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
