Angie Pedersen's Scrapbooking Industry News

CHA Winter 2006: Create & Treasure

CONCORD, CA, January 30, 2006—C&T Publishing announces four new titles in its Create & Treasure™ line of books and products for paper crafters. In addition, the popular Ready-to-Go! Blank Board Books are now available in two additional shapes, accordion and tag.

These new products are premiering at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Winter show in Las Vegas, January 30-February 2:

Digital Delights for Scrapbooking, by Sue Martin—AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2006
This book features tips and tricks to take the best photos yet and use them in one-of-a-kind scrapbook pages. Over 30 easy techniques for photos and phrases.
$16.95, 64p, color

Scrap Your Stuff, by Jan Mollet Evans—AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2006
Jan and 27 talented scrapbook artists help sort, sift, and select treasures to create amazing pages. Includes 28 projects to celebrate all those special memories!
$21.95, 96p, color

Card Art, by Susan S. Terry—COMING IN MAY 2006
Make cards that are like little gifts! Over 50 original card designs and a dozen gift tags combine paper craft with fabric.
$19.95, 80p, color

Unforgettable Invitations, by Melissa Colette Giles—COMING IN MAY 2006
Make every occasion special with handmade unique invitations and announcements. Includes full-size pattern templates.
$19.95, 64p, color

Create & Treasure™'s popular acid-free no-prep Ready-to-Go! Blank Board Books are now available in white Accordion and Tag shapes in addition to square and heart-shapes:

7" x 5" Tag, $6.95
5" x 3" Tag, 2-pack, $7.95
6" x 6" Accordion, $6.95
5" x 7" Accordion, $6.95

About Create & Treasure™
Create & Treasure™ is a line of paper craft products from C&T Publishing, a respected leader in the quilting and fiber arts market for over 20 years. Since its launch in 2005, Create & Treasure™ has been well-received in the paper craft market, both at trade shows and in the media, as well as among individual paper crafters.

C&T Publishing books and products are available at scrapbooking, craft and book stores or directly from C&T Publishing, 800/284-1114 or http://www.createandtreasure.com.

CHA Winter 2006: GlueArts

BUFORD, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2006--GlueArts, a division of Georgia-based RS Industrial, has announced that it will introduce to the marketplace a new adhesive product -- Crop & Glue -- specifically manufactured for the scrapbooking and craft industry using state-of-the-art 21st century technology.

The new product line is the result of input from the scrapbooking community and answers their desire to have a "one fits all" approach to their adhesive needs. With its innovative and compact pouch container that slips easily into the pocket or scrapbook bag, the Crop & Glue pouch will replace the bulky and awkward carrying cases and boxes scrapbookers currently use to carry all of their glue products to Crops.

Crop & Glue will initially be sold exclusively through the nationwide network of independent scrapbooking and craft stores and will be distributed through Notions, Embellish It and Provo Craft.

The revolutionary adhesive will work with any type or quality paper or card stock as well as any form of embellishment. Wood, plastic, metal, glass, and smooth or corrugated card stocks -- all will respond perfectly to the adhesive qualities of Crop & Glue. At GlueArts, the customer is the driving force behind the company's product development and its core objective is to customize its product lines to meet the needs and demands of scrapbookers and crafters worldwide.

"We have been looking for the right partner for the new consumer product lines we are developing and the scrapbooking/crafts industry is the perfect fit for us," said Scott Allen, president and CEO of the company. "We are really excited about the adhesive products we will introduce specifically for this industry -- most significantly our first product Crop & Glue that is now available in the marketplace."

GlueArts also announced the appointment of well-known Atlanta scrapbooking expert Kathy Carpenter as its national spokesperson.  With more than a decade of scrapbooking experience, including six years as the owner of "The Scrapbook Store" in Atlanta, Carpenter brings a wealth of expertise to her new assignment. As national spokesperson, she will travel the country to introduce scrapbookers and crafters to this innovative new product, specifically manufactured to serve the needs of this growing community.

