Saturday, July 28, 2007
What Memorytrends said...
Today...I'm posting what Beth Hess, editor of Memorytrends Magazine, reported as trends and hot products from CHA summer (my notes in orange):
The Craft & Hobby Association Summer Show provided an array of new product collections for crafters of all kinds. New yarn textures and colors are likely to inspire papercrafters. So, too, are artist materials. One of the hottest new scrapbooking products of the show is the IOD Paintables collection from Prima. These 12"x12" sheets of cardstock feature outlines of swirls, flowers, and more and are designed to be colored in with paints, markers, color pencils, chalks, or any other color medium. Co-creator Josie Celio says, "I forget how much fun coloring is until I started with this line. It's a form of expression many of us haven't used in a long time." Judging by the crowds watching the demos and placing their orders, others agree scrapbookers are ready to incorporate more of their artistic self and products they already own, like ink pads and pens, in this way. (Watch for more about artistry in journaling and scrapbooks in the September issue of Memorytrends Magazine.)ETP!
Other Products that stood out:Other Trends Spotted:
- Glue Arts GlueGlider Max - a large adhesive gun runner GlueArts is a long-time sponsor of the NSA!
- Dove of the East - Japan Collection
- Birds, Trees flocks of owls, bird-shaped chipboard mini-albums from Piggy Tales & Maya Road, penguin Christmas paper from Imaginisce
- Swirls, Paisley
- Calendar projects Karen Foster, Flair, and others; getting ready for Christmas gifts
- Unique shapes in mini albums, board books, spiral journals, etc.
- Storage, storage, storage - this category just keeps growing (and becoming more fashion-forward and in-line with today's decorating trends) I'm guessing that this product line offers a high return for both manufacturers and retailers, hence the flood
Labels: industry insights, Latest and Greatest, trade magazines
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Hot products to warm up our winter
Today...I'm identifying some of the products and trends I think will be hot coming out of CHA-S. What do you think?
ETP!
- More of the warm, rich colors from January's CHA plus brighter blues (mentioned here)
- Texture and more texture - flocked, glitter, embroidered, stuff that screams "touch me!"
- More felt, velvet and lace, especially in rolls and ribbons, but also in flowers. Look for it from Queen & Co., Prima, Maya Road and others
- More interactive projects - see-through pages, flip books, hide & seek flap book and barn doors from Piggy Tales
- Anything transparent, like acetate, film, acrylic - the digital layered look goes beyond paper
- Home printers and multiple ways to use them - think hybrid and transparencies
- Glue Arts' Glue Glider Pro, which won the Art Materials Magazine Most Innovative Product Award - this is a must-have for serious scrappers
- Prima - with a special eye on the new Printables - something very different for scrapbooking (let's cross over to the art material aisle and grab some water brushes for our distress inks!)
ETP!
Labels: industry insights, Latest and Greatest, retail tips
Monday, July 23, 2007
Home from CHA
Today...I'm home from CHA in Chicago, and as usual, it was a great trip! Do you ever feel that you are in the right place at the right time?
The highlight of the trip was meeting more members of the NSA and reuniting with the members I met last year. Look for photos and articles to come soon.
In the meantime, check out some new NSA features!
The AWESOME new Store Locator! Now interfaced with Google Maps, the NSA Store Locator identifies local retailers -- wherever you are in the world!
Check the sidebar to the right. I'm tracking interesting stories and blog posts that resonate the NSA's message to expand the passion of scrapbooking. Let me know if you find one to add.
More about CHA later, as the suitcases are unpacked and life gets to, uh, normal.
ETP!
The highlight of the trip was meeting more members of the NSA and reuniting with the members I met last year. Look for photos and articles to come soon.
In the meantime, check out some new NSA features!
The AWESOME new Store Locator! Now interfaced with Google Maps, the NSA Store Locator identifies local retailers -- wherever you are in the world!
Check the sidebar to the right. I'm tracking interesting stories and blog posts that resonate the NSA's message to expand the passion of scrapbooking. Let me know if you find one to add.
More about CHA later, as the suitcases are unpacked and life gets to, uh, normal.
ETP!
Labels: Expanding the Passion
Thursday, July 19, 2007
CHA-S Press Kit Preview
Today...I visited the press room to get a preview of what's in store for us when the show opens on Friday.
