been hard at work. In 20 years of designing jewelry through her business, Ann Hand Designs, she's never experienced anything quite like this.

"I don't think there's any comparison. I've never seen anything like it," she said. "So many people wanting just some memento of this historic day."

Since Barack Obama was elected, Hand has been sending her items all over the world.
"It's amazing to me that people in Singapore and Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, have wanted something to commemorate this President. It's wonderful for America," she added.

Profits from Obama-related merchandise are estimated at $300 million and climbing.

"This is my souvenir. My Barack Obama momento," one tourist said. "I'll take it home and they'll be proud of it back home because everyone loves Barack Obama in Australia."

Larry Bird, a curator at the Smithsonian Museum, says this type of political excitement dates back to George Washington. "Historically I think this fits very closely with what we've seen before," he said. Bird, however, added that campaigns profiting from political items is new. In the past candidates gave away hats or buttons in order to advertise. "They don't really believe in these things as effective media any more," he explained. "It's just as likely if you went to Obama headquarters and asked for a button, they'd be happy to sell you one for $1.00. The same thing with a bumper sticker."

The cost doesn't seem to bother the millions of people wanting their own piece of history.

Although Obama's record-breaking campaign has ended, sales at his official Web site are still going strong. Profits will go to the inauguration, which will cost an estimated $150 million.

If You Were 1 of the 1.8 Million At The Inauguration - Get Your Ann Hand "I Was There" Keepsake

January 20, 2009 marked an historic event in American history that was witnessed by a record crowd estimated to be over 1.8 million people. Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States becoming the first African-American to reach the highest office in the country.

What better way to commemorate this historic day than an Ann Hand "I Was There" dog tag for $45 (pictured here and available in gold and silver tones). It is a keepsake for years to come to let your family and friends know that you were one of the 1.8 million witnesses to history.

You may shop the entire Ann Hand Obama Collection at annhand.com.

A Message From Ann Hand – Limited Edition 2009 Obama/Biden Inaugural Pin

I am delighted that I was chosen to design the Limited Edition 2009 Obama/Biden Inaugural Pin commemorating this historic event in American History.

I am also delighted to share with you a copy of my personal invitation to the Inauguration which included an insert entitled “The 56th Presidential Inaugural Collectibles” featuring the Ann Hand Limited Edition 2009 Inaugural Pin. (See copy of insert and photo of pin below. The Inaugural Pin is proudly made in the USA)

"This stunning keepsake pin" is available exclusively at the inauguralstore.com, the official online catalog for 2009 Presidential Inauguration merchandise.

I also invite you to visit my online store at annhand.com to shop my Ann Hand Obama Collection including pins, necklaces, cuff links, sunglasses, and dog tags just to name a few of the unique items to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime event.

From The Wall Street Journal - Heard On The Runway

Lunchtime Snap: The Barack Obama “Badge Brand”
By Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

Excerpt from article dated December 8, 2008

........This morning, Washington, D.C.-based jeweler Ann Hand started selling a line of Obama-related jewelry and accessories that include $45 silver dogtags that say “First Pooch” and $175 sunglasses that feature the word “Obama” in crystals on the side. Ms. Hand said she normally does a candidate-themed pin during presidential election years but this is the first time that she’s introducing a line of 10 items inspired by an incoming president. (Ms. Hand, who said she’s an independent, noted that before she began selling the items today, she’d received 1,000 pre-orders for a $75 Obama pin she’d designed, some from countries like Spain and Singapore......

Inauguration Watch From WashingtonPost.com - Ann Hand Obama Inaugural Pin

By David A Nakamura December 10, 2008

Souvenir Watch: The Obama Pin. A periodic look at Obama tchotchkes to memorialize the big day.

Item: Obama Inaugural Pin

Maker: D.C. jewelry designer Ann Hand

Price: $75 (available in 18-carat gold and diamonds by special order)

Why: From the Web site: "The designs of Ann Hand have gained international recognition for their distinguished, elegant appearance and exquisite quality.Worn by First Ladies, Cabinet Secretaries, Senators, Congresswomen, Ambassadors, Hollywood Leading Ladies and women from all walks of life."

Inauguration Watch Verdict: Classy, understated bling. Patriotic colors. But where does one wear this after Jan. 20?

Photo from Ann Hand's Web site.

From Howard University News Service - Political Jeweler Creates Patriotism, Politics in Designs - Election 2008

Political Bling Maker Prepares for Inauguration Sales in January
By Stephanie Kennard

In the spirit of patriotism, Washington D.C. jeweler Ann Hand's designs gain much attention during presidential election years.

Hand, a fine jewelry designer in the Georgetown neighborhood, designs lapel pins supporting candidates running for national office: her newest pin resembles the presidential seal and is gold with red, white and blue gems. The pin, $75, was designed especially for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama and is scheduled for release in early December, but can be reserved on her website www.annhand.com.

