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#1 Resource For: Starting a Successful Scrapbooking Business Growing Your Existing Scrapbook Business Insider Information on the $3 Billion+ Scrapbook Industry |
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You have arrived at the latest online issue of Fun Facts Publishing's ezine, Scrapbook Industry News. Subscribe to Scrapbook Industry News! Fun Facts Publishing E-Zine "You are not here merely to make a living. You are
here in order Back issues of this publication are available online at: IN THIS ISSUE: 1. This Issue's Sponsors Please Visit This Issue's Sponsors:
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Scrapbooking
in the News - 23 Links Added!
And finally, if you're a new subscriber, you might be wondering why certain words in this ezine are separated with asterisks. It's because the appearance of certain words will trigger some email providers to not deliver the message. If you find that you're not receiving this ezine on a regular monthly schedule, it might mean your email provider is rejecting it. Remember that you can always read each issue online here. Thanks so much for being a part of Fun Facts Publishing! I hope you enjoy this issue, and please feel free to stay in touch with whatever comments or questions you may have.
Sue DiFranco, Founder These tips come to us from independent sales rep Becky Scott: Recently, I was talking to some scrappers who didn't know there were local scrapbook stores in the Chicago area. Knowing that advertising can be a costly part of business, here are a few tips that I know of from other industries: 1. Hand out some of your business cards to your top customers. Have them write their name on the back and give them to friends and other potential scrappers. When that new customer brings back that card, the original scrapper get a certain gift (discount, free product, etc.). If money allows, give the new customer an incentive too (free beginner class, discount, etc.) 2. Advertise with the local high school or church. They do plays and such and usual sell advertising in the program for a reduced cost. This is a great way to become part of the local community. 3. Check out large discount department stores for the community board (grocery stores also have them right in the entranceway). Post a flyer about your business there. 4. Many local papers have a "what's going on" section for various groups (retirees, parents without partners, singles). Contact the head of the group and see if they would allow for a demo night where someone from the store can show the group about scrapping or stamping! 5. Here in Chicago, we have people that are hired to walk the areas and place flyers in doors about various businesses - usually restaurants, roofers, plumbers. Find out if your area allows for this and hire a teen to do it! The teen gets a job and you get the advertising! Hope these help someone! ================================================== ================================================== "I LOVE your Platinum editions! You do a terrific job of
gathering pertinent information every month. Yours is the only magazine
(paper or electronic) that I read from top to bottom. Thanks for giving
the industry a great tool." - Mary Lou Sheridan, Novel Approach,
Inc. Platinum members have access to exclusive industry content, e-books, promotions and specials, and much more! Here's a brief look at what members are reading about in April:
In this exclusive interview with Creative Leisure News' Mike Hartnett, I answer his questions about the scrapbooking industry as honestly and openly as I can.
Concerned about the chain stores entering our industry? We keep a close eye on the chain scrapbooking stores, such as Archiver's and ReCollections, and pass this information along to you. We believe that the chain stores DO add much value to this industry, and the strong independent retailers will survive - but it's a wise business decision to be as informed as possible. In this issue, we'll tell you what chain just received an additional $1.5 million investment, and four new locations planned in total for both Archiver's and ReCollections.
Plus much more! To view a FREE sample copy of "Scrapbook Industry News Platinum Edition," and to take advantage of all the benefits of this membership, click here.
This question comes to us from retailer Luise Smith:
Can anyone help Luise out? Any ideas as to why this is happening, and what she can do about it? Please email your responses to feedback@funfactspublishing.com. Thanks!
Many large scrapbooking manufacturers are constantly being asked to donate product to the hundreds of scrapbooking events that occur every year. Understandably, they can't accommodate all requests, and have to decline some. However, smaller manufacturers and product designers can capitalize on these scrapbooking conventions, crops, retreats, and events, that occur just about every weekend across the world. Donating your company's products, along with promotional material, can be a fairly inexpensive way of getting the word out about your business, and getting your product into the hands of dedicated scrapbookers! First, you'll need to locate upcoming events. We launched a new area on FunFactsPublishing.com specifically for event organizers to post their donation requests. They list the date, location, how many attendees are expected, and what they will do to help promote your business. Take a look at these requests, including several for ongoing events, here. You can also find events listings at the following Web sites: Decide what events are good fits for your product. If you want to appeal to a wide audience, you’ll want events that have many attendees. If you have a line of Christian themed products, you might choose events held by Christian groups. Contact the event organizer and, depending upon your budget, offer to send promotional product for giveaways. If you can afford to, send enough products for every attendee. If not, send a few "larger" products for door prizes. The biggest thing to remember, though, is to request that flyers/brochures about your product be put into every gift bag, and/or handed out to every attendee. Flyers can be fairly inexpensive to produce, and combined with the price
of the promo products you send and postage, this type of marketing can
save you thousands of dollars over expensive magazine advertising. Of
course, make sure you include some sort of promotional code on each flyer,
such as a coupon that says "Mention Code 444 to receive 10 percent
off." This will help you track where your customers are coming from
- which flyers are working and which are not. Good luck! Do you have a business article you'd like to share? Send yours in to: articles@funfactspublishing.com
Tracey's company offers 40 different sticker designs for scrapbooking, with more lines being added all the time. "I would say that the style is whimsical, and yet still has a realistic feel about it," Tracey says. "I always try to concentrate on designs that can’t be found or are hard to find. If I do design a traditional theme, I try to include elements in the design that have not been included by anyone else before." Learn how Tracey launched her business, the investment she made, and
the marketing, web site, and trade show advice she has for you! Visit Tracey's site here:
I ordered and devoured this intense, comprehensive manual on e-zine publishing more than a year ago, and I still refer back to it time and time again. After reading many "informational" guides that turned out to be a disappointment, I was more than impressed with the quality of this information! In fact, I owe much of the success of this e-zine, "Scrapbook Industry News," to this guide. If you're interested in starting an e-zine (email newsletter) for your scrapbooking business, or if you've already got one but want to give it an added boost, I highly recommend this book. You can learn much more here - take a look!
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More Acquisitions! The latest merge between two large craft manufacturers