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Post by baslp on Feb 27, 2024 23:58:04 GMT
Just saw a SU video where Sara announced that CTMH will cease operations on June 30th. Sad to hear this. I also just renewed my VIP membership.
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Post by lilacgal on Feb 28, 2024 0:10:55 GMT
This was text of the email I received:
Dear Close To My Heart Community,
As the founder and owner of Close To My Heart, I have devoted my life’s work to building and supporting this community, helping millions of people to preserve memories and celebrate relationships in meaningful ways. This company has grown and developed into a beautiful, vibrant community devoted to touching hearts with these vital creative arts, offering incredible products, rewarding business opportunities, and deep connections with fellow crafters.
As much as I love what Close To My Heart stands for, after a great deal of deliberation, prayer, and counsel, I have come to the heartbreaking conclusion that the time has come to discontinue the business. Close To My Heart will cease operations effective June 30, 2024.
The reasons that have brought me to this decision are too many to enumerate fully here. My health is a major factor, as the stresses and demands of the business continue to take their toll on me. At the same time, we have not seen the kinds of growth that were needed in order to achieve long-term stability. The way the company and the economy are trending, I foresee considerable challenges ahead that we simply are not equipped to overcome.
Ultimately, I am choosing to end Close To My Heart on my own terms rather than being forced to close at some future date in less favorable circumstances. As upsetting as it is for me and for our thousands of Makers, by taking this course of action now, we can provide our community and our employees with as much notice and as many opportunities as possible.
Because I cherish the community we have built together, I have been working with my team to find a new home for our Makers, where they can continue to benefit from the years of work they have poured into their individual Close To My Heart business. We are in the midst of conversations with Stampin’ Up!, collaborating on a solution that we hope will help our Makers make the most of their investments of time and resources and that will maintain at least a part of the legacy we always hoped to build.
In the meantime, we still have a lot of product to offer, and we will continue to fulfill orders as usual over the next few months. It is possible that turnaround times may grow a bit longer depending on order volumes, but we will do our best to process orders in a timely manner. We encourage you to continue shopping with your Close To My Heart Maker in order to support them through this transition period.
I express my appreciation to you for joining me on this journey and respecting my decision at this time. It has been an honor to be able to serve this amazing community for the past 40 years. I have given my all to the success of this company, and I will forever cherish the love I have felt from you and for you. My heart goes with each one of you as your personal journey takes you beyond the time that we have been blessed to share with one another through this marvelous company. You will always remain Close To My Heart.
Sincerely,
Jeanette R. Lynton
Founder & CEO
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,088
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Feb 28, 2024 2:02:59 GMT
I don't order much from CTMH but it's sad to see a company close.
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Post by SnoopyFan on Feb 28, 2024 2:29:03 GMT
This makes me so sad. I love CTMH.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Feb 28, 2024 3:28:41 GMT
It’s always sad to see another company close.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,118 
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 28, 2024 12:49:44 GMT
I haven’t ordered from there in quite a while as my stash is large and the time I had to commit to scrapping has been thin for several years. I’m sad to se them close, though. I loved their products.
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Post by marg on Feb 28, 2024 14:14:25 GMT
That's sad. Every time I see Meghann Andrews use their inks in a class I want them - they have really nice colours and I like the packaging. For Crop and Create a few years ago we used a CTMH scrapbooking kit and I really liked it - great weight to the paper. I've never ordered from them, though. Apparently SU is going to acquire some of their scrapbooking stuff, so that will be interesting. I watched the video that SU put out and Sara was crying, I guess it hits close to home.
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Feb 28, 2024 14:19:47 GMT
I love some of their stamps. I'm sad to see another company closing.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449
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Post by scrapnnana on Feb 28, 2024 15:43:33 GMT
It is sad, although I’m not entirely surprised. I used to love their stamps and I have a great collection. I used to spend a lot of money on CTMH stamps and albums. A LOT of money. I bought more from them than from any other company.
Older women like me often have more disposable income, and she used to offer styles that appealed to my age group, as well as for younger women, but her stamp styles suddenly changed, obviously trying to appeal to a much younger market. The more realistic and cute styles that I had loved and used for card making, and on my pages for my kids and my grandkids, were replaced with a style that I really disliked. I felt like she had turned her back on her biggest and most loyal customers. I wrote her a letter, asking her to continue to offer stamp styles that appealed to her older customers, not just the young crowd. I never heard back from her, and she continued to focus on the younger crowd who have less disposable income.
So I stocked up on the albums and page protectors during a sale (pre-COVID), and I never bought anything from them again.
Edited to add: out of curiosity, I took a look at their current catalog. It looks like she did go back to stamp styles that were more appealing at some point, since their current catalogs do have stamps that I like, although I have so many stamps now that I really don’t need any more. I am sorry to see them close, however, and I know many people will miss them.
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Post by SnoopyFan on Feb 28, 2024 19:53:37 GMT
I reached out to my friend who is a CTMH Maker. She says she has cried so much since finding out the news. She has been with CTMH for 21 years.
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 28, 2024 20:01:27 GMT
I had a few of her hardback books years ago and that started with my premade layout phase. Loved those books. I never bought much from the company, but I do see lots of their stamp sets at our second hand store and they are $4.
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Post by Night Owl on Feb 28, 2024 21:42:14 GMT
I had wondered since they hadn't done anything with their 12x12 Legacy albums for awhile. I just looked and I wonder if they are going to restock because their Legacy albums and page protectors are already selling out.
