Angie Pedersen's Scrapbooking Industry News

CHA Posts Orlando Info Online

Via Craftrends Magazine: .

The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) has posted on its Web site a recording of its first teleconference discussing the organization’s decision to move the summer show to Orlando in 2009. To listen to the recording, visit http://www.craftandhobby.org/_audioconferencecall/.

The 2009 summer trade show will be followed by a consumer show July 31-August 1. Participation in the first group of conference calls has reached capacity, but more calls will be scheduled in September and October.

CHA has also posted online answers to frequently asked questions about the 2009 events, though negotiations with the Orange County Convention Center (Orlando) are not yet complete. That information is available on CHA’s Member Networking Site: http://www.chamembernetworking.org.

CHA Moves Site of Summer Show

The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) announced it is moving its summer show to Orlando July 28-30, 2009, followed by the first-ever CHA Consumer Show July 31-August 1, 2009.

Details are not yet finalized, but CHA is hosting conference calls (see schedule below) to answer questions and listen to suggestions and ideas. Conference call participation will be scheduled with pre-registration only and on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for a call, e-mail your first and second date preferences to Tara Smith at tsmith@craftandhobby.org. A response will be e-mailed; if no response is received, call 201/835-1223.

Calls are scheduled for the following times (all times are Eastern):

• Friday, July 25, 11 a.m.-Noon
• Friday, August 8, Noon-1 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 12, 3-4 p.m.
• Monday, August 25, 2-3 p.m.

SOURCE: Craftrends Magazine.

CHA Summer 2008: Digital Scrapbooking for Retailers - Digi Degree Program

Scrapbook Retailers, Don’t Dread Digital!  New Book Empowers Storeowners to Welcome Digital Scrapbookers into Stores and Classrooms

Digital Scrapbooking for Retailers provides the first and only turnkey digital/hybrid scrapbooking sales solution for retailers – including a certification program.

Fountain Valley, CA – July 14, 2008 -- Author and instructor Patty Debowski has been talking to scrapbooking store owners – she knows they are concerned about what digital scrapbooking will mean for their stores.  Will today’s easy-to-use graphic editing programs turn digital camera owners into digital scrapbookers?  Will their traditional paper and embellishment stock be able to attract the new tech-oriented crowd?  Will they be able to communicate in “geek-speak”?  Debowski has not only listened to their worries; she has created a solution.  Her new book, Digital Scrapbooking for Retailers, Volume 1: Digi-Degree Program is the first digital/hybrid scrapbooking book written specifically for the retail store owner. It provides precisely the information retailers need to become a resource for their local digital scrapbooking community.

“The book has everything a retailer needs to know about setting up digital/hybrid classes in their stores,” explains Debowski.  “After teaching digital scrapbooking for a couple of years, I've encountered just about everything!”

Digital Scrapbooking for Retailers: Digi-Degree Program allows local stores to teach digital/hybrid scrapbooking classes to their customers with confidence.  Retailers and instructors don't have to come up with their own program – they can use the same field-tested system that Debowski has already successfully used in her own classes utilizing her first book Digital & Hybrid Scrapbooking & Card-Making with Photoshop Elements.  Her guide provides five digital scrapbooking lesson plans using Photoshop Elements.  Because the lesson plans include step-by-step instructions, they can be taught by someone with only basic computer skills.  “I’ve included tips to make the teacher look brilliant, even if they’re just a beginner,” says Debowski.

One unique feature of Debowski’s new retailer program is the Digi Degree “certification” option. Local store instructors teach the classes based on Debowski’s content.  At the end of the five sessions, students can receive the “Digi-Degree Program Certificate”, which can be personalized with individual store names.  “There is a huge demand for these classes,” says Debowski.  “I can't believe how many people actually want to get their certificate at the end.  90% of people that start these hands-on classes finish the series of five, most in the same weekend.”

Low cost marketing tips and product sales ideas are included throughout the lesson plans. The scrapbooking instructor can use the lesson plan as lecture content, while also subtly encouraging students to buy additional product (whether traditional, digital or electronic stock).

