Archive for the ‘special events’ Category

Host a Holiday Gift Workshop at Your Scrapbook Store

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

You’ve probably noticed that every winter, shoppers, even those who you don’t see around that much during the rest of the year, start frequenting your scrapbook store for supplies to make Christmas cards, mini albums and paper craft presents. How about catering to these handmade gift givers by offering ideas, sample projects and a place to work on them?

A holiday gift bazaar or workshop is a natural fit for a scrapbook store. Stampers, cardmakers and scrapbookers alike can get away from their busy, cluttered holiday-time homes and spend a few hours focusing on their special projects.

You could sell kits or simply set out completed projects for inspiration. Just a few ideas include: gift tins (Altoid size), altered advent calendars, calendars, birthday books and altered address or composition books.

The holidays are also a great time to introduce your customers to new products via a make-and-take. And, of course, consider offering a wish list program so friends and family can their scrapbooking friends exactly what they want.

National Scrapbooking Day at your Store

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

May 2, 2009 marks the 15th year of National Scrapbooking Day. NSD, traditionally held the first Saturday of May, has become increasingly popular. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to build community at your scrapbook store and move product on what is essentially a holiday especially for scrapbookers!

Nowadays, shoppers are even more likely to be aware of National Scrapbooking Day due to the online presence of scrapbooking products, digital papers and kits for sale as well as popular message boards and page galleries. If you don’t invite your customers to a National Scrapbooking Day event at your store, you can bet they’ll find one—and spend their money—online instead.

You could plan a special crop for May 2, or sometime that week. Make up National Scrapbooking Day signs, prize packs, page contests and so on. Use your imagination or check out the great ideas on this site. If you host crops at your store, you definitely need one for NSD!

Or, have a great sale. Put several types of products or manufacturers’ lines on sale for the day, weekend or week. Or, offer a large percentage off the purchase of one product. It should be good for at least 40 or 50 percent off, to compete with chain retailers. But unlike when they shop at Michael’s, JoAnn’s or Hobby Lobby, your customers will almost certainly fill their baskets with much more than one item.

In a recession, everyone is looking for a deal. But economists agree that one category in which people are still willing to spend is on fun, feel-good products and experiences in the under-$20 range. This describes scrapbooking to a T! Don’t leave money on the table. Serve your customers and capitalize on National Scrapbooking Day.

National Scrapbooking Day and Your Store

Monday, March 24th, 2008

Retail scrapbook stores across the United States are gearing up for National Scrapbooking Day, which falls on the first Saturday in May. In 2008, that’s May 3. The event was started in 1994 by Creative Memories, but since then many scrapbook supply manufacturers, publications and retail stores have gotten involved. There’s even an effort to get the “holiday” included on official national lists. You don’t want to be left out of this great marketing opportunity, and chance to spread the word about scrapbooking to people who have yet to explore the hobby. Mention National Scrapbooking Day in your store’s newsletter, or on your Web site. Consider offering a special coupon good only on that day, or have a storewide sale. Even better, host a grand National Scrapbooking Day crop. Some product manufacturers plan on donating supplies for stores to include in prize packs, so don’t miss out on this potential bonus. Read on for more about hosting crops at your retail store. And happy National Scrapbooking Day!