Taking the pulse of the scrapbook industry at Scrapbook Expo

I attended Scrapbook Expo about 10 days ago, in Anaheim, CA. The Expo was in the basement, at the back of the Anaheim Convention Center. I laughed when I pulled up – is scrapbooking now the red-headed stepchild in trade show land? I wasn’t sure I was going to go to the Expo but I
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Now Manufacturers are Closing… *edited*

We know the craft industry, more specifically, scrapbooking, has been in trouble for a few years. Stores are closing, magazines are shutting down, and companies are going out of business. It’s not really anything NEW, seeing as we’ve been in this funk for, what, 6 or 7 years now? I would say the decline started
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Trash You’d Kill For

Did you know that it is so expensive to pay drayage and other freight fees for furniture for trade show displays that companies often buy the product at Ikea and then throw it in the trash because it is cheaper? What if you knew that some of the product you were coveting during all 4
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100 Tips About Being a Good Designer – Tips #1-30

I’ve been designing and teaching in the craft industry for over 10 years! I can’t even believe it has been that long and then on the other hand, I feel like I have been teaching and creating for my entire life. In that time I have been through the school of hard knocks, learned a
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Year of the Partnership?

Since Summer CHA in July, lots of interesting things are happening. Just this week, two partnerships were announced in the paper crafting industry that have me feeling some really varied emotions at difference with each other. The first is the partnership with Webster’s Pages and October Afternoon. In essence, it seems Webster’s Page will be a
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You’re a “Designer” so why don’t you have a Facebook PAGE (for business)?

First, you are supposed to be a professional, a powerhouse, and business person in the industry. You want clients — clients who hire you and pay you to do work for them. Remember 10, 15, 20 years ago when getting published in a magazine or book, or even authoring your own book was the trophy
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Pub Call Support Group

This year, I made a “professional” goal to get published more in magazines. *clearing throat* Okay, more like to get published AT ALL. I have been published in the past but it was never through any large amount of effort on my part. Most of my publications came through being invited or being asked to
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