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Profiting From
Altered Books |
By Sue DiFranco
Copyright © 2002 Sue DiFranco/Fun Facts Publishing
The first time I read about "altered books" was in a recent issue of "Craftrends"
magazine. I cut it out and wrote it down in my "ideas" folder of upcoming
articles. Soon after came an article in "CNA" magazine, as well as "Creative
Leisure News." Oops! Looks like I almost missed the boat on reporting on this
upcoming trend. This article is for you, so you don't miss the boat!
Altered books are books that have been collaged, rubber stamped, embellished,
and decorated, with the ultimate objective being to turn the book into an art
piece. The craft is quickly finding a wide audience: the Yahoo group for Altered
Book Artists
(
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/alteredbooks/ ) already has more than 2000
members as of this writing. And with word of mouth being spread from crafter to
crafter and on the Internet, as well as being written about in the media, this
art form looks ready to explode.
One of the questions in the scrapbook industry lately has been, "How do we offer
scrapbook enthusiasts something else?" Paper crafting and creating cards were
two off-shoots, along with the sometimes difficult attempts to blend rubber
stamping with scrapbooking. It looks like the altered book trend may be the next
step.
Both Hot Off The Press and Design Originals just published idea books on this
subject, "How To Make Altered Books," and "Altered Books 101," respectively.
How This Can Benefit You as a Business Owner
Retailers
Retailers can raise interest and awareness in this new craft by devoting an
area to altered books, with supplies for sale, as well as examples of completed
altered books and take home flyers explaining how to create them. It is also
recommended to hold special classes - let people see for themselves how fun and
creative this art can be. Beat the competition - be the first store in your area
to feature this "new trend!"
Online Retailers
Online retailers should consider devoting a section of their
site to this as well.
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Product Designers
Product designers should be taking a look at what's on the market and
developing product for altered books. (HIA is right around the corner; you
better get to work!)
Instructors
Instructors, of course, should prepare their class outlines now. Submit
these outline to local stores or hold your own class.
Event Organizers
Event organizers might think about adding a special class or
section devoted to altered books at their next event.
Custom Scrapbook Artists
You've developed your business creating artwork (scrapbooks) for others. Why
not offer altered books as an option? As with scrapbooks, they are beautiful,
unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
Direct Sales Consultants
Urge the heads of your companies to look into this blossoming trend.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sue
DiFranco is the founder of Fun Facts Publishing and the author of more than a
dozen books on building and marketing scrapbooking businesses and
services. To learn more about how to turn your scrapbooking
passion into profit, visit http://www.funfactspublishing.com
to read a library of FREE information and get started today! |
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