|
Post by jill8909 on Jun 23, 2024 14:43:25 GMT
I see how popular the online events are. I've tried a couple and they aren't for me.
And I've tried a couple of subscriptions but then cancel because of the $$ or the content.
Am I an outlier? Is everyone headed in those directions?
|
|
Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
I'm not inclined to resign to maturity....
Posts: 2,947
Oct 30, 2022 23:42:30 GMT
|
Post by Shakti on Jun 23, 2024 14:54:25 GMT
I can wax philosophically and somewhat self-centeredly about this (and I will ![](https://media.fotki.com/2v2JGmVoCxA5eGL.gif) ), but first I'm wondering...as opposed to what, exactly? In-person events? Just shopping for things? What direction is it that everyone is headed away from in your mind?
|
|
pinklady
Drama Llama
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_green.png)
Posts: 5,844
Nov 14, 2016 23:47:03 GMT
|
Post by pinklady on Jun 23, 2024 15:56:30 GMT
I'm one of the people who loves the online events. The reason I like it is because I can work at my own pace and I have ALL my supplies at my finger tips.
Back in the day when I scrapbooked, I had a core group that met up once a month or so and that was fun but it was more about being social for me. I also went to CKU multiple times and loved that too but didn't always finish everything because I had the perfect _____ (insert anything) at home to use on the card or layout.
I found the online events thru this message board and man they are just my jam. Particularly online events where you get the product in a kit. Sometimes its hard for me to find an equivalent in my stash if it's a class where you use your own products.
I'm not a subscription person because I don't tend to like everything every month. I want to buy what I like piece by piece.
|
|
|
Post by jill8909 on Jun 23, 2024 16:56:07 GMT
I can wax philosophically and somewhat self-centeredly about this (and I will ![](https://media.fotki.com/2v2JGmVoCxA5eGL.gif) ), but first I'm wondering...as opposed to what, exactly? In-person events? Just shopping for things? What direction is it that everyone is headed away from in your mind? I think most of us started by going to actual stores, buying Stampin Up and a variety of companies. Went to classes in our area. Then we bought a lot on line from a variety of companies, mostly month by month. Now it seems like a lot of companies are focusing on their kits/subscriptions and there are so many online events. None of these are bad or negative, but it seems like a shift in focus by companies as well as customers. Maybe I'm wrong? Maybe more people post about kits and online events because it is a shared experience?
|
|
Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
I'm not inclined to resign to maturity....
Posts: 2,947
Oct 30, 2022 23:42:30 GMT
|
Post by Shakti on Jun 23, 2024 17:28:23 GMT
When I started paper crafting decades ago I certainly took classes in stamping and card making at local stores and town adult ed type classes. Started scrapbooking when i had kids and discovered Club Scrap and then Creative Memories. Then I took a 20 or year hiatus, returning to the hobby spring of 22.
I sort of assumed that Covid restrictions were the genesis of the big virtual events. Large in-person events are recovering after Covid, at least to an extent. Altenew is doing one this summer (and might've last year). I'm sure TE's Stamp Joy took a hiatus, but it's back as an in-person annual event as well as continuing as a virtual event on a different date/in a slightly different format (I think). I thought I saw Scrapbook and Cards Today was doing in-person as well as virtual, but I could be wrong there.
I have enjoyed the virtual events with big product kits, but I think I'm starting to get over them. Like pinkly, i struggle with the less expensive here-are-some-techniques-use-your-own-stash style online events and classes, but I'm thinking this might be a growth opportunity for me if I take a step back from the ones with lots of product included. I do have a local SU demo who does some local events, but there is some product policing, iykwim, so I can't work on any old thing there.
Having subscribed to Club Scrap back when their business and my kids were both very, very young, monthly subscription kits don't seem very novel to me. Because they always gave you some sort of sneak peek (now a full unboxing video) and opportunity to skip, I am not used to a model where subscribe means "pay in advance, sight unseen, you get what you get, and don't upset" and pretty much won't subscribe under those circumstances. I do love a good monthly kit when I can look and decide whether to buy the month's offering. I still get some of Club Scrap's card kits but rarely post much about them because I think I'm the only fan hereabouts.
I think if you go to the general sharing threads, both here in cardmaking or over on General Scrapbooking, you'll see more of what folks are creating outside of kits and events, if that's what you're looking for.
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_green.png)
Posts: 6,299
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Jun 23, 2024 17:42:30 GMT
I don’t know if this is what we’ll see mostly going forward, but the in person conventions have shrunk dramatically ever since they started back up after the shutdowns. I went to the two conventions that have come to the DFW area this year so far, and both had between 32 to 36 vendors. That was it. I checked the list of vendors ahead of time, knew there were a few that I wanted to shop at, and I bought enough that it was totally worth it for me. I would have liked to have spent more time browsing, but due to circumstances, I could only stay about 2 hours at the one that was this weekend. I still found enough to feel that it was worth attending, especially since they used a venue that didn’t require you to pay for parking (first time I haven’t had to pay for parking).
