Who is the "average scrapper?"

the person who shops at the big box stores or through a consultant for the most part
who mostly does their scrapping at an in-person crop
who probably scraps Halloween and Christmas but haven't heard of October or December Daily
who doesn't know who Ali, Heidi, or Shimelle are or SC, CD, CT, ACOT and SB.com

when I go to crops I would say that fits at least 70% of the people and they are so productive and happy and good at using what they have
instead of me who is agonizing over the placement of a sticker or the shade of red in my cardstock :P

I feel like part of me identifies as being an "average scrapper" in that I like themed collections and pre-made titles and embellishments (like Paper Wizard) and putting multiple photos on a page. I also tend to use sketches as a jumping off point and like to use multiple pattern papers on my layouts. I don't have a ton of layouts that are focused on just one picture or are not around an event or trip, etc.

Where I feel like I'm not the "average scrapper" is I spend a good deal of time immersing myself in the "scrapbook world" like knowing who the players are in scrapbooking, knowing gossip about people in the industry (Beggy Higgins, etc), spending time here on the board, watching lots of YouTube process videos, going to conventions and taking classes. I do like to learn new techniques and get new ideas so I follow lots of makers on Instagram & Facebook as well. I shop primarily online at scrapbook specific websites. I like to buy all the tools, etc as well and have a dedicated craft room.

The ladies I crop with twice a year have no idea about what is going on in the industry nor do they watch videos or do techniques on their pages (like mixed media, etc). They do have a ton of supplies though. They also all have Cricut machines and utilize them on their pages. I have a Silhouette but honestly don't use it as much as I could.

So am I average...who knows??

That was SO ME twenty years ago! Tiny humans are a great reason to scrapbook. Let me tell you, though, those tiny humans at home make going to the CM advisor's house after dinner to crop and socialize and leave DH on bedtime duty was the real motivation!

Which is probably why I never finished a project and got fired by my advisor....

and really really really likes pink, florals, and 1950s kitchen appliances

I think the average scrapper is either scrapping as a social outlet (via crops/consultants) or for a finite project (children, graduation/school, wedding, baby, trip, Christmas etc...). It's more memory keeping than art and they're mostly shopping either through consultants or big box stores. It's a hobby but not a HOBBY if that makes sense.

I think many of us started out as average scrappers but we got sucked into the scrapbooking vortex of forums and youtubes and celebrities and products and techniques and FOMO etc...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an average scrapper or someone who dabbles in scrapbooking or papercrafting among other hobbies/interests. I think sometimes average feels like a negative but I don't think it should be. Within any hobby, they are people who try it and decide it's not for them, people who get involved but not heavily and/or for a long time, and people who throw themselves into it as a longterm interest - and even there interest ebbs and flows.

Many companies tend to think all scrappers are the same.

They think there is little diversity in scrapping. They think:

We all speak English
We are all white
We all have healthy families who have no diseases or disabilities
We are all heterosexual/cis gender
We all belong to the upper middle class
We are all Protestants

We may be some or many of these things but I know we do have diversity here. Too bad many companies don’t or won’t embrace that.

Or hiding the supplies/receipts from the husband, which I think it's supposed to be funny... but isn't.

To me one who does it simply for photo keeping. They don't bother with the latest and greatest. They don't buy new things or try new things. Photo heavy layouts. Double page layouts. Very themed.

I'm a sahm who usually asks for extra money or for DH to pay for my larger scrappy purchases. Not because I need permission but because we have separate accounts and that's just how money is handled here. I can't remember a single instance when he's said no (now when we were young and broke my requests needed to coincide with tax return season but that was a financial reality).

We also don't do the hiding of supplies or receipts here. He spends much more on his hobbies than I do on mine but the basic rule here is are the bills paid? do we have groceries? can we cover the purchase without using credit? then we're good. 

BUT every marriage is different and I know there are people who would judge us for separate accounts and because I have to 'ask' for extra spending money so I try not to judge others especially since there's often a whole lot of background we're not privy when reading online etc....

PaperAngel, are you asking for who WE think is the average scrapper? Or who the INDUSTRY is targeting?

