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Post by paperlovinggal on Mar 6, 2023 17:50:53 GMT
Hi, Was wondering if anyone attended this past Fri/Sat Scrapbook Expo in Pleasanton? Was there decent foot traffic? classes? &
products offered?
I decided not to go because there was only 25? vendors participating and probably cost $10 entrance/ticket and $15/parking fee.
Instead, drove a long distance to go to the fun It's All About the Scrapbook scrapbooking store Flea Market in Dixon, CA. It's held
once a year.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
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finaledition
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,896 
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Post by finaledition on Mar 6, 2023 18:03:21 GMT
I went on Friday with a friend. I just went to “shop” knowing there would probably not be a lot. I did buy some loose papers and a few brads, but spent about the same as I did for parking and entrance. It was pretty sad to say how empty the hall was. I doubt I’ll go again.
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Post by scrapperal on Mar 6, 2023 18:11:07 GMT
How was the flea market?
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Post by scrappieannie on Mar 6, 2023 18:25:30 GMT
This is the first year I've missed that Scrap Expo, but the cost of entry was too steep for the vendor preview...
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leeny
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Posts: 4,786
Location: Northern California
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Mar 6, 2023 19:28:27 GMT
I wondered too. I had heard that last year classes where in the same hall as the crop and vendors and it was hard to hear the instructors.
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Post by paperlovinggal on Mar 6, 2023 19:43:38 GMT
Thanks for your replies.
I would have loved going to SE, but with so little vendors and the cost (entrance & parking) on the steep side, it was better
for me to skip it. I chatted with a gal who went to the Pleasanton SE last year and she had the same reaction..not enough
offerings and didn't go this year. That being said, it's a sad state of affairs and my guess is the organizer may re think
whether or not to skip this location in the future. Part of the reason why my friend & her friends and I didn't consider going (besides
the fees) was that organizer never refunded our SE ticket fees the year this location got cancelled due to Covid restrictions, etc.
I emailed the organizer and asked for a refund and/or possibly exchanging my purchased ticket (from a scrapbooking store)
to exchange it for the entrance to last year's Pleasanton SE, but never rec'd a reply.
I hadn't driven to the Dixon FM for quite a few years. It was a long haul (several hours and used alot of gas), but I enjoyed it.
There were bundled wood mounted stamps in zip lock baggies ranging from $1 - $3 (approx. 6 - 8 per). Also avail. were
some clear stamps, some Stampin' Up, etc. Of course, there will be different sellers & products offered each time a FM is held.
I didn't find much dies. But I wasn't in the early shopper group and they could have vanished before I arrived.
There were plenty of paper packs in assorted prices...$1 - $3 + up. Saw an assortment of other embellishments, art
supplies, & stamp supplies (inkpads, etc.).
Quite a few used Crafter's Companion machines avail. (Large/original version, Mini, Midi, etc.) which included their used cutting mat assortments...in the $50 - $60 range. Only one used CC machine was in a box.
Even though I may have loved one stamp in a baggie, I had to buy the whole baggie as that was how it was packaged.
What did I buy? a few clear stamps in the $1 - $2 range, One Stampin Up new cling set for $6, some bagged sets
of wood mounted stamps in the $1 - $3 range. The CC mini machine $60 which included old AND new sets of all the cutting mats, etc. needed to get started on die cutting.
It was a tad crowded when I entered the building (next door is their wonderful scrapbook store and it has a HUGE
back section with tons of stamps/papers, etc. all around 40% off). Free parking is available by their store.
The pay line was a tad long..as I entered and I knew it would take me awhile to look thru "everything". The check out
helpers were quite efficient, friendly & helpful. By the time 1:30 PM rolled around, most of the people had completed their
shopping. Glad it didn't rain that day.
Would I go again? Don't know as March can be a rainy time of year and it's a long drive. But we'll see when it comes
around next time.
If you're hungry, there are nearby Fast foods..ie, McDonald's & Burger King, etc.
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Post by don on Mar 7, 2023 0:15:52 GMT
I am going to CKC in OR and EXPO in Puyallup. I have or will signed up for the whole shows, motels are reserved, and I am ready to go. I just like to meet with crafters, pretty much why I am on this forum.
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jediannie
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Posts: 3,070
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Mar 7, 2023 0:27:21 GMT
I was considering it briefly but when I saw the very few vendors (I would have liked to see Kat Scrappiness though!) and the cost of parking and admission it wasn't worth it to me. It's such a bummer because I used to love to go to Expos and I don't think I'll go to one again.  |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,434
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 7, 2023 0:29:54 GMT
Scrapbook Expo will be in my area soon. I looked up each vendor to help me decide. I won’t be going. If has 28 vendors, but one of them is My Massage Pillow. Another is Creative Memories. I don’t have any interest in most of the vendors.
I wish I could say that it’s still vendors being leary of Scrapbook Expo after the 2020 fiasco, but Great American Scrapbook Convention (coming here in June) only has a handful more vendors, although they at least will have Paper Wizard.
A lot of the companies that I love are online and doing well without paying the cost of a vendor booth. It’s fun to go to conventions, but I miss seeing a lot of the wonderful companies that I used to see there.
I doubt you missed much by skipping the Expo.
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Post by mbanda on Mar 7, 2023 15:41:52 GMT
I'm planning on attending the Scrapbook Expo next week when it is here in Texas. I went last Fall as well and although it was much smaller than pre-Covid, I still had a good time and did plenty of shopping.
I'm interested to see what the attendance will be like next week. My friend and I are doing a Chalk Couture class that she wanted to do but that is the only class we are taking. We're not doing the crop this time either.
