Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Making a Match!
Today...I received a call from NSA Sponsor, C & T Publishing, looking for a way to distribute 2,000 of their catalogs. They had already sent catalogs to all distributors and retailers; and they didn't want to throw away their over-runs.
Here's the cool part...the first source they thought of was the NSA! And the first thought I had was: which NSA service provider member is having an upcoming crop? That's easy -- I just had to check the Events Calendar. But wait! It's one thing to make the match; it's another to foster the relationship so it lasts.
In this case, it would be frustrating to croppers if they received the C & T catalog but couldn't buy or play with C & T products at the crop. There should be a vendor at the event with C & T products for sale, or there should be a class or make-&-take using C & T products. Making the most of the match!
So I checked the Events Calendar and saw that Sherry Diccion of Great Scrapbook Events was having a show in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, on March 31...plenty of time to ship the catalogs by media mail and for a vendor to order and receive C & T products to sell at the crop. Sherry's event would be a perfect match!
Sherry joined the NSA in November of 2005 when she launched her scrapbooking business, Great Scrapbook Events. Her goal was to start with bi-monthly crops then grow steadily to eventually launch area trade shows in three years. She had a solid business plan and realistic business model. Plus, she actively sought advice and took advantage of what made sense to her. She'll be the first to tell you that her NSA membership has more than paid for itself. Today, not only is she realizing her goals, she's ahead of schedule. The Mt. Clemens event is her second trade show this year!
I can't tell you how excited I am to connect NSA members with each other, especially when the match would never have happened if not for the NSA. The NSA is so much more than a scrapbooking community...it's a network. And it's days like today when I love my job: playing the role of matchmaker!
ETP!
Here's the cool part...the first source they thought of was the NSA! And the first thought I had was: which NSA service provider member is having an upcoming crop? That's easy -- I just had to check the Events Calendar. But wait! It's one thing to make the match; it's another to foster the relationship so it lasts.
In this case, it would be frustrating to croppers if they received the C & T catalog but couldn't buy or play with C & T products at the crop. There should be a vendor at the event with C & T products for sale, or there should be a class or make-&-take using C & T products. Making the most of the match!
So I checked the Events Calendar and saw that Sherry Diccion of Great Scrapbook Events was having a show in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, on March 31...plenty of time to ship the catalogs by media mail and for a vendor to order and receive C & T products to sell at the crop. Sherry's event would be a perfect match!
Sherry joined the NSA in November of 2005 when she launched her scrapbooking business, Great Scrapbook Events. Her goal was to start with bi-monthly crops then grow steadily to eventually launch area trade shows in three years. She had a solid business plan and realistic business model. Plus, she actively sought advice and took advantage of what made sense to her. She'll be the first to tell you that her NSA membership has more than paid for itself. Today, not only is she realizing her goals, she's ahead of schedule. The Mt. Clemens event is her second trade show this year!
I can't tell you how excited I am to connect NSA members with each other, especially when the match would never have happened if not for the NSA. The NSA is so much more than a scrapbooking community...it's a network. And it's days like today when I love my job: playing the role of matchmaker!
ETP!
Labels: matchmaking, pudding
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Getting on the same page
Today...I had some wonderful telephone discussions regarding the NSA's Instructor & Designer Certification Program (IDCP). The program has been on hold while we find someone to manage the beta testing and to manage the program for the long term. This is not easy, but after my conversations, it may get a lot easier! Some members of the industry have come forward to offer some help, and that is huge!
The IDCP, as envisioned in total, has the potential to revolutionize the industry and benefit all market segments, especially consumers. The IDCP also will play a big role in expanding the passion of scrapbooking. It is no small task making such an idea a reality. I'm beginning to think that we had to wait for the time to come, and now it is here.
Thank you to those NSA members who have patiently waited for the IDCP. Many thanks to the Development Team who worked diligently to create the certification portion. And thank you to the industry representatives who have offered to serve on the Beta Testing Team.
It is very exciting to come to the realization that our industry has grown to the point that there needs some form of standardization. I'm proud that the NSA will be the driver that puts scrapbookers from around the world on the the same page.
ETP!
The NSA will not roll out the IDCP until it's ready. We will only do it if it's done right. Scrapbooking deserves nothing less.