Exhibitors and other CHA members provide press kits to announce new releases, entice with sample products, and provide catalogs and digital images for print. This is an excellent way for editors to find the info they need - and bring it home - to do their job, which is ultimately to spread information.
As a Service Provider, I find the press room an invaluable benefit and ultimately a huge time saver. In one room I can gather a significant amount of information that helps me to plan my show schedule and identify the must-see exhibits. Even if it's just an updated catalogue provided, having it in hand is so much easier - and appreciated - than if I had to hunt down my prospects for information.
I also get a glimpse of what the other categories are working on, such as Pentel's Fabric Fun Dye Sticks. Their press kit included a small canvas bag and encouraged creative time with their new product. Talk about make-n-take!
NSA members Cindy Bisson and Becky Chabot submitted press kits in the designer section, and they were on hand to preview the kits from the exhibitors. This video is just a sample of what we discovered on the show floor:
(Disclaimer: this is my first video post, so please forgive the lack of editing and the burst of exuberance at the end!)
ETP!
Manufacturer's mentioned
Bright blues:
me and my big ideas
Stemma
Skulls & Pirates:
Collected Memories Bad to the Bone albums
Rusty Pickle's Cap'n Jack and Pirate Princess Collections
Karen Foster Design's Pirate Collection
2 Daisies Designs' Heads of the Family
Celebrations:
AdornIt Halloween Collection
Exhibitors and other CHA members provide press kits to announce new releases, entice with sample products, and provide catalogs and digital images for print. This is an excellent way for editors to find the info they need - and bring it home - to do their job, which is ultimately to spread information.
As a Service Provider, I find the press room an invaluable benefit and ultimately a huge time saver. In one room I can gather a significant amount of information that helps me to plan my show schedule and identify the must-see exhibits. Even if it's just an updated catalogue provided, having it in hand is so much easier - and appreciated - than if I had to hunt down my prospects for information.
I also get a glimpse of what the other categories are working on, such as Pentel's Fabric Fun Dye Sticks. Their press kit included a small canvas bag and encouraged creative time with their new product. Talk about make-n-take!
NSA members Cindy Bisson and Becky Chabot submitted press kits in the designer section, and they were on hand to preview the kits from the exhibitors. This video is just a sample of what we discovered on the show floor:
(Disclaimer: this is my first video post, so please forgive the lack of editing and the burst of exuberance at the end!)
ETP!
Manufacturer's mentioned
Bright blues:
me and my big ideas
Stemma
Skulls & Pirates:
Collected Memories Bad to the Bone albums
Rusty Pickle's Cap'n Jack and Pirate Princess Collections
Karen Foster Design's Pirate Collection
2 Daisies Designs' Heads of the Family
Celebrations:
AdornIt Halloween Collection
Labels: industry insights, Latest and Greatest, pudding, trade magazines
Monday, July 02, 2007
You ain't seen nuthin' yet!
Today...I received the July/August issue of Scrapbook Business. I went straight to page 8 for Kevin Nelson's note from the editor. In his letter, he highlights the NSA's retail directory. The NSA Store Locator is like nothing else in the scrapbooking industry. Nowhere can you find a comprehensive list of retailers that specialize in scrapbooking but on the NSA site. Other lists are too expensive to join, tied to a product manufacturer, or terribly out-dated. And forget about functionality!
Thing is, we're hard at work creating a better retail directory and locator, and it's scheduled to launch very soon! So if you like the NSA Store Locator now, wait until you see what's in store next!
ETP!
Remember...the NSA lists all brick & mortar stores for free. Stores receive an enhanced listing -- with phone numbers, directions, maps, store hours, photos and more -- as a retail member of the NSA. You also will receive a monthly reminder to update your listing information.
Thing is, we're hard at work creating a better retail directory and locator, and it's scheduled to launch very soon! So if you like the NSA Store Locator now, wait until you see what's in store next!
ETP!
Remember...the NSA lists all brick & mortar stores for free. Stores receive an enhanced listing -- with phone numbers, directions, maps, store hours, photos and more -- as a retail member of the NSA. You also will receive a monthly reminder to update your listing information.
Labels: pudding, retail tips, trade magazines