"Election season is always a wonderful time, people always want a piece of history," Hand said. "People supporting President-elect Obama were genuinely so excited. They were really showing support much earlier in the game than any other candidate."

Hand's boutiques, Ann Hand, LLC, are located at 4885 Macarthur Blvd. NW in Palisades neighborhood and 2900 M Street NW in Georgetown.

In business since 1988, Hand's specialty lapel pins compose the majority of her collection with symbolic pins of American pride, and others designed especially for government and military affiliations. For example, her collection includes American flags, peace doves, and her famous "Liberty Eagle" pin.

In addition to Obama pins currently generating majority of Hand's sales revenue, the "Liberty Eagle" pin has generated a large amount of revenue for years. The pin is a sterling silver eagle plated in 18k gold with a ruby gem eye and set above one pearl.

"The eagle symbolizes strength, unity, and power," she said. "I wanted to design beauty and strength that women would like to wear."

The pin, Hand's expression of feminine power, has been seen on the lapels of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.

Originally from the Houston area, Hand moved to the district in the early 80s with her husband, former chief of protocol to President Lyndon Johnson, Lloyd Hand. While in D.C., she took up crafting and a few small beading classes before deciding to enroll in the Gemological Institute of America.

"Over the past 20 years what began as a hobby, became a passion and soon a global business," Hand said.

Her pins have become the gift of choice amongst politicians with The White House, Department of State, and Department of Defense utilizing her collections for "diplomatic gifts to foreign dignitaries."

"We were in D.C. and surrounded with a general sense of patriotism," she said in response to the idea of patriotic lapel pins.

This year's candidate pins were silver plated with Swarovski crystals. A tradition since 1996, Hand held a mock election based upon the sales of her candidate pins. This year Obama won her election. Expanding upon her Presidential collection for Obama, Hand designed an additional inauguration memorabilia, gold toned and silver toned dog tags set for release in early December. The tags bear the words "I was there," and "This is our moment, this is our time" with the date Jan. 20, 2009.

Additionally, Hand's collection extends beyond politics. She designs jewelry to benefit the Miss America Pageant Scholarship Fund and other jewelry for women.

From Washingtonian - Dress Up in Obama Bling

Washington jeweler Ann Hand sells Obama necklaces, watches, cuff links, and coffee mugs.

By Emily Leamon

If voting wasn’t enough, now you can show your love for Barack Obama with a bit of bling. Washington jewelry designer Ann Hand has created a Barack Obama collection to commemorate the historic inauguration. For $95, you can score a glitzy silver necklace featuring Obama’s name written in 84 Swarovski crystals. Bling not your bag? Hand also has Obama watches, sunglasses, cuff links, dog tags, and pins. Her favorite item is a blue Obama 2008 travel mug with six rows of rhinestones for $25 .

A limited-edition inaugural pin, priced at $75, is the centerpiece of the collection. It features the presidential seal above Obama’s name, which is flanked by two crystals. For $3,800, you can special-order an 18-karat-gold version and swap out the crystals for diamonds. Both come inscribed with the Ann Hand logo and the date of the inauguration, January 20, 2009. Hand, who has made only 2,500 inaugural pins, received more than 1,000 orders within the first week of advertising them in her store and on her Web site. “I didn’t realize they’d be so popular,” she says. Hand’s dog tags, priced at $45, come in gold or silver tones and a choice of inscriptions. One reads: “This is our Moment / This is our Time,” and another says, “I WAS THERE”—meant for attendees of the swearing-in ceremony on January 20. Items range in price from the $25 mug to a $175 pair of sunglasses, which have several rows of Swarovski crystals on the temples. The crystals create an outline for the letters OBAMA. “We’re trying to keep prices as low as we can, with the economy,” Hand says. “We want this line to be available to as many people as possible.”

From The Hill.com - Ann Hand To Offer a ‘Fabulous’ line of Obama Jewelry

By Betsy Rothstein

November 24, 2008 - What’s a little bling among political friends?

Ann Hand, who designed the official pin worn by spouses of congressional lawmakers and owns two jewelry salons in Georgetown, is set to roll out a line of inaugural Obama jewelry the second week of December — we’re talking dog tags, pins, necklaces and rhinestone sunglasses. Not the cheap, trashy kind — tasteful silver- and gold-filled pieces you can wear to an inaugural ball or upscale party. Prices range from $75 to $175. One of the dog tags reads, “This is our moment. This is our time.” Another says more simply, “I was there.”

Hand said she had a strong feeling Obama would win, so she had jewelry ideas in the works for a while. “It was just in my gut that he would win,” said Hand, who won’t name them, but has had requests for Obama jewels from Hollywood actors and others as far away as Singapore, Norway and Japan. “I am elated he has won.”

To order the jewels, call 202-333-2979.