The IDCP, as envisioned in total, has the potential to revolutionize the industry and benefit all market segments, especially consumers. The IDCP also will play a big role in expanding the passion of scrapbooking. It is no small task making such an idea a reality. I'm beginning to think that we had to wait for the time to come, and now it is here.
Thank you to those NSA members who have patiently waited for the IDCP. Many thanks to the Development Team who worked diligently to create the certification portion. And thank you to the industry representatives who have offered to serve on the Beta Testing Team.
It is very exciting to come to the realization that our industry has grown to the point that there needs some form of standardization. I'm proud that the NSA will be the driver that puts scrapbookers from around the world on the the same page.
ETP!
Labels: Expanding the Passion, industry insights
Monday, February 26, 2007
Expanding the Passion @ Sea
Today...I caught this article from the Detroit Free Press...
ETP!Some people's greatest legacy is the memories they bequeath their children and grandchildren.
That's one reason for scrapbooking, a hobby so popular that a Google search reveals more than 850,000 Web pages devoted to the pastime.
Identifying a niche, Princess Cruises recently launched a maritime first, Scrapbooking@Sea. The scrapbook curriculum offers a regular series of onboard classes and a specially created kit with themed pages. Currently available on select ships, scrapbooking had proved so popular in field tests, says Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales, that the line now expects to roll out the program across its fleet of 15 vessels by early this year.
"In a cruise-ship setting, where passengers are on vacation and have spare time to try new things," says Princess spokeswoman Karen Tetherow, "scrapbooking is the perfect opportunity to pick up a new hobby."
Princess' Scrapbooking@Sea kit contains decorative papers, stickers and rub-on emblems along with instructions on how to build five vacation-themed pages. The pages can be used to create decorative backdrops for photos from typical cruise activities such as welcome aboard events, days at sea, shore excursions or formal evenings.
Labels: Expanding the Passion
Friday, February 23, 2007
To Blog or not to Blog
Today...I'm adding some features to this blog. When I'm done, I'll come back and tell you what they are.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Fiction story tells the truth about scrapbooking
Today...Rebeca Seitz provided an interview on GoDeKalb.com about her new scrapbooking fiction book due out in early March. Prints Charming (WestBow Press) is about four women with very different life paths bound together by their love of scrapbooking. The book will be available at book stores everywhere and on Amazon.com. Rebecca is doing an extensive tour to scrapbooking shows and local scrapbooking stores to promote the book.
I had the privilege to pre-read the book and provide a quote for the cover. Prints Charming demonstrates the "power scrapbooking has to develop and strengthen relationships," and that story -- even in fiction form -- needs to be told. Prints Charming's distribution will be wide-spread, and many readers, who have never been exposed to scrapbooking, will have a positive and non-threatening introduction to our passion: fiction lovers, Christian book readers, crafters, etc.
Look for more fiction titles, by Rebeca Seitz and other authors developing this genre, which help expand the passion of scrapbooking.
ETP!
I had the privilege to pre-read the book and provide a quote for the cover. Prints Charming demonstrates the "power scrapbooking has to develop and strengthen relationships," and that story -- even in fiction form -- needs to be told. Prints Charming's distribution will be wide-spread, and many readers, who have never been exposed to scrapbooking, will have a positive and non-threatening introduction to our passion: fiction lovers, Christian book readers, crafters, etc.
Look for more fiction titles, by Rebeca Seitz and other authors developing this genre, which help expand the passion of scrapbooking.
ETP!
Labels: Expanding the Passion, industry insights
Friday, February 02, 2007
So you can see
Today...I'm providing a list of companies and products I reviewed on the Diva Craft Lounge from CHA:
Theme: Quality through rich, luxurious textures
Papers:
Paper Elements
Daisy Bucket
Luxe Designs
Embellishments:
Felt: Tinkering Ink, Queen & Co.
Velvet: De Ja Views, SEI, Imaginisce
Chipboard: My Mind's Eye embossed chipboard; Magistical Memories food quality chipboard
Film in the PageSage press kit
Journalling:
Karen Russell Journaler's Notebook (MT release)
Graph papers: Scenic Route, Dream Street
Color:
Black & White
Aqua
Plums
Tools:
7 Gypsies punch
Bind It All
The Slice
Karen Foster's Scraparatus
*Purple Cow's Freestyle
Organization:
Clip It Up
Arccivo
*KFD's Scrap Apron
*ScrapEze vertical paper holder (MT release)
Give the Gift of Scrapbooking:
Love Books
My Book
Speaking Up
*Photopoly
*SEI's Minute Memories (MT release)
The asterisk indicates the companies/products that deserve mention but I didn't talk about because of time or because Diva Danielle and Jan covered them.
