Angie Pedersen's Scrapbooking Industry News

Elsie Flanigan to Create New Product Line

Elise Flanigan recently announced on her blog, A Beautiful Mess, that she will be creating a line of products for a yet-unnamed manufacturer:

I signed a contract this past week with a manufacturer to create a line of products! I have been dreaming for such a long time about it...I can’t go into any of the details, not even who it is as there will be a big announcement made at MemoryTrends and it’s all a big surprise! I can say that this is going to be a division of the company, so the new line will have its own logo, style and of course, fun products!

technorati tags: scrapbooking, Elsie+Flanigan, MemoryTrends

Call for Submissions: Classy Scrapper Magazine

A new scrapbooking magazine, Classy Scrapper Magazine, is starting up, and has announced its first Call for Submissions:

For the [premiere] March/April 2007 issue, we are looking for layouts with the following themes/subjects:

• Heritage
• New Beginnings**
• Spring**
• Spring Break**

If you would like for your New Beginnings layout and/or Spring layout to be considered for the cover, it must be a NEVER BEFORE SEEN layout, not published in any online galleries. (Please note this in your submission email).

Send all layouts to classyscrappermagazineATgmail.com. Each file must not exceed 200K. Deadline for this call is September 29. If your layout is chosen, you will be contacted by October 6.

Please include your name, email address and phone number in your email. Include any relevant journaling and a supply list. Also include any inspiration or story behind the layout--give us a feel for why you scrapped the photos the way you did. Digital layouts and international submissions are accepted.

The magazine editor also announced that the premiere issue will be mailed free to residents of the US and Canada - just email to request your copy.  Subscriptions will be available after the introductory issue.

PMA Reports Available in EBook form at Lulu.com

In February 2006, the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) conducted a survey of 10,000 consumer households in the U.S. The objective was to measure the current consumer involvement in scrapbooking, develop profiles of the major consumer segments, evaluate the emerging role of computers in the scrapbooking process, record purchasing patterns and spending, and gauge interest in archival-quality and acid-free materials. 

The PMA 2006 U.S. Consumer Scrapbook Report details the findings from the survey, revealing the size of the scrapbook market, the number of U.S. households involved in scrapbooking, spending habits of scrapbookers, the use of computers in scrapbooking, and digital camera ownership among scrapbookers. PMA Marketing Research also developed customer profiles for segments within scrapbookers, allowing for an inside look at these consumers. 

Professional Scrapbook Retailers Organization (PSRO) members can download the report at no cost from the PMA Marketing Research website and non-members can purchase a copy of the report via Lulu.com.  Other PMA reports are also available at Lulu, such as reviews and forecasts of digital camera sales and reports on digital imaging habits in Brazil, Germany, and Great Britain.

Google unveils free coupon service for merchants

Via Newsline International:

MarketWatch reports Google Inc. Mountain View, Calif., USA, launched a free service that will let businesses offer consumers printable coupons through Google Maps, in a move the Internet giant hopes will help boost the popularity of the localized search service and extend its reach among small businesses.

Revenue from the service will follow in the coming months, when Google said it will enable advertisers that buy its keyword advertisements to drive search traffic directly to their coupon pages. Since the coupons will be hosted by Google Maps, they will be useable by small businesses with or without websites of their own, the report says.

Editor's Note: This is significant for scrapbooking stores/businesses with local listings on Google's Local Business Center.  You can post a local listing for free.

General Public, Students and Educators Get a Free Photoshop Expo Pass

Via ImagingInfo.com:

Tampa, FL – Monday, Aug. 21, 2006 – The largest Photoshop educational event in the world – Photoshop World Conference & Expo – is opening its Tech Expo to the general public for one day only on Friday, Sept. 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Convention Center, Las Vegas. This is an information-packed venue for anyone interested in staying up-to-date on the latest digital photography and Photoshop-related technology. To get a free expo pass ($20 value) call 800-738-8513 or go to http://www.photoshopworld.com/ticket/.

