Feature Article:

A 2005 Class Schedule
 By: The Scrapbooking.com Magazine Staff

Surely there are many retailers out there who already have their entire class curriculum determined for the entire new year. All they need to do is hit print and the calendars are ready for distribution. And then there are those who are still frantic about Christmas and the holidays and who still have a class schedule as an item at the bottom of a very long "to do" list. The following is really going to benefit the procrastinators, but even the extremely prepared can find some good ideas and suggestions for crops and classes that can be used in the early months of 2005.

Scrapbooking is seasonal. That may seem like a presumptuous statement, but it is valid. Our holiday papers start arriving in stores around September following Memory Trends, and for good reason. A thoughtful handmade holiday greeting often takes hours to make, and we want our customers to have plenty of time to invent and create beautiful cards. But anyone can figure out that the Christmas and Hanukkah photos aren't being taken in September. The first class you should make sure is on your January calendar is a "Scrapbooking the Holidays" class. Here you can educate beginners about color families and breaking away from traditional red and green or blue and silver albums. Advanced techniques like heat embossing and staining can be introduced to showcase new and trendy vintage themed products. Be creative with this one, but show your customers that you will have the holiday ideas available for them at about the same time they are picking up their holiday photos from the processor.

You may already have your New Year's Eve bash planned, but if you don't, gather some quick flyers and plan to have a Crop Around the Clock! No one can resist a good crop, and what better way to help your customers keep their New Year's resolution to catch up with their scrapbooks than to offer 8-12 hours of cropping time. Die cut confetti for the tables and offer prizes and discounts to all in attendance.

January is also the perfect month to plan a "Make Your Own Valentines" workshop or class. This event can include the entire family, so it's important to keep the instructions kid-friendly. Have a realistic expectation that a parent and child can complete 10-20 handmade valentines to take to school or give to friends. This is also one class where cost can be kept to a minimum: a pair of scissors and some colored cardstock are the only essentials. Really showcase your die cut center and make sure you have plenty of heart, cupid and other valentine themed dies available.

Other classes to include are the standard technique based classes. Make sure to provide information on your calendar regarding skill level needed to complete the projects featured at each class. January is a great month to offer a variety of beginner classes. In your advertising efforts, mention scrapbooking as a great resolution. "Finally do something with all of your photos!" Then offer classes for the newcomers to the craft. We hope that your efforts will be rewarded as you become a resource for your customers new and old... Just as we are rewarded for being your retail resource!