"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
-- William Faulkner

by Jami Petersen

Like a dieter needs to change things up a bit to fight through a diet plateau, a retailer needs to change the way they do business, either in marketing or otherwise, to push through a retail plateau and move upward towards increased retail success.

This week's featured article talks about getting SMART by marketing your products and/or services to other businesses. Think of each partnering company not as one customer, but as a multitude of customers. You have the opportunity to reach out to many as you increase your business to business relationships.

Jami Petersen
newsletters@a-z.com

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L™

Make SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L™
your preferred brand

Ensure yourself an adhesive that satisfies all your customers scrapbooking and papercrafting needs. We not only put our hearts into designing easy-to-use adhesives so your stories will last throughout the ages, we also put our spirit into your community through corporate sponsorships. 

http://www.scrapbook-adhesives.com/

Press Releases

News you can use about the latest media coverage of hot trends, noteworthy events and dynamic industry leaders. Learn more about the current headlines in arts and crafts by clicking on the title of each article segment.

Michaels, world's largest arts and crafts retailer, redesigns its in-store experience. "Retail brand consultancy Interbrand Design Forum teamed with Michaels, the world’s largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, to develop a new store prototype that transforms categories by creating a store-within-a-store experience in departments like jewelry-making, custom framing and scrapbooking. By gathering consumer insights, the team identified a need for the store to have more personality and provide inspiration and fun throughout, but with an eye on the return on investment."

Eastman Kodak to Cut 300 Jobs at Colorado Plant. "Eastman Kodak Co. will eliminate about 300 jobs as it shuts down two different manufacturing operations at its Colorado plant this year. The move is part of Kodak's ongoing efforts to "maintain competitiveness and maximize utilization of worldwide manufacturing capacity," the company said."

River City Rubber Works is now offering our rubber stamp images as high resolution downloads in addition to traditional stamps. Downloads are increasingly popular with digital artists and scrapbookers, but the offerings were generally limited to papers, sentiments and embellishments. RCRW decided to widen the scope of their choice by making images & products downloadable as well. Not only does it cost less than traditional stamps, they are available instantly and can be used over and over again.

Sawgrass Ink

Make Money with Make-and-Take Scrapbooking Giftware and Wearables!

Use your favorite scrapbooking software and our patented inkjet heat-transfer system to transform scrapbook designs into Full-Color Gifts and Wearables.

Terrific New Revenue Stream for Your Business
Compact and Easy to Use
Affordable System + Great Margins = Blazingly Fast R.O.I.
Vast Selection of High-Quality "Blanks"


Sell Make-and-Take Coffee Mugs, Puzzles, Coasters, Magnets, Ornaments, Jewelry, T-Shirts, Tote Bags, Aprons, Memory Boxes and More!

 http://www.sawgrassink.com/v.php?pg=332 

Cherry Arte

Brand NEW releases for 2009 - NOW SHIPPING!
18 new papers - 12 new rubons!

We've upgraded our paper to CARDSTOCK for Suite 8.

Seasonal can be used throughout the entire year covering the essentials of all four seasons in your scrapbook pages.

Vanilla Vintage has subtle colors and delicate designs suitable for themes including Heritage, Baby and Weddings. A perfect balance of fantastic patterns and colors.

Deco Hall has a decorative style characterized by bold colors. Its features Navy and Reds balanced by the popular base of Kraft. The essential all rounder of color and style for your pages!

http://www.cherryarte.com

by Dennis A. Conforto, A-Z Media Group, Inc.

It’s not often that a retail business has opportunities for Business to Business or B2B relationships, but the scrapbooking retailer and manufacturer are in a unique position. Today, scrapbooking has many options. This week we will talk about corporate accounts.

In my previous business we recorded our company history in what I would now call a corporate scrapbook. Each year, pictures of current events would come off the wall and be placed carefully into a book dated by year. Every year the chronicling of current events would cover the walls and every year these chronicles would be filed in a book.

This practice does two things for a company: it is both a reminder of the company’s history and a protection of the corporate culture. This natural event of company scrapbooking occurs across North America, presenting a huge opportunity for scrapbooking retailers and manufacturers. It is time for the industry to create templates for companies to either build their own scrapbooks or for a retailer to sign an agreement to provide that service for them.

I believe that getting outside of the store is not only healthy business but also SMART business. There are companies all over the world than can and will use the services and products of scrapbooking stores if the products and services are right. And I for one believe that they can be made right.

First, it starts with manufacturers who are willing to create new products for corporate accounts. These would be new styles of scrapbook products that will take current corporate activities from the walls of the company to the company scrapbooks. Leading manufacturers need to create clever products and templates that are professional and fit the needs of many different types of companies.

This is a new kind of business for retailers. The typical retail business is one filled with pulling customers in to the store via advertising, word of mouth or word of mouse. B2B is more of a “push” business model. It forces someone within the store to knock on doors and do direct mail promotions to drive the business through the door on person to person contacting.

In addition to the marketing and product differences there is also the difference in the average transaction of a corporate account and a single consumer shopping your store. In my former business, for example, I would have been happy to spend four or five thousand dollars a year to have my company’s history chronicled in a professional manner. And I believe there are many companies out there today who would do the same, if the option were there for them to consider.

I believe with the right manager heading up your B2B division and the right products from the manufacturers that the everyday scrapbooking retailer can double there sales.

What will it take to make this happen? It will take some innovators in both retailing and manufacturing to make it happen. Once that happens then industry leaders will jump on the bandwagon and a new category will be created for the industry.

Though the scrapbooking industry is young, every six months we need to breathe new life into it. We need new products, new services, and new ways to capture more market share. B2B is the new breath of life the industry needs at this time. The industry really is ready to build its second wind. The time has come for us to push harder and faster; to be smarter and bolder about products and services. I believe before the end of this year is out many in the industry will understand the need and will have started to implement a new idea who’s time has come… And that is what being retail SMART is all about.

Sakura of America

Gelly Roll® Metallic® a gel ink pen that was invented to make writing and self expression effortless.

The reflective sheen is distinctive and the vivid colors add zest to any card, scrap page or handwritten note.

Take advantage of Sakura’s promotion of the 15 dozen Metallic display (#57402)
- an extra 10% off during February and March.

Contact a Sakura Sales Rep for details! 

http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-metallic

by me & my BIG ideas®

The cold of winter is coming to an end and we are all thinking of our favorite vacation spot! What better inspiration for me & my BIG ideas to design our newest collection entitled Destination Paradise with warm colors and patterns that draw a smile and longing!

If the color combination doesn’t do it for you, the components of this collection are sure to draw you in! The paper pads contain such specialty elements as flocking, glitter and UV spot coating. New to this collection you will find journaling tags and scalloped mini journaling books along with beautifully coordinated mini chipboard album kits, our ever popular soft spoken™ embellishments, rhinestones, chipboard embellishments and more.