I do shop a lot online, and I also make a lot of my own embellishments, but after 3 Disney trips in the last 6 years, only one of which is partially scrapbooked, I am willing to pay for Paper Wizard titles. They were one of the vendors that I wanted to visit at the Convention. I don’t need stamps. I do, however, still have a weakness for dies, even though I use my electronic cutters a lot.
I buy online. I never used to before COVID. Some of my favorite vendors that I discovered at a convention don’t seem to come to the conventions anymore. Even when I do go to convention, I don’t usually attend a class. The online events seem to be mostly classes, with a kit for the classes. I know a lot of people love it, and if I were interested in classes, I would be, too, but I used to design and teach classes at the LSS. It takes something really impressive for me to want to pay for a class.
Overall, though, if the conventions keep dwindling, I think that online will be all that is left.
|
|
lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,250
Jun 26, 2014 5:46:37 GMT
|
Post by lindas on Jun 23, 2024 17:53:15 GMT
Subscriptions/clubs aren’t my thing. I find that there’s too many items included that just don’t work for me. As far as online classes go I feel like there are enough videos on YouTube that I can learn new techniques from without spending $100+. If I’m spending that much money I want to pick and choose just the things I’ll actually use.
|
|
MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_green.png)
Posts: 6,551
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
|
Post by MDscrapaholic on Jun 23, 2024 19:01:42 GMT
I'm one of the people who loves the online events. The reason I like it is because I can work at my own pace and I have ALL my supplies at my finger tips. Same. I can make new things in the comfort of my home with all the new goodies and my stuff around me. I can pick and choose which ones I want to make. I can stop and start the videos when I want. I've said it before - I'm not a card designer - I need help by being shown how to make these awesome things. Occasionally, I'll veer off from a designed card and do my own thing, but not often. I have tried several subscriptions in the past, and find I drop them after a while when I get a kit that's a "dud" for me. I've got a whole box of Hero Arts My Monthly Hero kits that have never been opened from 2017-2019. Right now I'm subscribed to "Let's Stamp Together" from SCT, and so far it's been good. My subscription runs out at the end of the year, and I don't think I'll re-up, as I'm quickly running out of space for all the supplies I've accumulated in the last three years. You'd think by now, I'd have a card for every little occasion that occurs in life! I keep signing up for events because I enjoy most aspects of them.
|
|
|
Post by jill8909 on Jun 23, 2024 19:53:41 GMT
thanks. interesting!!
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_green.png)
Posts: 6,299
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Jun 23, 2024 21:01:38 GMT
Subscriptions/clubs aren’t my thing. I find that there’s too many items included that just don’t work for me. As far as online classes go I feel like there are enough videos on YouTube that I can learn new techniques from without spending $100+. If I’m spending that much money I want to pick and choose just the things I’ll actually use. Same here.
|
|
artisticscrapper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,660
Member is Online
Jun 28, 2014 3:43:24 GMT
|
Post by artisticscrapper on Jun 23, 2024 21:12:29 GMT
Back in the good old days I had lots of scrapbook stores nearby. I was a newbie and took a lot of classes. I also went to 2 of the Creating Keepsake events. Loved all of those. Now none of that is available to me. Since scrapping got less popular, as many hobbies do, and Covid there isn’t much left, unfortunately.
The big online events can of course reach people across the continent. Crop and Create or the Pinkfresh, AltaNew, etc. look amazing but I have so much stash I don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for product I don’t need or may not like. And there are plenty of YouTube videos on techniques—including ones made by those same companies. Pinterest and galleries, including the one here are great for inspiration.
We do have some virtual crops here on the board. You can always check that out.
|
|
|
Post by lindamh on Jun 24, 2024 0:39:07 GMT
I started scrapping about 20 years ago. I began with local scrapbook shops, of which there were several in my area. I started working for one store, was trained to teach EK Success classes there, and attended many CKU, Scrapbook Expo, and Queen and Co. events. I lived about 2 hours from Orlando, and there were plenty of events held there and many great scrapbook stores on the way there.
Even before covid things started to change. Events got smaller and stores started to close. There were no stores left local to me by the time covid came along. I did my first virtual event with Taylored Expressions in the spring of 2020. I was about 2 months away from retiring after 40 years of teaching. We were teaching virtually from home at that point and I wanted something fun to do. The end of that year we moved to North Carolina. There were no scrapbook stores in the area, although there was one craft store that did have a small amount of scrap items. I had no resources, I knew no one and virtual events pretty much helped me maintain my sanity through the first two years living here.
It's been three and a half years here and there's still no stores in my area. Nearest one is in Tennessee. A good bit of quilting and yarn stores, but that's not my thing. I'm finding that I don't need the big virtual events as much any more. I've pretty much dropped the card making ones because I've got enough card making stuff, and I'm going back to my scrap roots and doing more layouts again. Some of the virtual events I participated in have just gotten too big for me. I'm still doing other, smaller virtual events because the nearest live event is outside Atlanta. Too far for me to be comfortable driving.
As for kits, I did subscribe to a couple of different kits in the early years. I quit doing that when I found I wasn't using the stuff. In the past year I've tried a couple of kits and found, like the virtual events, smaller is better for me. I subscribed to a lovely kit for a few months, but cancelled when I realized that just like before, I wasn't using the items. Now I have two smaller subscriptions that really fit me. I do the Pink and Main foiling kit. I get one roll of foil and a variety of foilables. I recently added a Waffle Flower kit. It's a small kit (3 items, give or take) that are"sneak peeks" from their next month's new items. They tell you right in the description that this is for people who want to try new things, and you won't necessarily love everything. I get that. I like being pushed to try new things. I've gotten two kits so far, and I've liked, loved, and been sort of meh, about the items. Which is just what I expected.
|
|
|
Post by scrappinheather on Jun 24, 2024 12:11:15 GMT
I personally love the events and I love TSM card kit. I really enjoy having a crafty community posting ideas. I love learning. I really enjoy doing the events with my crafty friends. I love ripping open the boxes. But I am selective about which events. I try to do them with companies that I know I’m going to love the products. I just sell the stuff I don’t love after I used it at the event. I don’t keep stuff in my stash forever unless I love it and for me I love to try out all sorts of new things.
I do often split event boxes with my friend and then we sell what we don’t want to keep. I usually do c9 and pinkfresh events.
|
|
hockeyspaz62
Full Member
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Posts: 102
Sept 26, 2023 1:01:24 GMT
|
Post by hockeyspaz62 on Jun 24, 2024 14:49:22 GMT
I can only do online events because I 24/7 caretake an elderly relative, so having more options is great for me. I do miss going to real crops though. They were and always will be, the most fun.
|
|
|
Post by mbanda on Jun 24, 2024 16:35:19 GMT
What area do you live in? The conventions still have live classes & shopping (even though they are smaller than pre-Covid). In the Dallas are where I live there are really only 2 scrapbook/stamp stores and they are both on the outskirts of the area. But both do still offer classes & events. I've also seen other in-person events & crops that have popped up in the area. I enjoy the virtual events and they for sure filled a need for me during Covid when we were not getting conventions in my area. I'm still doing a few a year (Pinkfresh and either SCT or another company).
I do tend to buy the majority of my supplies online but will support the two local stores if I am in those areas. Both stores are about 45-50 minutes away from me so I only tend to go there maybe 2x a year. I'm not really a fan of subbing to kits. I've tried several and I end up with things I don't use or they don't suit my style.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jun 24, 2024 19:21:50 GMT
I think companies are focusing a lot on these things because they're a GREAT moneymaker for them, especially because it's much harder for people to give up something they already have. You never know if the next kit will be the perfect one that you regret missing out on! It's steady money, and also predictable in terms of inventory management. The events are probably the same - you sign up well in advance so they know how many units to manufacture, less danger that they will order a bunch of product that never sells.
But most companies are also pushing out new regular product lines every month or second month aside from kits and events. Some offer bundles to make it easier for people who have more money than time to think and plan. But I think plenty of people are still shopping at big box craft stores and online, picking up random things that catch their eye. I follow quite a few low key makers who are just doing their own thing making simple cards with basic supplies.
I think the community aspect of following along with hashtags or joining events is really motivating for a lot of people. It gives you a deadline and a push to sit down.
I am very protective of my space (and budget) so I rarely sign up for anything that involves buying products sight-unseen, and I tell myself I don't want to make the same cards as everyone else anyway, so I only buy leftover kits here and there. If it sells out it was too popular for my tastes ;P And I also hate to follow instructions so I usually go my own way!
I look at event threads here but the only thing I join on a regular basis is the monthly Sheetload of Cards (which is just making a posting to a hashtag, totally free and easy).
|
|
|
Post by marg on Jun 24, 2024 22:19:42 GMT
I think there's something for everyone. I love online events, but I don't think a majority of companies even do them. Most companies still have normal monthly or quarterly releases. I don't think the majority of shoppers want or need virtual events and everything that comes along with them - the FB groups, hype, an expensive box of product sight unseen, etc. I think it's just really concentrated on this board, because that's what we do, come together from all over the world to papercraft and talk about it. We're probably very niche.
Obviously I could be wrong. How many cardmaking companies are there out there, and how many do virtual events, and how many offer kits? I don't know, it's interesting to think about. There are some companies that I wish would do events or have classes - Pretty Pink Posh, The Greetery, Honey Bee, Waffle Flower, to just name a few (I know WF now has a kit, though - does it have a class to go with it?).
I'm glad for the small businesses that find doing virtual events a boost to their business - they get paid before they even have to place their supply orders which is a dream come true for a small business. it's one of the few silver linings of the pandemic, I suppose.
|
|
|
Post by jill8909 on Jun 25, 2024 2:28:03 GMT
each of you raised good points. food for thought!!! I think it seemed like so many online events because that's what people post about. now i'm thinking!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jun 25, 2024 16:34:51 GMT
There are some companies that I wish would do events or have classes - Pretty Pink Posh, The Greetery, Honey Bee, Waffle Flower, to just name a few (I know WF now has a kit, though - does it have a class to go with it?). Honey Bee has a very active Fbk group that I joined to access some free classes/events that they offer periodically. They're leaning very heavily into the Lovely Layers part of their business there, but I think they have challenges posted regularly and the "class" is a craftalong type of livestream. www.facebook.com/share/nxsD2sXLtcZGeFvY/
|
|
|
Post by marg on Jun 25, 2024 19:37:35 GMT
There are some companies that I wish would do events or have classes - Pretty Pink Posh, The Greetery, Honey Bee, Waffle Flower, to just name a few (I know WF now has a kit, though - does it have a class to go with it?). Honey Bee has a very active Fbk group that I joined to access some free classes/events that they offer periodically. They're leaning very heavily into the Lovely Layers part of their business there, but I think they have challenges posted regularly and the "class" is a craftalong type of livestream. www.facebook.com/share/nxsD2sXLtcZGeFvY/Oh that's great, thank you! I'm going to go check it out right now. I love their Lovely Layers collection, I probably own 75% of them (don't add it up, please lol).
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_green.png)
Posts: 6,299
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Jun 26, 2024 4:41:35 GMT
In the Dallas are where I live there are really only 2 scrapbook/stamp stores and they are both on the outskirts of the area. But both do still offer classes & events. I know about the LSS in Waxahachie, but where is the other one, and what is its name?
|
|
|
Post by mbanda on Jun 27, 2024 13:49:56 GMT
In the Dallas are where I live there are really only 2 scrapbook/stamp stores and they are both on the outskirts of the area. But both do still offer classes & events. I know about the LSS in Waxahachie, but where is the other one, and what is its name? The other one is in Allen - Personal Scrapbook (it's East of 75). It is small but I have found some good stuff/new releases there (Honey Bee Stamps, Lawn Fawn). They have classes & crops as well. I've never done either of those with them. I discovered them before Scrapbook Expo this year. They sold discount admission tickets so I went there to get the 3 tickets for my group. I met the owner & she is super nice as well.
|
|
Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
I'm not inclined to resign to maturity....
Posts: 2,947
Oct 30, 2022 23:42:30 GMT
|
Post by Shakti on Jun 29, 2024 15:50:36 GMT
each of you raised good points. food for thought!!! I think it seemed like so many online events because that's what people post about. now i'm thinking! Well, the online events typically get a dedicated thread where registered folks chat and share their creations. And non-registered folks figure out whether they really did MO or actually made the right choice for them. And there are threads for some of the subscriptions, but that's mostly people chatting about whether they're going to subscribe/buy/skip/cancel. I wouldn't think one would get the impression reading any of them that we're all gungho for the subscriptions in general. But here on the Stamping/Cardmaking board we also have a general share thread here: 2peasrefugees.boards.net/post/4052351/thread. And there's a quarterly share thread on the General Scrapbooking board, too. So you should be able to see what folks are up to and creating NOT as part of an event or subscription if you follow those threads.
|
|
hockeyspaz62
Full Member
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Posts: 102
Sept 26, 2023 1:01:24 GMT
|
Post by hockeyspaz62 on Jun 30, 2024 16:08:18 GMT
There are some companies that I wish would do events or have classes - Pretty Pink Posh, The Greetery, Honey Bee, Waffle Flower, to just name a few (I know WF now has a kit, though - does it have a class to go with it?). Honey Bee has a very active Fbk group that I joined to access some free classes/events that they offer periodically. They're leaning very heavily into the Lovely Layers part of their business there, but I think they have challenges posted regularly and the "class" is a craftalong type of livestream. www.facebook.com/share/nxsD2sXLtcZGeFvY/I love Honeybee! Everyone on the FB group, and the YouTube weekly live streams are always so nice. I was new to this company, and absolutely love their products. Easy to use, and high quality. Their customer service is top notch. I highly recommend people to check them out.
|
|