Debowski’s system offers five class lesson plans that lead to Digi-Degree “certification”:

• Organizing Your Digital Scrapbook Supplies and Photos (Windows Only - Mac users substitute a class on installing and using Brushes)   
• Laying the Groundwork – working with photo, embellishments, text, and layers
• Making a Basic Digital Page from scratch
• Speed Scrapping with Templates
• Basic Hybrid Page – Custom backgrounds and shapes, applying filters, and using text paths

*As a special bonus, a free sixth class is available for wholesale purchases made by August 1, 2008.

Also included in Digital Scrapbooking for Retailers-Volume 1: Digi-Degree Program:

• Sample images of completed class projects to use in marketing and promotions
• Class descriptions in Microsoft Word format for quick additions to a website or newsletter
• Advice on effective class scheduling
• Class preparation and presentation tips
• How to smoothly address digital scrapbooking challenges and common mistakes

Retailers interested in more information on Digital Scrapbooking for Retailers, Volume 1: Digi-Degree Program can visit Debowski in the Creative Imaginations Digital Corner in Booth 1849 during the Craft & Hobby Association trade show in Chicago, July 18-20, 2008, or online at www.RetailerDigiHelp.com.

Debowski is available for in-store staff training to help retailers set up digital classes and programs.   She also offers product discounts for bulk orders.  Find wholesale information here: www.RetailerDigiHelp.com

TheDigitalScrapbookTeacher.com offers an affiliate program, enabling affiliates to earn a commission for every product sold without stocking any product.  Find more information at http://www.thedigitalscrapbookteacher.com/Affiliate/scrapbook.html

CHA Summer 2008: Corel Digital Photo and Painting Software

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Corel Corporation, a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced that it will showcase its award-winning Corel Painter Essentials, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, and Corel MediaOne PlusPainter Essentials 4 in Booth # 2851 at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Summer 2008 Convention and Trade Show. The Company will provide examples of how scrapbookers can combine digital and traditional techniques to tell their stories and express themselves in more exciting and creative ways.

According to a recent report from CHA, about 17.5 million U.S. households spent $2.5 billion on scrapbook and related “memory craft” products in 2007. However, this isn’t limited to traditional scrapbooking. Today, hybrid and digital scrapbooking – the integration of digital images and templates into traditional scrapbook pages or the creation of entirely digital scrapbook pages – are gaining traction within the industry and opening up new creative options for consumers and new revenue opportunities for scrapbooking retailers. Corel’s photo-editing and digital painting software allows users of all skill levels to easily create interesting layouts featuring beautiful images and embellishments for traditional, hybrid, or digital scrapbooking projects.

Corel Painter Essentials 4 and Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 have a suggested retail price of $99.99 US each for the full version and $69.99 each for the upgrade. Corel MediaOne Plus is available $49.99 US for the full product. All three products are also available as part of the Scrapbooking Bundle for $199.97.

To learn more about Corel Painter Essentials 4, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 or Corel MediaOne Plus, please visit www.corel.com. For more information on the CHA Summer 2008 Convention and Trade Show, please visit www.chashow.org.

About Corel
Corel is one of the world’s top software companies with more than 100 million active users in over 75 countries. We develop software that helps people express their ideas and share their stories in more exciting, creative and persuasive ways. Through the years we’ve built a reputation for delivering innovative, trusted products that are easy to learn and use, helping people achieve new levels of productivity. The industry has responded with hundreds of awards for software innovation, design and value.

SOURCE: BusinessWire.

Notable Trends & Buzz from CHA Winter 2008

Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender (aka Kizer & Bender) have posted an interesting summary of notable trends and buzz on their blog: More on CHA WINTER 2008.

The source for their buzz round-up in Mike Hartnett's Creative Leisure News 2/17 Newsbrief.

Corel� and Smilebox™ Expand Partnership

Corel MediaOneTM Integration with Smilebox™ Provides Today’s Tech Savvy Scrapbookers with the Ability to Create and Share Their Projects Digitally

OTTAWA - January 31, 2008  Corel Corporation, a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced that the company has expanded its relationship with Smilebox™, the leaders in digital scrapbooking and photo greetings. In addition to including Smilebox design templates to create personalized photo and video projects, Corel MediaOne™ is now fully integrated with the Smilebox service, giving scrapbookers the ability to easily share their creations digitally.

