Happy New Year, Crafters
Today is one of those Q and A sessions, which is part “get
it off my chest” and part everything else.
My intention was never to unload, which I am not, but I have to say
something.
Do you feel the scrapbook/crafting world and industry is
changing? The reason why I am asking you
this question can be answered in 3 problems I see:
1.
Every time
I close my eyes, and LSS (Local Scrapbook Store) is closing. I was on Facebook two weeks when I read a
comment from my friend and former manager informed me and anyone who scrapbooks
that Archiver’s was closing. I sat
there to let the news sink in and let out a great big, WTF? Yea, it was that kind of night. Archiver’s has been in business for 14 short
years. That is a teen for goodness
sake. I should have known this when my
hourly salary stopped at $8.15 and I was cut down from 35-40 to 20 to 4 hours a
week by 2010, but I thought as I had my last hours as an associate on January
17, 2010 they would bounce back. I
should have known this when the Mall of America location closed in July 2013,
making it the first time Archiver’s did not have a Scrapfest in that location
since it opened. The final “nail in the
coffin” act was when Memory Lab opened in every location. They already had a machine that could print
out pictures for you. It was there
before I started working there, but in a way, I thought the memory lab was a
way of increasing customers who did not have a computer. I will miss this store. Now in my area there will only be three LSS
other than the Michaels/Joann/Hobby Lobby, which I really do not like to shop
at. I will tell you later.
2.
Digital anyone?
One of the reason why Archiver’s and the others are closing is digital
scrapbooking. It seems that nobody wants
to take the time to get down and dirty.
What do I mean? Look at
this: You have Shutterfly and other
companies like it, who make it easy for a non-crafter to make a layout, but
pointing and clicking one. Print it out
on your printer, and you have instant scrapbook that you can email or Facebook
to family and friends. $7.99 and up
should do it. Send out Cards do digital for greeting cards. All you have to do is to find a personal
greeting card, complete with information you type on your computer, and they
will mail it for you. It saddens me that
no one wants to glue, embellish, or use a die-cut machine anymore. “Too much time,” they say. I love home-made stuff. No two are alike.
3.
Speaking
of alike, have you been in a Michaels/Joann’s/Hobby Lobby lately? Here is the average person’s visit to the
store: When you go in, you must have a
list. If you do not, you may miss
something, like you ad that the company conveniently forgot, because it is on a
smartphone that you conveniently do not have.
“We cannot have paper coupons, oh no, because it cost too much to produce.” That’s fine for me, because I am constantly
in my text messaging and social media, but your average senior is not. I would love to see a mixture again. Also there are no associates who can help a
person anymore. They are hired to stock only in my opinion. At Archiver’s I stocked, greeted customers,
demoed products that a customer had a question about, answered the phone,
called customers to remind them the product they ordered is ready or their
class was the next day, and rung up customers when they are ready to purchase. That is the mark of good customer
service. What these associates do in
these three store chains isn't customer service. And last, they are chains. No personality there. If I really want something, I have to order
it online. This is why I really do not
like shopping at these stores.
Well that is it. I do
not want to take up any more of your time.
Have a blessed 2014, and happy crafting.
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| Card #1 By P.lynne Designs |
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| Card #2 By P.Lynne Designs |
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| Card #3 By P.Lynne Designs |
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