About GlueArts and Crop & Glue
GlueArts is a division of RS Industrial based in Buford, Ga., and is the manufacturer of Crop & Glue -- an adhesive product line specifically manufactured to fulfill the needs of avid scrapbookers and crafters worldwide. In serving this niche industry, GlueArts is dedicated to bringing to this market a variety of exclusive product lines driven by 21st century technology and manufacturing expertise.

SOURCE: BusinessWire.com

Arte Latin-Oh! Chosen as Finalist for Award of Excellence

Scrapbooking Products in Spanish Honored as Finalist for Prestigious Awards of Excellence

PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Arte Latin-Oh! became "Best Collection" finalist for the 14th Craftrends(R) Annual Award of Excellence sponsored by Craftrends(R) magazine. The nomination was received for the Quinceaner-Ah!(TM) collection that celebrates girls' sweet fifteen, an important Latin tradition. The prestigious awards of excellence recognize companies for outstanding products introduced in the market each year under several categories. Winners will be announced at a special awards gala event during the 2006 Winter Craft & Hobby Association tradeshow in Las Vegas.

It is the first time in the history of the scrapbooking industry that a product in Spanish is considered finalist for a prestigious award, competing under the same category with four of the strongest long-standing manufacturers in the industry. "Arte Latin-Oh!'s nomination in the 2006 Craftrends Award of Excellence represents an important victory for the Latin community" comments Mrs. Amelia Martinez-Holt, President of Arte Latin-Oh!, "influential people in the craft industry have begun to respect and recognize the value that manufacturers of minority products, such as Arte Latin-Oh!, bring to the marketplace."

The Quinceaner-Ah! collection includes coordinating 12" x 12" designed pages, borders, alphabet, stickers and rubberstamps, which allows consumers to make complete scrapbooking, cards and other creative projects using these and other Arte Latin-Oh! products. "We feel honored to be nominated for this Award of Excellence" explains Mrs. Martinez-Holt, "Quinceaner-Ah! has been a very popular collection since we introduced it in 2005 and we are very proud of the quality and originality of our products." Other collection themes are Love, Babies, Astrology, Mother, Father, Birthday, Reggaeton, and several Latin America countries.

About Arte Latin-Oh!
Arte Latin-Oh! is the leading manufacturer of scrapbooking and stamping products in Espanol. Formed in 2004 by two Latina sisters, Arte Latin-Oh! is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and it is a certified Women's Business Enterprise. For more information visit http://www.artelatinoh.com/.

Source: PR Newswire and Hispanic Business.

CHA Winter 2006: Sony

SONY UNVEILS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING SOFTWARE FOR PICTURESTATION KIOSKS

LAS VEGAS (CHA, Booth #2063), Jan. 30, 2006 - In response to the growing hi-tech arts and crafts trend, Sony Electronics introduced Digital Scrapbooking software for its PictureStation™ Digital Photofinishing kiosk.

The new software package offers 35 pre-designed layouts for creating both 8 x 8 and the larger size 8 x 10-inch scrapbook pages, which are ideal for digital scrapbooks.

"We've developed software that enhances the wide-ranging capabilities of the PictureStation system," said Lynda Falby, Sony Electronics marketing manager for digital photofinishing. "With so many design options to choose from, the Digital Scrapbooking software provides a fast way to create beautiful scrapbook pages".

It also offers creative photo cutouts for mattes right on the photos. The customer chooses the size, shape, thickness and color of the matte using easy to follow touch keys. The cutout can be applied to any PictureStation print size, and even to edited photos. This new software also includes a set of seasonal borders. With this addition, there is now a scrapbook icon on the PictureStation kiosk, which includes 35 pre-designed layouts, as well as 50 new seasonal border designs for 4 x 6, 5 x 7 and 8 x 10-inch prints (both horizontal and vertical orientations) - totaling more than 250 borders.

Border categories include 2006 calendars, winter holidays, spring, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter, graduations and weddings. All scrapbooking pre-designs were created by Shabby Princess and Creative Snaps, two industry leaders in digital scrapbooking.

The PictureStation Digital Scrapbooking software is now available at authorized Sony resellers nationwide with a suggested list price of $699.

