Friday, January 26, 2007
CHA Prep, Part III
Today...was the last day for CHA preparations. Tomorrow we fly out. Scott's been working hard getting the logistics together, and I've been sending out emails about Sneak Peeks. And don't you worry! I'm tracking the hot products for my Diva on the Road report, Wednesday, January 31 at noon pacific. Diva Danielle will be broadcasting LIVE from the NSA booth, #1508. Tune in live or listen to the archives!
ETP!
ETP!
Labels: Diva Craft Lounge, industry insights, Latest and Greatest
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Think outside the box
Today...EK Success announced its launch strategy for the new Martha Stewart Crafts™ line of paper crafting, scrapbooking, and storage products, begining with limited retail distribution in May to all Michaels stores, followed by distribution to EK Elite independent craft and scrapbooking stores later this year.
Today...I highlighted this tidbit of advice offered to independents by Rob Krieger, president of Checker Distributors, in the January 2007 issue of Craftrends, page 34:
and he advises retailers to...
Krieger goes on to encourage independents to "think outside the box" and lists suggestions like using the Internet to attract younger customers, choosing the right supplier ("Make every attempt to buy products and brand names that are not in the chains."), keeping up with trends, and offering unique classes.
I can't help but think that EK Success released word of the launch schedule as a way to avoid a communications fiasco a la Provo Craft and the Cricut. They're making sure everyone knows that the box stores will have Martha's product before they attempt to ship it to their "elite" customers. Thanks for the warning, EK, especially before you have thousands of independent reltailers decend upon you at CHA.
Independents need to think outside the box or the only place to shop for scrapbooking supplies will be inside the box stores.
Today...I highlighted this tidbit of advice offered to independents by Rob Krieger, president of Checker Distributors, in the January 2007 issue of Craftrends, page 34:
The strengths independent shops can use to their advantage...are their unique product selection, classes, and individual attention (emphasis
mine).
and he advises retailers to...
"Find suppliers who are directing their total sales and marketing efforts to make independents successful. Why depend on a supplier who is doing all they can to help chains be successful at your expense?"
Krieger goes on to encourage independents to "think outside the box" and lists suggestions like using the Internet to attract younger customers, choosing the right supplier ("Make every attempt to buy products and brand names that are not in the chains."), keeping up with trends, and offering unique classes.
I can't help but think that EK Success released word of the launch schedule as a way to avoid a communications fiasco a la Provo Craft and the Cricut. They're making sure everyone knows that the box stores will have Martha's product before they attempt to ship it to their "elite" customers. Thanks for the warning, EK, especially before you have thousands of independent reltailers decend upon you at CHA.
Independents need to think outside the box or the only place to shop for scrapbooking supplies will be inside the box stores.
Labels: IMHO, industry insights, trade magazines
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Harvesting Memories featured in Craftrends
Today...the January Craftrends was in my mailbox. Lookie what was listed in the table of contents!!
The cover story of the sneak peek issue of the new Memorytrends magazine is "Keep in Touch: How scrapbooking can support our military families," and features Harvesting Memories. The photo taken at Scrapbook Warehouse in Dallas shows some of the cards we made to during the crop to raise funds for Trees for Troops.
Read the full story scanned from the January 2007 issue.
The cover story of the sneak peek issue of the new Memorytrends magazine is "Keep in Touch: How scrapbooking can support our military families," and features Harvesting Memories. The photo taken at Scrapbook Warehouse in Dallas shows some of the cards we made to during the crop to raise funds for Trees for Troops.
Read the full story scanned from the January 2007 issue.
Labels: Expanding the Passion, Harvesting Memories, trade magazines
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
CHA Prep, Part II
Today...on the Diva Craft Lounge I gave a CHA Sneak Peek report and provided a little insight as to what to expect later this month.
ETP!
ETP!
Labels: Diva Craft Lounge, industry insights, Latest and Greatest
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
CHA Prep, Part I
Today...I started preparing for the slice of heaven that is CHA. I developed a web page for the sneak peeks and glanced over the CNA issue new to my mailbox, one of the several pre-show mags I'm sure to receive. So here are some things that caught my eye:
Clip File System from Simply Renee...something new in storage and organization
Pay-per-project Online...something close to a concept I'm trying to develop, but no where near what it needs to be (Warning: I find F&W web sites painfully slow. This one is no exception.)
Give 'em what they need...excellent peek into what this industry should be -- and should not be -- doing:
Karen Ancona's editorial "We Reap What We Sow" about kindness and generosity...it was like she was speaking to the NSA about Harvesting Memories and our plans for CHA: "Americans love a company that promotes civility...a good deed in the pay-it-forward spirit."
ETP!
Clip File System from Simply Renee...something new in storage and organization
Pay-per-project Online...something close to a concept I'm trying to develop, but no where near what it needs to be (Warning: I find F&W web sites painfully slow. This one is no exception.)
Give 'em what they need...excellent peek into what this industry should be -- and should not be -- doing:
Karen Ancona's editorial "We Reap What We Sow" about kindness and generosity...it was like she was speaking to the NSA about Harvesting Memories and our plans for CHA: "Americans love a company that promotes civility...a good deed in the pay-it-forward spirit."
ETP!
Labels: Expanding the Passion, Harvesting Memories, industry insights, Latest and Greatest, trade magazines
Friday, January 05, 2007
Let the games begin!
Today...I heard of the demise of another scrapbooking company. Leaving Prints has shut its doors. While some, especially direct sales representatives of any company, see this as a blow to their chances to build their own business, I also see it as a struggle for the scrapbooking industry to expand the passion to a greater consumer base.
Direct sales companies, with their home party plans, have the permission to enter people's personal space, both physically and emotionally, that other retailers do not. Sales reps are friends and acquaintences, actual people, who can provided that personal contact and relationship not available from a retail store or web site. That type of hand holding is needed in scrapbooking, especially to introduce scrapbooking to the intimidated and overwhelmed newcomer.
So when the industry looses a player such as Leaving Prints, it leaves a sad impression with us all.
ETP
Direct sales companies, with their home party plans, have the permission to enter people's personal space, both physically and emotionally, that other retailers do not. Sales reps are friends and acquaintences, actual people, who can provided that personal contact and relationship not available from a retail store or web site. That type of hand holding is needed in scrapbooking, especially to introduce scrapbooking to the intimidated and overwhelmed newcomer.
So when the industry looses a player such as Leaving Prints, it leaves a sad impression with us all.
ETP
Labels: Expanding the Passion, hand holding, IMHO
