CHA: I felt the felt!

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.

Think outside the box

EK Success announced its launch strategy for the new Martha Stewart Crafts™ line of paper crafting, scrapbooking, and storage products, begining with limited retail distribution in May to all Michaels stores, followed by distribution to EK Elite independent craft and scrapbooking stores later this year.

Today...I highlighted this tidbit of advice offered to independents by Rob Krieger, president of Checker Distributors, in the January 2007 issue of Craftrends, page 34:

The strengths independent shops can use to their advantage...are their unique product selection, classes, and individual attention (emphasis
mine).

and he advises retailers to...

"Find suppliers who are directing their total sales and marketing efforts to make independents successful. Why depend on a supplier who is doing all they can to help chains be successful at your expense?"

Krieger goes on to encourage independents to "think outside the box" and lists suggestions like using the Internet to attract younger customers, choosing the right supplier ("Make every attempt to buy products and brand names that are not in the chains."), keeping up with trends, and offering unique classes.

I can't help but think that EK Success released word of the launch schedule as a way to avoid a communications fiasco a la Provo Craft and the Cricut. They're making sure everyone knows that the box stores will have Martha's product before they attempt to ship it to their "elite" customers. Thanks for the warning, EK, especially before you have thousands of independent reltailers decend upon you at CHA.

Independents need to think outside the box or the only place to shop for scrapbooking supplies will be inside the box stores.

Wanna see what I'm wearing to the Momus Ball?

:-)

Ho-Ho-Ho!

Here are some photos from some of our holiday festivities...

Out on the town in a dress that's been in the closet for some time. Something E picked up for me at Syms, I think.

For the Junior League Holiday Ball, I wore the BCBG silk black halter dress that I wore to Momus.


Eddie's parents hosted a party with yummy pork tenderloin. The eight-foot flocked tree in the background was decorated with all gold.



Here I am Christmas Eve wearing one of my gifts from Eddie...a beautiful white sweater from Cache...we refer to as the Bjork top.

Memory Trends Highlight #3

You've seen her creations all over the internet-- web sites and logos for scrapbooking enterprises in all segments of the industry. This is Michelle Williams (right) of Treasured Pages, and Cory (left), her new right hand! Spend just a few minutes browsing scrapbooking web sites and you'll see Michelle's work. I finally got to meet Michelle and Cory in person -- definitely a highlight!

Memory Trends Highlight #2

There are so many nice people in the scrapbooking industry, and at the top of the list is Leah Fung. She is genuine, and sweet, and one of my favorite people in scrapbooking. We saw each other at the BHG Scrapbooks, etc. booth.

Memory Trends Highlight #1

Here I am with Tracy White, editor of Creating Keepsakes. Tracy really is a phenomenal woman and the perfect person to lead the leading scrapbooking publication. We ran into each other in the speakers' lounge, where she was waiting to start a meeting with Lisa Bearnson and others from CK. She showed me how she uses her Memory Dock system, and we talked a bit about how to better intersect scrapbooking and lifestyles. Tracy is big on journaling (well, she is an editor!) and is an "in the moment" type of person. I'm honored to know her and share our passion of scrapbooking.

Memory Trends Highlights

I'm back from Las Vegas where I attended the 7th annual Memory Trends Conference & Expo. Since it was the fourth trade show I attended this year, I'll only point out the highlights that made this show stand out from the others. Later I'll post photo highlights!

Speakers Badge - This was the first time I attended as a Speaker and got to don the coveted blue badge! Over 58 people signed up for my seminar, "Creating the Scrapbooker for Life," and hopefully the class offered a different yet positive perspective to the retailers who attended. I captured everyone's email address and hope to continue to communicate with them on a regular basis.

Diva Craft Lounge Live! - I was on assignment for the Diva Craft Lounge! It was fun -- and challenging -- reviewing as many exhibitors as possible looking for the latest and greatest products. Wednesday's DCL show was LIVE! with the recently-name Scrapbooker of the Year, C.D. Muckosky, Jan Mollet Evans, Thena Smith, and many more. It was a whirlwind show! And I got to meet Tom, Diva Danielle's husband, who helps considerably with DCL and other behind the Diva scenes.

My wonderful hosts! - I can't tell you how wonderful it is to travel to a strange city (and Vegas is different!) and be welcomed by friendly faces. In this case it was Fiona and her husband Ed, delightful daughter Dakota, and their new puppy, Bailey! Thank you, Nottoli Family, for your hospitality! Fiona and I did a fairly good job of keeping on track with the task at hand. We only went to In and Out Burger once, visited only one scrapbooking store, and made it to sleep before one a.m. most nights! It's always a highlight to stay and spend time with fellow scrapbookers!

More later...

Brown is the new Black

Here is the trade-in I did at The Nest...LOVE IT! A lacey tank with hook-and-eye closures up the front. Goes well with jeans and my brown leather pants.

I never knew I was a "brown" until Eddie. My wardrobe has done a complete flip -- well, a double flip -- since we'd added both black and brown items. But I am liking the brown. Oh, and the photo...taken in the car on the way to the September Art Walk.

SBA helped to expand the passion

Scrapbook Answers announced that November 2006 would be the last issue for the scrapbooking consumer magazine, which hit the scene October 2005.

Scrapbook Answers took the scrapbooking community by storm with it's fresh, fun and realistic approach to scrapbooking. Each issue included a CD jam-packed with additional features, how-to videos, fonts, and ideas. The product review section was appriciated by discriminating scrapbookers, plus the magazine was widely available in stores. It had a main-stream feel with content to inspire all scrapbooking levels.

I had the pleasure a meeting the editorial staff and working with the associate publisher. These are dedicated, hard-working, driven, approachable, passionate women. I wish them well with their new challenges and hope to work with them again very soon.