SOURCE: SONY Press Room

Best Buy Eliminating Mail-in Rebates

As reported on DigiCam News:

Mail-in rebates are going the way of the dinosaur at Best Buy. Starting at the beginning of this year, customers now receive instant savings on notebooks, with other products to follow. Also, Best Buy has created an online submission and tracking system to allow customers to get their rebates faster. Most rebate checks will be mailed within 7 days of submission.

CHA Winter 2006: Karen Foster Designs

Centerville, UT (January 30, 2006) -- Rides, animals, water, sunshine, food and games!  Karen Foster Design is excited to introduce new papers, stickers, rub-ons and die-cut tags that are all about having summer fun.

Summer Fun themes are perfect for all your favorite summertime activities.  The new Summer Fun collection consists of Water Park, Swimming, Petting Zoo, Camping, Off-Roading, Amusement Park, Picnic, Family Reunion, Golf, Racing, Baseball and Softball.  Other themes include Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Birthday, My Legacy, Anniversary, Friendship, Driving, Moving and Love to Dance (Tap & Jazz).

"Scrapbooking is all about preserving the most memorable events and special moments with your family and friends," says Karen Foster, Art Director.  "Whether it's a family camping trip or day at the amusement park, summertime activities are especially unforgettable.  Our new themes are bright, new and are ideal for capturing the memory of that perfect summer day."

Don't miss new 12x12" Die-cut Tags (MSRP $1.99), full-color 12x12" Rub-ons (MSRP $4.99) and the Whimsy FunFont Rub-on (MSRP $4.99).  Themed Die-cut Tags are an easy way to add a coordinating accent to projects.  Use 12x12" Rub-ons to complete a project quickly and easily or use individual elements to add a finishing touch.  The Whimsy Font (shown left) is ideal for creating your own words, phrases, captions or even short journaling.  And, see the innovative 2½x10" Word Rub-ons (MSRP $1.99), which include 14 different words in both black and white, perfect for titling.

Also, look for new big and bold embellishments from Karen Foster Design.  New embellishment color combinations include Wild Berry, Citrus, Cotton Candy, and Earthy.  Wild Berry's pinks, purples and reds are bold and warm, Citrus brings cool greens and yellows, Cotton Candy offers soft pastels and Earthy has deep shades of nature. Check out the new color combinations in square and round Biggie Brads (MSRP $2.99), Lacing Brads (MSRP $3.99), Boot Loopy Brads (MSRP $4.99) and Jumbo Eyelets (MSRP $2.99).

New Scrapper's Scarves, Jumbo Ric Rac and Ribbon add a soft touch and texture to layouts and projects.  Go from crafty to chic with sheer Scrapper's Scarves (3ft - MSRP $1.29) and Ribbon (9ft - MSRP $1.29).  Versatile Jumbo Ric Rac is perfect for all kinds of projects and comes in 3ft (MSRP $2.49).  All new textile embellishments are available in eight different colors.  Sheet Ribbon and Jumbo Ric Rac are also available in bulk spools.

Storage solutions including the SeatCase, Carry-All, Paper Keeper and Snap & Scrap boxes (shown right) are the answer to all your organizational needs!  Get noticed on the go with the SeatCase (MSRP $99.99) and Carry-All (MSRP $36.99) totes in new designer colors including lavendar, ocean mist, and willow.  Organize and color code scrapbook supplies at home with the Paper Keeper (MSRP $6.49) and Snap & Scrap boxes (large - MSRP $6.99, small - MSRP $2.99, photo - MSRP $4.49) now in read, ocean blue, willow and purple.  New colors are additions to the existing lines.

Paper, stickers, die-cut tags and rub-ons will be available February 2006.

CHA Winter 2006: Moments Defined

Moments Defined, Inc Releases Blossoms and Crystals: Two Hot New Embellishments Add to Current Product Line

LAS VEGAS / Craft & Hobby Association Show, Booth #7175 (January 27, 2006)- If there is one thing to add to your list of "must haves" in your Scrapbooking stash, it is the exciting new embellishments being released by Moments Defined, Inc.  Angela Harris, Moments Defined owner says "We are introducing two very hot embellishment items into the market that coordinate with our existing paper collections."  The new items are Moments Defined Blossoms by Prima as well as Moments Defined Crystals, which coordinate with the companies existing lines of bold & colorful paper, ribbons, and stickers.

