After the Show...

Well, CHAW has come and gone, and the new products are just beginning to trickle into the stores. I did fall in love with several of Basic Grey's new lines, including Marrakesh, Porcelain, and Lime Rickey (oops- I think that's almost ALL of them!). I also really like the small rub-on books that are available for each line! And at $5.95 MSRP for a book of five 4.75 x 4.75 sheets, the price is decent too. I of course loved everything in the Cosmo Cricket booth- in fact it's pretty much all I used on my recent 4 day scrapbook retreat! Making Memories had the most complete lines that I saw at the show, with some very unique embellishments. One thing that really struck me was how few embellishments (as compared to past years) many of the companies came out with at this show. And how many paper punch-out shapes there were (never my personal fav), taking the place of the metal, chipboard, and other yummy tactile embellishments we have have to love and expect.

The hit of this rotten economy was clear at this show. From the frequently wide open aisles to the relatively meagre offerings at so many booths, not to mention the empty spaces where exhibitors who simply never showed. CHA reports a decreased attendance of 13%, which all in all, just ain't bad considering the economy. So there's the bad news, and yes-there is great news! The vendors who showed up reported great sales! Numerous vendors told me they were actually experiencing near record sales, which can only be a good thing! So while both vendor and buyer numbers were down, sales were not, and that bodes well for the industry.

It is an interesting phenomenon that when the economy suffers, crafting tends to increase. People are staying home more, making more gifts, and "cocooning", a term coined by Faith Popcorn by in the 80's during that recession. According to Ms. Popcorn, we are going to embrace what she calls the four New Rules of Engagement: Reclaim, Retrench, Reset and Reinvent; it's all about reclaiming personal values, redefining what success really means, and opting for a simpler life. All of which equals more time at home, more personal community, more DIY, less consumerism, more staying home. Few of us are completely insulated from this mess. In my own life, our adult son and his family of four have moved in. Between both of them losing their jobs, my son being injured in an accident, and the downturn; it was the only thing that made sense. Sighing deeply... I personally know two families who have lost their homes, and many more who have lost their jobs, and are unable to find new ones. And while all of that is difficult, and even tragic, it is also an opportunity for each of us. I can be frustrated at my house no longer being very tidy and all MINE ( well mine and DH), or I can be grateful for all the grandson time I'm logging ( and I am- every minute of every day).

I think that a lot of people are picking up a craft they have done previously rather than necessarily picking up a new one. It makes sense; if you already own the "hardware" for a craft, you just to buy the consumables to get going again. A knitter who already owns lots of needles, counters, holders, and such, she only needs to purchase yarn and maybe a pattern. A scrapbooker who already owns- well everything, doesn't need to buy anything at all. even just making all the birthday, Holiday, and other cards that are used throughout a year can mean a savings of as much as $250.00 and even more! Scrapbooking with a group of friends and a potluck meal makes an evening that costs pretty much nothing, and is an activity any scrapper would jump at. my daughter and I spend one evening every other week at a friend's house, knitting with her. My daughter and I are learning to knit, our friend Sharon gets to run her new pattern designs by us, we chat, and just knit. It's relaxing, an excuse to spend time with my daughter and Sharon, and maybe someday I'll even finish that sweater.

So what can a retailer do in the face of all this? First of all evaluate your business, is it viable or are you living on credit cards? Only a viable business has any chance of thriving in this economy. Does your business model include provisions to cater to the customer who is cutting back on spending, staying home more? One store in Canada has a great website, with a shopping cart with nearly every single product in her brick and mortar store. But the most interesting part of that is that almost all of her online customers aren't really. That is to say, her customers go online and place an order, pay for it, and then pick it up at the shop. Of course a the shop they see other things they just can't live without. Her person sales are the highest I've ever seen, day in and day out! As stores have struggled with class sign ups, many have completed eliminated their classroom space, and with it, all cropping space. Offering Monday or Friday night crops are a great way to help develop your local scrapping community, and get customers into your store. If you aren't paying an employee to staff them, consider charging $10.00 for these evenings, BUT give $5.00 in credit toward their spending for that evening only. And if they spend at least $50.00, give them the whole $10.00 credit, that's actually only a 10% discount in wholesale dollars.

Well, it nearing midnight, and I'm teaching a Cricut class first thing in the morning, so I'll sign off for the evening- look at your store from a different perspective-see wah tyou can do to take advantage of the opportunities this economy is creating in YOUR life.