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Post by joblackford on Feb 28, 2024 21:45:44 GMT
I've only ever used one of their paper collections for some holiday cards but a video just came across YT from one of their makers so I watched some of it. There was some discussion about VIP memberships being prorated so hopefully they do right by you baslp. There was also talk of certain CTMH items possibly being taken in by SU. Specific types of page protectors and that kind of thing. |
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Post by gizzy on Feb 28, 2024 22:07:58 GMT
That's sad. I hate to see any scrapbook company close their doors. baslp-I hope they make it right with you and others who renewed.
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Post by Citygirl on Feb 29, 2024 0:52:56 GMT
Wow that sucks! I haven’t bought anything in a while but all of the things I have bought held up so well over the years. The ink pads are my favorite. Sad to see it.
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Post by grammadee on Feb 29, 2024 1:17:08 GMT
Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered a years supply of page protectors. Love the quality of theirs and that will give me some time to figure out a replacement supplier.
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hockeyspaz62
Full Member
Posts: 127
Sept 26, 2023 1:01:24 GMT
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Post by hockeyspaz62 on Feb 29, 2024 2:37:49 GMT
I haven’t purchased anything for some time, but it is indeed a sad announcement. Losing another crafting company is not a good thing. It’s similar to Heartfelt Creations closing shop too.
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Post by nightnurse on Feb 29, 2024 4:39:19 GMT
I've only ever used one of their paper collections for some holiday cards but a video just came across YT from one of their makers so I watched some of it. There was some discussion about VIP memberships being prorated so hopefully they do right by you baslp. There was also talk of certain CTMH items possibly being taken in by SU. Specific types of page protectors and that kind of thing. I hope that’s the flip flaps, I love those things and the ones on Amazon don’t have as many sizes |
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Post by joblackford on Feb 29, 2024 17:39:40 GMT
I've only ever used one of their paper collections for some holiday cards but a video just came across YT from one of their makers so I watched some of it. There was some discussion about VIP memberships being prorated so hopefully they do right by you baslp . There was also talk of certain CTMH items possibly being taken in by SU. Specific types of page protectors and that kind of thing. I hope that’s the flip flaps, I love those things and the ones on Amazon don’t have as many sizes That was one of the items mentioned, yes. It was only talk at this point, by the sounds of it, but if there's a good market for those I'm sure SU will be thrilled to absorb those items. |
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Post by joblackford on Feb 29, 2024 17:42:14 GMT
Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered a years supply of page protectors. Love the quality of theirs and that will give me some time to figure out a replacement supplier. From what I saw on the maker video I watched SU may end up selling them. I hope so. |
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Post by nightnurse on Feb 29, 2024 17:42:50 GMT
I hope that’s the flip flaps, I love those things and the ones on Amazon don’t have as many sizes That was one of the items mentioned, yes. It was only talk at this point, by the sounds of it, but if there's a good market for those I'm sure SU will be thrilled to absorb those items. Yay!!! |
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gb2015
Full Member
Posts: 161
May 5, 2020 13:29:23 GMT
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Post by gb2015 on Feb 29, 2024 22:57:39 GMT
I’d be interested in seeing the video, if anyone could share? Thanks so much!
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Post by joblackford on Feb 29, 2024 23:50:06 GMT
I’d be interested in seeing the video, if anyone could share? Thanks so much! The one I watched half of was here www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0CIceVR4s&t=412sIt just randomly showed up in my feed. If you type CTMH in the YT search there are several others about the big announcement. |
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Post by Scrapper100 on Mar 1, 2024 18:12:48 GMT
I had wondered since they hadn't done anything with their 12x12 Legacy albums for awhile. I just looked and I wonder if they are going to restock because their Legacy albums and page protectors are already selling out. They will not be restocking the albums or page protectors:( |
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Post by honeypea on Mar 1, 2024 18:58:59 GMT
I’ve wanted to try out their ink pads for a few years, but was afraid I’d find myself opening a can of worms.
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Post by Night Owl on Mar 1, 2024 19:19:55 GMT
I had wondered since they hadn't done anything with their 12x12 Legacy albums for awhile. I just looked and I wonder if they are going to restock because their Legacy albums and page protectors are already selling out. They will not be restocking the albums or page protectors:( Thanks for the heads up, I just ordered some page protectors. The My Legacy Albums are gone. |
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Post by Night Owl on Mar 4, 2024 22:56:09 GMT
Bumping up again for anybody who wants to get it before it's gone. Now they don't have 12x12 top loading page protectors or My Legacy albums on the company website but I assume individuals still have them for sale.
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Post by honeypea on Mar 31, 2024 17:35:40 GMT
Why do the seller people still have ink colors “coming in April”? I looked at several, all similar. Are they still doing ink pads for awhile?
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Post by melanieg on Mar 31, 2024 18:30:36 GMT
Why do the seller people still have ink colors “coming in April”? I looked at several, all similar. Are they still doing ink pads for awhile? Yes. They have had them back in stock a couple of times in March, but they have sold out fast. They have more coming in April. |
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Post by mom on Mar 31, 2024 23:12:45 GMT
I ran into a friend who sells CTMH -- she was telling me that Stamping Up is going to take over some of their stock and somehow all the sellers that want to transfer to SU and they will keep their 'status' from CTMH.
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