Moments Defined Blossoms are color coordinated to match the current Awakenings, Anticipation, and Expectations lines.  They will be packaged in trendy square tin containers with a clear top and will contain an assortment of 4 colors and 2 sizes of blossoms.

Moments Defined Crystals will also come in assortments, which contain 5 colors and 3 different sizes.  The crystal rhinestone assortments have a dazzling effect when used with the bright techno colors of the patterned papers, coordinating Bazzill cardstock, ribbons, and stickers. The crystals will come packaged in adorable little clear jars with screw on tops for easy storage.  These are perfect in the center of the Moments Defined Blossoms or anywhere to accent your favorite paper-crafting project.

Harris founded Moments Defined in 2005 when she introduced 3 product lines of papers with coordinating ribbons and stickers that host a variety of patterns that will appeal to all Paper Craft enthusiasts.  The 3 lines known as Expectations, Awakenings, and Anticipation have a fresh, vibrant look that will speak to the defining moments of your life.  These papers keep with the new color trend and are cutting edge product within the current Scrapbooking market.

Although Moments Defined is new to the Scrapbooking Industry, Harris is not. In 2001 she and her mother, Nancy Dalton, launched a retail business making custom-designed scrapbooks, which expanded into a monthly kit club.  While Harris is eager to see her newest venture succeed; her primary focus is on helping Scrapbook enthusiasts preserve key events in fresh and artistic ways.

CHA Winter 2006: The CHA SMART Store

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) January 28, 2006 -- The Craft and Hobby Association, in conjunction with The SMART Group, unveils the first CHA SMART Store powered by The SMART Group today at the CHA Winter Show in Las Vegas, NV. This is a 3500 square foot retail store that is the result of years of research, hard work, commitment and coordination between The SMART Group, CHA and SMART Group member sponsors. The purpose of the store is to help both retailers and manufacturers improve business practices. On Wednesday, February 1st at 4 pm PST, the store – fixtures, POS System, merchandise, and signage – will be given away to one lucky retailer in the CHA Theater at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Scrapbooking, the craft of creating beautiful pages to share family history and life’s milestones, is a $2.6 billion industry, according to CHA. As with any hobby industry, scrapbooking has both independent and chain stores that cater to users. Independent stores help the industry to stay fresh, creative and build the community of crafters. The scrapbooking industry is in a transition. “Independent retail stores are failing at an alarming rate,” said Dennis Conforto, CEO and President of A-Z Media Group and The SMART Group.

Conforto states that research from The SMART Group and Scrapbooking.com Magazine shows that scrapbook retailers are passionate about scrapbooking as a hobby. “Many of the store owners were scrapbookers who thought they could continue to enjoy their beloved hobby of scrapbooking all day by opening a retail store. Retailing is one of the hardest businesses out there, and it takes time, resources, and dedication to make an independent retail store survive.” Until now, there was no place for an independent scrapbook retailer to learn about good business practices, including how to build stronger relationships with manufacturers.

The SMART Group, The Scrapbooking Manufacturer And Retailer Trade Group, was created to support the scrapbooking industry as a whole. Members include manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and service providers, who are working together to help the scrapbooking industry grow. The CHA SMART Store powered by The SMART Group was developed out of member-driven committees a year ago. The goals of the store are to include information on manufacturer-retailer partnerships and loyalty programs; to expand the industry; to open new markets for the scrapbooking industry; to share information on retail store design and displays; and to provide education on pricing signage, merchandising, and marketing. The Store is supported by 14 classes taught by Conforto throughout the CHA Winter Show in Las Vegas.

Of the 14 classes, eight were sold out weeks before the show’s start. “It is clear that there is a need for these classes and this sort of education. Many retail store owners have focused on sharing the craft and taking make and take classes, but true ‘how to’ retail education has been lacking in the industry. As a result, business owners have been unable to gain the tools necessary to grow their businesses,” Conforto states.

