Every scrapbook is unique and inviting; as a creative scrapbooking professional, your marketing should be as eye-catching and irresistible as your creations. Even if you have only a few hundred dollars to spend, you can absolutely woo clientele using grassroots methods to showcase your creative scrapbooking acumen.
Educate Others in the Art Form of Creative Scrapbooking
One of the fastest ways to turn yourself from an unknown scrapbooker into a creative scrapbooking “expert” is to teach a class on the art of creating a fabulous, memorable scrapbook.
Though you might initially be wary that if you tell others your creative scrapbooking “secrets”, they won’t use your creative scrapbooking business, that usually doesn’t happen. Instead, what occurs is that your students see you as a professional in the arena of scrapbook design and development. Thus, when they want an important scrapbook (e.g., for their daughter’s Bar Mitzvah or husband’s retirement celebration), they will immediately think of you. After all, they might enjoy creative scrapbooking, but they don’t necessarily feel confident enough to construct a special scrapbook on their own.
You can work with many community centers, schools, college campuses, and libraries to offer your creative scrapbooking courses. Expect to spend a bit of money on advertising, room rental (though you can often snag a free space if you’re a start-up), and creative scrapbooking paraphernalia, though it’s still much less of an investment than if you paid for a full page, 4-color ad in the Sunday paper.
Write About Scrapbooking
Another way to become an instant creative scrapbooking “guru” is to write articles or tips about creative scrapbooking. Sometimes, smaller community papers will print such items as “filler” for their circulars. Alternately, if a local sewing center or arts and crafts store offers a newsletter to patrons, you might be able to become a “guest columnist.” (Or perhaps you can offer to write your own “creative scrapbooking newsletter” gratis if they agree to pass it out to consumers.)
Will you receive a ton of creative scrapbooking business from this type of subtle “marketing”? Probably not. But you will be building your reputation as your area’s premier creative scrapbooking authority. You will also be able to tell prospective customers that you’ve published items on the topic of creative scrapbooking, always an impressive credential to tout (and a resume booster as well.)
Start a Scrapbooking Blog and/or Web site
In today’s cyber society, blogs and Web sites are fairly inexpensive, so there’s no reason not to get online and start talking about your creative scrapbooking know-how and burgeoning creative scrapbooking company.
For example, you could quickly set up a blog 100% devoted to the tricks of the creative scrapbooking trade in an effort to attract persons from around the world to your site. Though most of them won’t become clients, you stand to gain instant exposure. And who knows? The family down the street may wind up stopping by your creative scrapbooking Web site and hiring you to redo their three sons’ baby books!
Never Stop Selling Yourself or Your Scrapbooking Abilities!
It’s critical that you never stop selling yourself and your creative scrapbooking business if you are serious about succeeding in this infant industry with huge profit potential.
This may mean stepping out of your “comfort zone” and becoming a master at self-promotion. If you have an innate fear of networking, it’s time to overcome your worries and learn how to shake some hands. Remember that you won’t be the first entrepreneur who took a plunge into the unknown.
To become a better press generator on behalf of your creative scrapbooking business, you’ll have to force yourself to try again and again. However, if the process becomes achingly difficult and hampers your desire to scrapbook, it may be time to hire someone to promote your business on your behalf. Yes, this is a “last ditch” measure, but if it keeps your dream alive, it’s worth the cost to bring on a partner who isn’t afraid of a good sales pitch. (And many individuals will work with start-ups on a commission basis, which is terrific news for your budget!)
A Final Note about Ethics and Your Scrapbooking Venture
Though it’s imperative that you keep up standards and operate ethically and legally (the tax man will cometh whether you like it or not!), that doesn’t mean you can’t be innovative. Constantly seek out ways to differentiate yourself from other scrapbook artists and allow yourself to grow personally and professionally.
Love your work, and that positive attitude mingled with creative scrapbooking talent will draw customer inquiries and have you wondering why you didn’t begin your creative scrapbooking company sooner.
Road Trip: CHA Summer 2007 CK Top Ten
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Itoya Art Profolio Evolution Storage/Display Book 13 in. x 19 in. $12.67 With a stylish nylon stitching and value price, the Art Profolio Evolution from ITOYA is the next big thing in art and photo storage! Along with its sibling, the Original Art Profolio, the Art Profolio Evolution is the only storage and presentation book of its kind. Completely, acid-free and PH-neutral through its polypropylene, PVC-free construction and quality crafted, acid-free black mounting p… |
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Itoya Art Profolio Evolution Storage/Display Book 9 in. x 12 in. $5.95 With a stylish nylon stitching and value price, the Art Profolio Evolution from ITOYA is the next big thing in art and photo storage! Along with its sibling, the Original Art Profolio, the Art Profolio Evolution is the only storage and presentation book of its kind. Completely, acid-free and PH-neutral through its polypropylene, PVC-free construction and quality crafted, acid-free black mounting p… |
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Electric Quilt 6 EQ6 Quilt Design Software with Manual $139.00 THE ELECTRIC QUILT CO-Electric Quilt 6. An incredibly full-featured quilt design and drawing software that has been especially designed with beginners as well as advanced designers in mind. Use it to design quilts; draw blocks; scan in fabrics; or select from over 20000 blocks; fabrics; colors; embroidery photos; threads; quilt layouts; and borders. Use EQ6 simply to try out colors or print patte… |
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Sew the Perfect Gift: 25 Handmade Projects from Top Designers (That Patchwork Place) $11.99 MARTINGALE-That Patchwork Place: Sew The Perfect Gift. No matter what type of gift you’re looking to give you’re sure to find it here. This collection of patterns from twenty-five of today’s top designers has table runners; pillows; quilts; bracelets; scarves; bags and many other unique items that are both traditional and modern. Techniques include sewing; quilting; applique and embroidery. Softco… |