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Post by papersilly on Mar 8, 2023 17:58:15 GMT
reading this thread really makes me miss the hey day of SB expos in my area. i'm talking about when they were held in large convention halls in Anaheim or in many buildings at the OC Fairgrounds.
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leeny
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,786
Location: Northern California
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Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Mar 8, 2023 19:46:59 GMT
reading this thread really makes me miss the hey day of SB expos in my area. i'm talking about when they were held in large convention halls in Anaheim or in many buildings at the OC Fairgrounds. Oh yes! My favorite was Santa Clara, CA because the hotel was connected to the convention center. I treated myself to the full weekend with the Thursday night make and take and classes all day Friday and Saturday. Parked once at hotel, didn't need to leave until Sunday! |
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Post by 950nancy on Mar 8, 2023 20:20:00 GMT
Our Denver Expo stopped in 2020 and never came back. The organizers say they can't find a place to have it. I do not believe that.
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Post by papersilly on Mar 8, 2023 22:45:18 GMT
reading this thread really makes me miss the hey day of SB expos in my area. i'm talking about when they were held in large convention halls in Anaheim or in many buildings at the OC Fairgrounds. Oh yes! My favorite was Santa Clara, CA because the hotel was connected to the convention center. I treated myself to the full weekend with the Thursday night make and take and classes all day Friday and Saturday. Parked once at hotel, didn't need to leave until Sunday! i remember the classes and crop areas they had at the convention center expos. they were huge. so many people. you could definitely make a weekend of it even if you drove in everyday. that's what i miss--the volume of vendors and variety of products. |
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Post by paperlovinggal on Mar 9, 2023 18:49:13 GMT
Hi, I miss the Santa Clara Scrapbook Expo too. I loved the free parking. There wasn't much foot traffic during
the last Santa Clara convention a few years ago. The organizer claimed they planned to skip this venue because
the convention center didn't want to "rent" to them to host another scrapbook convention. Their preference was tech companies. Oh, really? hmmm?
In case you were interested and perhaps live in the area...Creative Escape/Scrapbook Island is hosting their
bi-annual Flea Market with approx. 40 sellers. It starts THIS Friday. Buyers had to pre-pay $20 for a 2 hr. time slot
to shop..payable on their site. However, it's free entrance on Sat and Sun. Best to contact them to obtain
more info. (ie, store hours, etc.) Address: 14090 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos near Harwood St. They're located next to a Walgreen's.
Store Phone #: 408 4023581
If you haven't visited this store before, you may be overwhelmed by the size of it and the amount of inventory. Have fun.
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Post by don on Mar 10, 2023 1:29:58 GMT
Parking at our EXPO is free.  |
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Mar 11, 2023 15:40:31 GMT
Hi, I miss the Santa Clara Scrapbook Expo too. I loved the free parking. There wasn't much foot traffic during the last Santa Clara convention a few years ago. The organizer claimed they planned to skip this venue because the convention center didn't want to "rent" to them to host another scrapbook convention. Their preference was tech companies. Oh, really? hmmm? In case you were interested and perhaps live in the area...Creative Escape/Scrapbook Island is hosting their bi-annual Flea Market with approx. 40 sellers. It starts THIS Friday. Buyers had to pre-pay $20 for a 2 hr. time slot to shop..payable on their site. However, it's free entrance on Sat and Sun. Best to contact them to obtain more info. (ie, store hours, etc.) Address: 14090 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos near Harwood St. They're located next to a Walgreen's. Store Phone #: 408 4023581 If you haven't visited this store before, you may be overwhelmed by the size of it and the amount of inventory. Have fun. Are you going to the Flea Market? I'd like to, but with the stormy weather I'm staying home. I'd have drive "over the hill" and back. Plus, I'm not even sure I can easily get out of in my neighborhood! Our main access road was closed due to flooding yesterday. I think they put on a good Flea Market and have been going since it was at their old location. And yes, it's a good store. We still call it The Island. |
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,070
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Mar 11, 2023 18:25:12 GMT
We still call it The Island. I still call it that too even though it hasn't been that for years.  I actually used to work at the old location about 14 years ago when I was between tech jobs. My husband said I worked there for free since I basically left my paycheck there.  I was thinking about going to the flea market but now I'm looking at the sky and it looks like it's going to rain again. I live about 13 miles from there so it's not super far but it's far enough to keep me from going regularly. I had a couple of friends that went to the Expo last weekend and they all said never again will they go. The classes weren't great and the vendors were sparse. It's really too bad the Expo organizers screwed so many people over in 2020, they lost a lot of vendors and are struggling to get new ones. I wish other scrapbooking/stamping conventions would come to the Bay Area but it's so expensive to do events here so I understand why they go to slightly smaller, less expensive places. |
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Post by paperlovinggal on Mar 12, 2023 1:05:19 GMT
Hi, yes, I went to the CE/SI flea market this morning. Doors opened at 10 AM with approx. 20 people lined up.
People who paid to shop a day early probably had decent offerings. There were approx. 3 or 4 boxes of assorted
dies..not alot. Some single dies seemed pricey at $8 or more. Others had stamps with matching die sets combo in
the $16 range. Paper Packs were in the $3 to $6 and up range. Not that much wood mounted stamps..more clear
& Stampin' Up sets...prices varied. There were a few machines, paper cutters, & quite a bit of albums, etc.
There were some markers & inkpads..but not alot.
I picked up a few dies/stamps and some paper. I didn't spend alot so I was fine with that.
It didn't rain. The FM will continue thru Sunday (call store for store hours if you're still interested).
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