Under the expanded partnership, Corel MediaOne users can now download and install the integrated Smilebox service directly from within MediaOne. Consumers can take their photos and videos from MediaOne directly to the Smilebox service, select from hundreds of digital templates and create stunning multimedia projects including scrapbooks, slideshows and photo greetings in minutes. These projects can then be emailed, posted to all mainstream blogs or social networks and printed.

"We are thrilled to offer our Corel MediaOne customers even more options to spark their creativity," said Denise MacDonell, Director of Product Management, Digital Media at Corel. "By combining Smilebox and its broad selection of professionally-designed templates with Corel MediaOne, we are able to offer our users an even more enjoyable, fun and creative experience while providing more ways to share their masterpieces with family and friends."

Corel MediaOne with Smilebox included is now available in the United States and Canada. Current MediaOne users can install the free Update 2.1 from the Corel Message Center or visit www.corel.com/mediaone or www.smilebox.com for more information.

About Corel MediaOne
The best choice for point-and-shoot digital camera users who want to express their creativity as well as organize, edit and share their photos and video clips, Corel MediaOne Plus is the fast, fun and easy photo and video software. With easy-to-use tools for photo retouching, effortless photo management, simple video editing, and free automatic online backup and sharing from Sharpcast™, Corel MediaOne offers all the tools consumers need to create fun photo and video projects including scrapbooking pages and slideshows with designs by Sandra Magsamen and Smilebox.

About Smilebox Service
The Smilebox service offers a creative way for consumers to share their stories with friends and family using their photos, videos and music. Users can drag-and-drop photos and videos from their digital camera into hundreds of professionally designed slide shows, scrapbooks, photo greetings, postcards and photo albums and personalize with their own words, music and style. They can email their creations, print or post them to a web site or blog.  The Smilebox catalog features more than 600 designs from leading digital designers such as Hallmark, Making Memories, Madison Park Greetings, K&Company, as well as the Smilebox Studio design team. The service can be downloaded and used free of charge at http://www.smilebox.com.

About Corel Corporation
Corel is a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software with more than 100 million users worldwide. The Company's product portfolio includes some of the world's most popular and widely recognized software brands including CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Corel Painter™, Corel DESIGNER, Corel WordPerfect Office, WinZip, WinDVD and iGrafx.

SOURCE: Corel Corporation.

Corel to Showcase Digital Media Software at Memorytrends

Company to demonstrate Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, Corel PainterTM Essentials 4 and Corel MediaOneTM Plus, Providing Memory Makers and Scrapbookers with New Creative Possibilities and Retailers with New Revenue Opportunities

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Corel Corporation, a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced that the company will showcase three of its award-winning digital media products – Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, Corel MediaOne Plus, and Corel Painter™ Essentials 4 at the 2008 Memorytrends Conference & Expo, co-located with the PMA International Convention and Trade Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Now in its ninth year, the Memorytrends Conference & Expo is a must-attend event for the scrapbooking community and remains the only trade show in the creative marketplace devoted solely to scrapbook retailers and manufacturers.

Make Every Photo Look Its Best

Photo quality is an important consideration for every scrapbooker whether they are removing red eye from a family portrait, converting images to black and white or adding a decorative border to a favorite photo. Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is the ideal digital photography software for people who want to transform their digital pictures into professional-looking photos fast. With the easy-to-use Learning Center and plenty of one-click photo fixes, Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 makes it easy for users to make every photo look its best and, when users want to do more with their images, Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 provides a growth path to more advanced tools and controls. To help organize favorite scrapbook images, Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 includes Corel MediaOne Plus, a complete photo organizer, that also features hundreds of creative backdrops, picture tubes, photo frames, designs and layouts, including professionally-designed templates from Sandra Magsamen and Smilebox™. These additions give users even more opportunities to put their own personal touch on scrapbook pages. Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 allows users to foster their creativity and experience all of the fun of creating homemade photo projects without any of the clean up.