Of course, there are many other wonderful finds at CHA, and I would love to hear about your favorites!
ETP!
Theme: Quality through rich, luxurious textures
Papers:
Paper Elements
Daisy Bucket
Luxe Designs
Embellishments:
Felt: Tinkering Ink, Queen & Co.
Velvet: De Ja Views, SEI, Imaginisce
Chipboard: My Mind's Eye embossed chipboard; Magistical Memories food quality chipboard
Film in the PageSage press kit
Journalling:
Karen Russell Journaler's Notebook (MT release)
Graph papers: Scenic Route, Dream Street
Color:
Black & White
Aqua
Plums
Tools:
7 Gypsies punch
Bind It All
The Slice
Karen Foster's Scraparatus
*Purple Cow's Freestyle
Organization:
Clip It Up
Arccivo
*KFD's Scrap Apron
*ScrapEze vertical paper holder (MT release)
Give the Gift of Scrapbooking:
Love Books
My Book
Speaking Up
*Photopoly
*SEI's Minute Memories (MT release)
The asterisk indicates the companies/products that deserve mention but I didn't talk about because of time or because Diva Danielle and Jan covered them.
Of course, there are many other wonderful finds at CHA, and I would love to hear about your favorites!
ETP!
Labels: Diva Craft Lounge, industry insights, Latest and Greatest
Thursday, February 01, 2007
CHA: I felt the felt!
Today...I'm recovering from CHA, so here's a quick summary. For a more detailed report, listen to my segment on the Diva Craft Lounge.
The theme of this year's show was Quality -- my guess, a tactile reaction to the fast-growing digital market. Look for lots of luxurious textures in paper and embellishments like 80 pound text double sided patterned papers, embossed chipboard, and textiles like velvet, felt and corduroy. Reoccurring color themes were in black & white, teal with everything, and rich plums, burgundies and ivories. Look for a full report on the NSA web site coming soon from Debbie Hodge.
In the meantime, enjoy these photos from the show!
Diva Danielle kept busy doing a show review for Clique TV. She broadcast live from the NSA booth with me and Jan Mollet Evans. And I got to meet Rayme and his mom !!! but no photo :-(
Robin (far left) and Donna (far right) from Scrapbook Warehouse and I stopped by the Memories in Uniform booth to thank Amy Alfaro for her support of Harvesting Memories.
It wouldn't be official without a photo with the lovely Leah Fung!
I finally met Tara Whitney in person at the 2 Peas ice cream social.
Get this...green round sprinkles (peas?) on my ice cream!
Wendy and Kitty have a book due for release later this spring. They and a table full of designers gave me their take on the show during lunch.
The cool tool of the show...the Freestyle from Purple Cows. I first saw this product at PMA last March. It's finally here!
More later!
ETP!
The theme of this year's show was Quality -- my guess, a tactile reaction to the fast-growing digital market. Look for lots of luxurious textures in paper and embellishments like 80 pound text double sided patterned papers, embossed chipboard, and textiles like velvet, felt and corduroy. Reoccurring color themes were in black & white, teal with everything, and rich plums, burgundies and ivories. Look for a full report on the NSA web site coming soon from Debbie Hodge.
In the meantime, enjoy these photos from the show!
Diva Danielle kept busy doing a show review for Clique TV. She broadcast live from the NSA booth with me and Jan Mollet Evans. And I got to meet Rayme and his mom !!! but no photo :-(
Robin (far left) and Donna (far right) from Scrapbook Warehouse and I stopped by the Memories in Uniform booth to thank Amy Alfaro for her support of Harvesting Memories.
It wouldn't be official without a photo with the lovely Leah Fung!
I finally met Tara Whitney in person at the 2 Peas ice cream social.
Get this...green round sprinkles (peas?) on my ice cream!
Wendy and Kitty have a book due for release later this spring. They and a table full of designers gave me their take on the show during lunch.
The cool tool of the show...the Freestyle from Purple Cows. I first saw this product at PMA last March. It's finally here!
More later!
ETP!
Labels: Diva Craft Lounge, industry insights, Latest and Greatest, photos