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101 Mission Statements from Top Companies – Jeffrey Abrahams – Paperback $10.86 101 Mission Statements from Top Companies |
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Scrapbooking – Helen Bradley – Hardcover $16.95 Scrapbooking |
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12×12 Art-Stitched Mulberry Scrapbooking Paper: Rosebud $2.12 This package contains (1) 12″ x 12″ sheet of specialty paper that’s top-stitched with a matching thread. |
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Great Outdoors Postbound 12×12 Scrapbooking Album $12.94 This expandable postbound albums features Memory Marker ribbon, bookmarks, and 10 top-loading page protectors with inserts for 20 layouts. Use refill AL0063 for 12″x12″. Acid and lignin-free. Archival and PVC free. |
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Postbound 12×12 Scrapbooking Album Page Protector 6-Pack $3.79 Acid and lignin free these archival safe page protectors fit true 12 x12 and 8×8 pages. Each package includes 10 top loading sheets and post-extenders for 20 pages. |
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Classic Edition 12×12 Brown Scrapbooking Album & Kit $83.94 Collect the facts, events, stories, and photos of your life with the ArchivaLife Classic Edition. Share your life story with your family leaving a legacy for generations to come. It makes recording life experiences easy and enjoyable with a unique patent-pending timeline that allows people to document life memories decade-by-decade. Includes exclusive LifeLines element for a decade-at-a-glance view of your life in addition to the LifeImages element a top quality 12″ x 12″ scrapbook preserved in the lovely archival case.The Classic Edition includes:LifeLines – The easiest and most accessible format to tell virtually anyone’s life story in an intuitive timeline format.LifeImages – A corresponding scrapbook where you will collect the images to support the stories and events in the LifeLines element.Archival Case – A high quality case to preserve these precious memories for generations.Features:The patent-pending ArchivaLife LifeLines timeline for your handwritten detailsThe accompanying LifeImages 12″ x 12″ photo scrapbook albumArchival-quality pages that are acid-free and lignin-free to ensure it will last for generationsArchival case – a protective case that will fit on most bookshelvesA classic design with high-quality, sturdy construction that is appropriate in any home office, library, or living roomThoughtful life experience prompts to ignite your memory |
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Start Scrapbooking – Joy Aitman – Paperback $13.95 Start Scrapbooking |
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Start Scrapbooking – Wendy Smedley – Hardcover $17.74 Start Scrapbooking |
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Scrapbooking for Profit – Rebecca Pittman – Paperback $14.76 Scrapbooking for Profit |
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The Joy of Scrapbooking – Kerry Arquette – Paperback $12.92 The Joy of Scrapbooking |
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Scrapbooking Digitally – Kerry Arquette – Paperback $13.56 Scrapbooking Digitally |
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Scrapbooking with Cricut – Tanya Fox – Paperback $11.8 Scrapbooking with Cricut |
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Hawaiian Scrapbooking – Rosie Ramiro – Paperback $13.45 Hawaiian Scrapbooking |
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12×12 Art-Stitched Mulberry Scrapbooking Paper: Full Bloom $2.12 This package contains (1) 12″ x 12″ sheet of specialty paper that’s top-stitched with a matching thread. |
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Monochromatic Trio 12×12 Scrapbooking Paper Pack: Arctic Assortment $6.89 Take the guesswork out of coordinating. Bazzill Basics has made it eas y with the Monochromatic Packs. Top quality 12×12 cardstock packaged as color families. 5 sheets each of 3 colors. |
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Monochromatic Trio 12×12 Scrapbooking Paper Pack: Hillary Assortment $6.89 Take the guesswork out of coordinating. Bazzill Basics has made it eas y with the Monochromatic Packs. Top quality 12×12 cardstock packaged as color families. 5 sheets each of 3 colors. |
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Dotted Swiss 12×12 Scrapbooking Paper Multi-Pack: Honey/Cornmeal/Butter $6.89 Bazzill Basics Paper is at the top of the list when it comes to quality and color selection in cardstock papers. These paper packs come in many different color schemes (5 each of 3 colors), and are pre-embossed with 2mm dots. Perfect for scrapbook page, greeting card, and all paper craft projects! |
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The Scrapbooking Journey – Cory Richardson-Lauve – Paperback $14.17 The Scrapbooking Journey |
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Joy of Scrapbooking – Lisa Bearnson – Hardcover – Revised Ed. $20.48 Joy of Scrapbooking |
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Scrapbooking for Dummies – Jeanne Wines-Reed – Paperback $14.59 Scrapbooking for Dummies |
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CK Encyclopedia Of Scrapbooking $16.94 Creating Keepsakes! Encyclopedia of Scrapbooking is the most complete guide to scrapbooking ever published. Designed to meet the needs of every scrapbooker from beginner to advanced. Inside you will find more than 300 ideas for creating scrapbook pages. A comprehensive tool guide with full color photos easy-to-follow step-by-step techniques a glossary and helpful articles on all kinds of scrapbooking topics. |
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Teach Yourself Visually Scrapbooking – Rebecca Ludens – Paperback $18.24 Teach Yourself Visually Scrapbooking |
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Scrapbooking Your Wedding – Not Available (NA) – Paperback $20.59 Scrapbooking Your Wedding |
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101 Scrapbooking Perfectips – Sidney A. Kies – Paperback $16.45 101 Scrapbooking Perfectips |
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Scrapbooking Your Faith – Courtney Walsh – Paperback $14.53 Scrapbooking Your Faith |
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