I have often said that there is probably no one person who represents "the average scrapper". We all have our own reasons to scrap, our own style, our own preferences, but from what I see on line I have a mental picture of who that is. Let's call her JANE SCRAPS. (And yes, don, Jane is a "she")
*Jane is pushing (or well past) 50.
*She has a stash of supplies and tools which may vary from one Iris case to a room the size of a warehouse.
*Jane has some definite reason for scrapbooking, either to document the past or present for herself or others, or to enjoy/relax into the artistic process. Maybe it's her way to interact with people, or to keep her mind and hands active by learning new techniques. Sometimes she achieves more than one of these purposes at the same time.
*She purchases papers and supplies (or digi products) that suit that purpose.
*Jane is a visual person. She takes alot of photos. And she is drawn to colour and design.
*She scrapbooks when she can, and thinks about it when she can't. It gives here satisfaction to complete a page or a project.
*She always has some pictures or stories she wants to scrap "when she has time".

I have not included card makers in this profile, although many of us also make cards.

The manufacturers see their aging clientele and are trying to not only meet our needs/wants, but to develop new devotees to paper crafts. They don't want to drop their "tried and true" products for fear of losing Jane. (although they seem to forget that Jane wants to scrap herself as she IS, not as her own grandmother used to be). And although developing new and different lines and tools and techniques is risky, they want to grab up any youngsters out there. Sometimes a new line that looks like a repeat of an older one is just an attempt to entice both those groups.

Based on some of the commentary here, I qualify as an "average scrapper".......but I don't feel like I am "average".

I am definitely NOT trendy.
I don't purposely jump on the latest and great bandwagon. 
I use scrapbook products that *I* like and think are cute. New or old and everything in-between.
I never buy a whole line of products.

I've been scrapbooking since 1996.
I know about the majority of scrapbook companies, product designers, stores, and message boards...that have come and gone over the year or that are still thriving.
I know who the majority of the self appointed *scrapbook celebrity* and scrapbook fan appointed *scrapbook celebrity* scrapbookers are.
I know who the *thrives on drama* scrapbookers are.
I know who the *always asking for money* scrapbookers are.
I know which scrapbookers, product designers and company owners who have have had controversies, at one time or another.....or always always desperate for attention.
I know which scrapbook *celebrities* who have been caught or reported on...having mean girl or boy behavior.
I am well aware of the many, many, many, many, etc.... old two pea board drama's and the one's on this *new* two peas message board.

I love a lot of the old-School styles (matting photos, frames, stickers, patterned paper, double page layouts, double sided squares or tape).

I don't care or worry about what anyone else thinks, about my scrapbook style (or how I live my life). I do what I like and what makes me happy.
I am usually "in the know" in regards to the scrapbook industry, thanks to this message board (and the old two peas), instagram and facebook.
I am quite okay with being  *average*, old-School and doing my own thing.

There are many ways and styles of scrapbooking. There is no right or wrong. To each, their own.
If you're happy with the scrapbook style you are doing and the products you are using, then I am happy for you. I hope everyone feels that way about me and my scrapbook style and the products I use.

Happy Scrapbooking everyone!

sorry to hijack but here's my 2 cents. i think there are differing segments of the overall SB industry and they target different segments of the scrapbook consumer population.  there are the entry level manufacturers who sell main stream supplies to big box stores.  they produce items and designs  that cater to the casual or beginner average scrapper.  these average scrappers don't have dedicated SB spaces with lots of specialized supplies.  they probably enjoy SBing but don't devote hours to it or have it as their main hobby.  they don't know SB celebs or wait with anticipation for new designs to come out.  they don't attend crops or follow any SB youtubers. they probably do projects for a specific event or gift giving purpose.   

then there the segment industry manufacturers that sell to the seasoned SBer.  when you say WE, i think this is who they cater to.  WE probably have a ton of supplies, our skill level and knowledge have evolved, and we are more discerning about the supplies we buy today because we bought anything and everything during the SB heyday. we probably spend more than the average scrapper. our projects are probably more detailed so we think we need those special supplies.

@bsnyder I hopped on to agree with you, that I only buy online, however, I do pick up product from the Joann's Designer Destination collections in-store. I don't think I have purchased any other scrapbooking supplies in-store since before the pandemic... I was a weekly Tuesday Morning shopper.

My stash also says I'm a "15%-er" and stock up. I have enough supplies to last me several lifetimes!