Turn Favorite Photos into Painted Masterpieces

Clean up is never an issue with Corel Painter Essentials 4, the digital home art studio that makes it easy to take favorite photos and transform them into painted masterpieces, all in as little as three mouse clicks. Packed with a variety of paints, chalks, pastels, artistic papers and brushes, Painter Essentials 4 provides scrapbooker with all of the tools they need to extend their creativity in new directions, without the extra clean up associated with traditional painting. For scrapbookers who want to add a unique dimension to their creative projects, Painter Essentials 4 is the easy-to-use home art studio for creating paintings from scratch or transforming pictures into unique painted images that can be added to a scrapbook page, card or other special project.

To view a product demonstration or to receive a free trial of Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, Corel MediaOne Plus, or Corel Painter Essentials 4, users are invited to visit Corel’s Booth # H271 at the Memorytrends Hall from January 31 to February 2, 2008.

For more information on Corel, please visit www.corel.com. To learn more about Memorytrends, please visit www.memorytrends.com.

About Corel Corporation

Corel is a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software with more than 100 million users worldwide. The Company's product portfolio includes some of the world's most popular and widely recognized software brands including CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Corel Painter™, Corel DESIGNER, Corel WordPerfect Office, WinZip, WinDVD and iGrafx. Designed to help people become more productive and express their creative potential, Corel's software strives to set a higher standard for value with full-featured products that are easier to learn and use. The industry has responded with hundreds of awards recognizing Corel's leadership in software innovation, design and value.

SOURCE: BusinessWire

Suze Orman to Speak at CHA Winter

Fiancial expert Suze Orman will be the keynote speaker at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Winter Show in February 2008. Orman, a two-time Emmy Award winning television host, New York Times bestselling author, magazine and online columnist, and motivational speaker, will share practical tips and financial insights. Her presentation is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 10, 2008. Tickets are $30 for CHA members and $60 for non-members when purchased before the show. On site, the cost is $50 for members and $100 for non-members.

Orman has written six consecutive New York Times bestselling books, and her newspaper column, Women & Money, began syndication by Universal Press Syndicate in January. In addition, she has created a variety of other financial advice tools. She also contributes to O, The Oprah Magazine and to O at Home. She is also the author of Money Matters, a bi-weekly column on Yahoo! Finance, and a bi-monthly column for the Costco Connection and for Lowes Moneyworks. In addition, she hosts The Suze Orman Show, which airs Saturday nights on CNBC, as well as the Financial Freedom Hour on QVC television.

For more information about the CHA show, visit www.chashow.org.

SOURCE: Craftrends News Headlines.

MemoryTrends 2007: Making Memories

Making Memories has posted pictures of the new lines they are launching this week at the MemoryTrends trade show in Las Vegas: new Making Memories products

From the Making Memories blog:

This week we'll be at the Memory Trends trade show in Las Vegas, where we'll unveil our newest programs including "Love Story" and "Garden Party."

"Love Story" [pictured at right] is a modern and sparkly take on Valentine's Day. Epoxy topped embellishments, glitter brads, and a host of romantic accents are truly, madly, and deeply irresistible.

"Garden Party" explodes with all the promise of a new season: bright greens, yellows and blues are brought to life with scalloped edges, polka dots, and shimmery accents budding in a coordinated program of papers, stickers, flowers, brads, and tags.

MemoryTrends 2007: Be Blessed

Be Blessed debuts its newest additions to their Signature Watercolor Collection and their True Gifts of Christmas Collection.  Six new papers for each collection are being introduced at the MemoryTrends 2007 trade show in Las Vegas.

Be Blessed offers a popular line of six faith-based scrapbooking collections of 12x12 papers, coordinating tags, rub-on's and collection packs.  Be Blessed's newest papers introduce new color patinas, graphics, and faith themes, designed to coordinate with their exisiting collections.

The founding partners of Be Blessed, one Christian and one Jewish, felt it was important to recognize both of their faiths and its role in their lives.