The biggest names in the industry – Adobe, Microsoft, Canon, B&H, Dell, CDW, Wacom, iStockphoto.com, and more – will be exhibiting their latest gear and services, and providing product demonstrations. Plus, bonus classes covering Photoshop special effects, color correction, masking and composition, Windows Vista, and photographic workflow will be offered in the Microsoft Expo and NAPP Expo theaters open to all expo attendees at no additional cost. It's an information-packed Expo offering the best in technology and education.

Photoshop World registration is open through the National Association of Photoshop Professionals at 800-738-8513 or online at www.photoshopworld.com.

Simple Scrapbooks' Digital Magazine Editorial & Creative Boards Announced

Simple Scrapbooks recently released the list of the members of Editorial Board and Creative Board for their newly acquired Digital Scrapbooking magazine:

According to Editorial Board member Clara Wallace, the Digital Scrapbooking magazine will be a quarterly starting early 2007. There will be the print mag as well as the digitalscrapbooking.com website which will have content contributed by the board.

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING EDITORIAL BOARD 2007

• Anna Aspnes
• Ann Hetzel Gunkel
• Angi Stevens
• Angie Svoboda
• Chris Ford
• Clara Wallace
• Danielle Catalano-Titus
• Jennifer Adams Donnelly
• Kristie David
• Laura Vanderbeek

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING CREATIVE BOARD 2007

• Amy Tanabe
• Cory Richardson-Lauve
• Gina Cabrera
• Gina Miller
• Holly McCaig
• Jackie Eckles
• Katie Kaapcke
• Kate Teague
• Kim Mauch
• Martha Treadway
• Mary-Ann Buchanan
• Michelle Shefveland
• Pattie Knox
• Ronalyn Barut
• Shannon Freeman
• Shelly Chua
• Tia Bennett
• Tracy Robinson
• Vidya Ganapati
• Wanda Santiago-Cintron

H.I.G. Capital Acquires Majority Interest in Two Scrapbooking Companies

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2006--H.I.G. Capital, a leading private equity firm, acquired a majority interest in Die Cuts With a View, a Provo, Utah company and Pressed Petals, a Richfield, Utah company to form DCWV, Inc. Both companies design, manufacture, and distribute branded scrapbooking products. Die Cuts With a View is an industry leader in foundational scrapbooking products, including distinctively designed, themed and colored stacks of paper, stickers, quotes, and rub-ons.  Pressed Petals creates unique, high-quality embellishments utilizing real pressed flowers, chipboard, and metals. The two companies have complementary product lines which will provide a broader product offering to their customers. In 2005, Die Cuts With a View was recognized as one of the fastest growing company on the "Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies" list and was the #1 Utah-based company recognized.

"We are extremely excited to partner with H.I.G. and Pressed Petals," said Nancy Hill, co-founder of Die Cuts With a View. Nancy is widely regarded as an industry expert and is a regular presenter on the QVC channel. "This new relationship will enable us to accelerate our growth and bring a lot of fresh ideas to the marketplace."

Elliot Maluth, Managing Director of H.I.G., shared Nancy's sentiment and added, "It will be a privilege to work with these outstanding management teams and we look forward to growing this business together. DCWV is extremely well positioned to capitalize on the expanding scrapbooking and craft industry due to its strong brand, great channels, and continuous innovation."

"This transaction marks the beginning of a new era for all of us," said Mike Hill, co-founder of Die Cuts With a View and new CEO of DCWV, Inc. "We are looking forward to the combination of all of our talents in not only creating a unique market offering, but in developing a team of professionals that help us reach the next level of performance and satisfaction for both our customers and employees."

About Die Cuts With a View:
Based in Provo, Utah, Die Cuts With a View was founded in 1995 by Nancy and Mike Hill. The Company designs, manufactures, and sells innovative, quality products to the memory, stationery, and craft markets. Its products are differentiated by their quality, always-updated look and feel, innovation, and customer-respected brand name. For more information, please refer to its website at http://www.dcwv.com.

About Pressed Petals, Inc.:
Based in Richfield, Utah, Pressed Petals was founded in 1989 by Chet and Lenita Thompson. Pressed Petals offers unique, high-quality products to scrapbooking and papercrafting enthusiasts. Its products include high-quality embellishments with pressed flowers, chipboard, and metals. For more information, please refer to its website at http://www.pressedpetals.com.

