Today...is a great day!

Today...the industry prepares for National Scrapbooking Day. Craftrends noted NSD in their news headlines. CNA provided a press release template for retailers. Here are more tips to make the most of our special day:

• Send press releases to local media, especially television network affiliates, and add the words "photo opportunity" or "remote feature" to the release. This will alert them to a visual event that they can cover instead of just a news event. Follow up with a phone call.

• Contact local community calendars, usually in suburban weekly newspapers, for free mention of your NSD event.

• Have a tool-focused, round-robin make-n-take project for your NSD crop. For example, build a one-page layout documenting the NSD event. For the first make-n-take, use the Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole in plastic drinking cups. Create a name tag (again, use the Crop-A-Dile to punch the hole and set the eyelet) and tie to the drinking cup. Continue with the second make-in-take by using a die cutting machine to cut a title for a layout. For the third make-n-take, break for a group photo. Demonstrate a compact photo printer and print copies of the group photo for each participant. For the fourth make-n-take session, demonstrate a technique that's new to the group, like machine stitching. Pass around pieces of cardstock for participants to sign as journaling to mark who was there. For the final make-n-take, assemble the layout and add the tag.

• Take pre-orders of the tools used in the make-n-takes. Alert customers that certain products will be highlighted at your NSD event. Have them stop by to try out the tools. Offer a discount on pre-orders (or pre-pays) and have the tools on hand for sale.

• If customers can't come for an all-day crop, invite them to an open house. Schedule make-n-takes for croppers and visitors, so everyone has the chance to do the projects.

• Make sure your event is posted on the NSA calendar! It's free, and the calendar is one of the most viewed pages of the NSA site. Scrappers are looking for crops to attend. Let them know how your store supports NSD.

Today...I got a call from a newspaperin Illinois wanting to know more about NSD, the NSA and if there were any NSD events in her area. Guess where I looked for that information!

ETP!

Labels: NSD, pudding, retail tips, trade magazines