Since 2003, the scrapbooking industry has seen the number of independent stores in the US decline by approximately 15%. The SMART Group estimates that there are now 3700 independent stores serving scrapbookers throughout the United States. Conforto said, “We are seeing a decline in the number of stores out there, because new stores are not opening at the same rate as the stores are closing. The SMART Group is trying to change the passion about the hobby into passion about running a profitable retail business. By pulling together both retailers and manufacturers, The SMART Group is showing how cooperative programs can help the entire industry to thrive.”

One of the goals of the SMART Group is to increase the reach of the industry. The target market for scrapbooking is women aged 15 – 64. Currently only 4.5% of this group is involved in the craft. The SMART Group believes that the potential for industry growth is as high as 40.5% of this population. Through programs like cooperative media buys, business to business opportunities, and loyalty programs, the industry is, for the first time, working together to build its base and to grow market share.

The CHA SMART Store is a 3500 square foot retail store that is the result of years of research, hard work, commitment and coordination between The SMART Group, CHA and SMART Group member sponsors. These groups have donated time, dollars, fixtures and merchandise to this program with one goal in mind - to help make the scrapbooking industry more profitable. The retailer’s first year of business will be followed by The SMART Group and will be reported at the 2007 CHA Winter Show in Anaheim, California.

The store will be given away to a retailer on Wednesday, February 1, 2006, at 4 pm PST in the CHA Theater at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Media are invited.

SOURCE: Yahoo! News

Two Chicks Designs Unveils Scrapbooking T-Shirt Line

Do You Suffer From the Same Addiction that Has Claimed the Lives of Over 70 Million People in America?  At-Risk Population May Overlook Symptoms

Do you get a little shaky when you get close to pattern paper?  Do your pupils dilate at the sight of shiny embellishments?  Do your ears start to ring when you hear the words, “On Sale, this weekend only...”? If so, you may be experiencing the symptoms of a chronic addiction...to scrapbooking.

The owners of Two Chicks Designs are well acquainted with these symptoms; they frequently experience these feelings themselves.  Instead of fighting the addiction, however, they have embraced it, and developed a line of light-hearted t-shirts to help others embrace their addictions as well.

“We all have something that we love to do,” explains Christie Welch, co-owner of Two Chicks Designs. “People are very passionate about their hobbies, so our t-shirts give them something that they can relate to and that they can smile or laugh about.”

Two Chicks Designs offers the following list of symptoms that warn of an addiction to scrapbooking.

1. You might be addicted to scrapbooking if you buy your child a new outfit just to match your new patterned paper.
2. You might be addicted to scrapbooking if you carry a ph testing pen in your purse, just in case you find the perfect embellishment.
3. You might be addicted to scrapbooking if your stack of cardstock is as tall as your four-year-old.
4. You might be addicted to scrapbooking if you use the terms crop, scrap, embellish, and emboss in the same sentence.
5. You might be addicted to scrapbooking if the restaurant bathroom tile inspires an idea for a border accent.

Two Chicks Designs produces apparel for crafters, including scrapbooking, beading, quilting, needlework, and general crafting.  Their designs are colorful, lighthearted, and just plain fun, offering crafters a way to “show how much they love their hobby without making a peep!”  These shirts prove very popular when worn to crafting events and retreats.

About Two Chicks Designs
Two Chicks Designs (TCD) is a Kansas based company that started as a way for a mother-daughter quilt design team to feed their creative fire.  It has evolved into a full time job with full production capabilities, design team, and sales force. TCD strives to offer a niche based novelty and apparel item that reaches into its customers’ fanatic side.  Learn more about their whimsical t-shirt designs at www.twochicksdesigns.com.

F+W Publications Acquires Scrapbook Retailer Magazine and Great American Scrapbook consumer shows

F&W Publications has reportedly acquired Scrapbook Retailer Magazine and the Great American Scrapbook consumer shows from Jeanne Wines-Reed. F&W owns CNA and Memory Makers magazines, as well as book publishing imprints KP and Northlight Books. No details of the deal have been released.

SOURCE: Craftrends News Digest