About H.I.G. Capital:
H.I.G. Capital, L.L.C. is a leading private equity and venture capital investment firm with more than $3 billion of equity capital under management. Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco, H.I.G. specializes in providing capital to small and medium-sized companies with attractive growth potential. H.I.G. has extensive experience with financial restructurings and operational turnarounds. H.I.G. has completed in excess of 70 transactions. The firm currently has a controlling interest in more than 40 companies with combined revenues in excess of $5 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at http://www.higcapital.com.

SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance

New Contributing Editors for Scrapbooks Etc.

According to this post and this post on the Scrapbooks ETC blog, the Better Homes & Gardens scrapbooking magazine has recently added two new Contributing Editors: Christy Tomlinson and Erikia Ghumm.  Christy is a Creating Keepsakes' Hall of Fame winner, and has been working with Chatterbox Inc for the past three years.  Erikia is a 2006 Scrapbooks ETC Creative Team member, and idea book author.

Creative Memories to Expand into Digital Scrapbooking

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2006) – To maximize resources and expand its presence in the digital scrapbooking market, The Antioch Company, the parent company of Creative Memories, will close its Sparks, Nev., facility on Oct. 20, 2006, and will transfer manufacturing and distribution operations to its St. Cloud, Minn., and Richmond, Va., facilities. Eighty-five employee-owners were affected by the Sparks facility closure.

Technological advances allow the St. Cloud facility to service the western United States, previously serviced by Sparks, with no interruptions. The introduction of direct ship to Consultants and customers for traditional album-making supplies and the increasing popularity of digital scrapbooking also reduced the company’s need for an additional facility. The decision to consolidate manufacturing and distribution to the St. Cloud facility offers the most efficient strategy for Creative Memories’ continued success.

“This consolidation of operations will position Creative Memories well for the future,” said Asha Morgan Moran, president of Creative Memories, global. “Customers and sales representatives will continue to receive the exceptional level of service they’ve come to expect from Creative Memories.”

Antioch representatives notified employees at the Sparks facility on Aug. 17, 2006. Representatives met with those affected by the plant closure and provided information on the steps the company will be taking to ease their transition, including information about 13 transfer opportunities to the St. Cloud facility.

“Antioch extends its gratitude to all of the employee-owners in Sparks who have dedicated their time and energies to Creative Memories,” Moran said.

The call center in the Sparks facility will continue to service consultants and customers as they seek a smaller storefront location. The Antioch Company also has facilities located in Richmond, Va., Yellow Springs, Ohio, and St. Cloud, Minn.

SOURCE: Creative Memories - News Releases

Kaboose's TwoPeasInaBucket Named To Hitwise Top 10 List

TORONTO, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Kaboose Inc., the world's leading independent online media destination for families, is pleased to announce that its twopeasinabucket.com property, acquired by Kaboose on May 11, 2006, has received a Hitwise Top 10 Award for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. During the three-month period, Two Peas ranked eighth in the Lifestyle - Hobbies and Crafts category.

TwoPeasInaBucket.com, the largest online scrapbooking community in the United States, attracts one of the most devoted online communities generating nearly 30 million page views each month. As the fastest growing hobby segment in the U.S., scrapbooking is a multi billion dollar industry that has quickly transitioned to the Internet. In addition to offering scrapbooking products, Two Peas offers its users a number of services that enhance and inspire their scrapbooking hobby.

"We are thrilled to receive this honor for Two Peas," said Jonathan Graff, President of Kaboose Inc. "As the world's leading online competitive intelligence service, Hitwise's recognition really anchors Two Peas' position in the hobbies category. With about 85% of scrapbookers being women and the single greatest catalyst to begin scrapbooking being the birth of a child, Two Peas is a key component of our strategy to inspire parents and help them plan and share their family life."

The Hitwise Top 10 are awarded quarterly and annually based on the popularity of a website according to their market share of visits for the period. Winners are selected from the 160 categories for which Hitwise reports data and all winners receive a Hitwise Top-10 Award Shield via email that can be displayed on a website to highlight the company's achievement.

SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance.