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Post by myboysnme on Jun 25, 2017 21:21:56 GMT
I just got back from Scrapbook Expo Chantilly. I thought it might be fun to do a little list of good and bad. Please join me if you've been to any conventions this year. I have CKC Lancaster in 2 weeks also! Good: -- I love that I can crop from 8 am to midnight if I want to. My friend and I were able to reserve a table for Sat with the people we reserved with last year. I got 34 pages done. Would have liked to get 40 done but I had some unproductive periods.  -- I saw crystalb again this year and we got to chat briefly, but every time I looked over at her she was steadily scrapping with her headphones on motivating me to keep my nose to the grindstone. Hope you got a lot done! -- Show floor had some new product - Nicole Peterson always has some of the latest. Picked up the Photo Play Sharks papers and Echo Park Once Upon a Time Prince. I saw some new Simple Stories at Quick Quotes. -- The giveaway table at the crop. People were giving away new cardstock, Paper Wizard diecuts, you would just not believe what people were getting rid of. I cannot resist free, and I used some of what I picked up there on layouts I did. The one in the picture above shows paper I got from the free table. Bad: -- Lots of stamp vendors. If you are stamper you are taking over the scrap world. Stamps and dies galore. --The cashier at Nicole Peterson. She always is the cashier for that booth and maybe doesn't want to be there. She said my credit card didn't work, I called my bank who said it should work, then used it in an ATM, paid almost a $4 ATM fee to find out it works after all. She was too lazy to reswipe it or something. It worked every place else. I remember that cashier from previous years, I think she's a teenager roped into being the cashier against her will. I don't mind disinterest until it costs me money and aggravation. -- I never win a thing. The crops are not cheap and they give away lots of prizes, but in 3 years (that's 6 crops) I've never won a thing. They gave away wagons full of product to one person. Can't they just give the wagon and give the stuff in it to the rest of us? --Having to pay extra to leave your stuff on the crop table overnight. I pay almost $80 to crop for 2 days and unless 4 of us pay extra to reserve a table we can't leave our stuff out overnight. That's stupid. --Overheard one vendor saying the show has really dropped off. It was packed on Friday but much less so on Sat. Young people are not there. It's all us middle/old people. People were very nice about being bumped and jostled though. No fights like I've had to deal with in past years. But it's bad when the vendors feel a big show like that has dropped off enough t comment about it. |
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Jun 25, 2017 21:57:46 GMT
Thanks for the review. I always like to hear what's going on in the scrappy world.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jun 25, 2017 22:33:39 GMT
Thank you for your review!
I love hearing about it, because I've never been to one.
You got a ton done!! An how cool seeing another pea!
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Post by Kate * on Jun 25, 2017 23:25:28 GMT
Most of the Scrapbook Expos I've gone to were in California, but this year I was able to attend one in Grapevine, TX. I noticed the name has changed to Stamp & Scrapbook Expo... sign of the times I guess. I agree, it seems like there aren't as many young'uns attending. Also way fewer vendor booths than in years past, and not so many good deals either. I also attended GASC Arlington, and noticed the same.
Both had many of the same vendors and class offerings. I liked the classes I took, even though they seemed a bit pricey.
Wow, you are prolific in your scrapping! good job on getting so much done! I envy you! |
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leeny
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,630
Location: Northern California
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Jun 26, 2017 1:00:33 GMT
Thanks for the report. I normally go to Sacramento, but missed it the past two years, so I've reserved a hotel room for Santa Clara in July and am having second thoughts. Mainly because I like to go for the shopping but am hearing alot about lack of vendors. I know when I went last I was talking with a vendor and he said that the organization chooses who goes based on what they are selling and they don't want a lot of overlap of the same product at different booths.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,122 
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Post by scrapnnana on Jun 26, 2017 3:40:37 GMT
The last time I attended the Chantilly show was about two years ago. Last year it occurred at a time when I had to be out of town, and in the fall I moved to the Dallas, Texas area, where they also have the Scrapbook Expo.
Originally it was Great American Scrapbook Convention (GASC) that came to Chantilly. Then one year it didn't. The following year, the Scrapbook Expo took the place of GASC. It seemed to shrink a bit every year. Some vendors remained constant, but there were also some that seemed to change from year to year.
I always went on Friday. It was still super busy, but Saturday was too packed with shoppers, and I hate crowds.
When I went to the Dallas show, it was very similar to Chantilly.
There were lots of stamp vendors at the Dallas show, and again at GASC in Dallas, which was just last weekend. I don't see stamp vendors as a bad thing. I often stamp on my layouts in one way or another. My first layout was stamped. However, I can understand that isn't going to appeal to everyone. Stamping was popular in scrapbooking in the early years, then went out of favor like so many trends. I was glad to see it make a comeback. I love that Tim Holtz helps scrappers see how stamps can be used for scrapbooking, cards, and more. I think Tim Holtz is a major reason that stamp vendors are now usually part of scrapbook conventions. Tim was at 2017 GASC Dallas.
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Post by coloradocropper on Jun 26, 2017 3:44:39 GMT
I just finished typing my review of GASC on the other thread if anyone wants to read it over there.
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cbscrapper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,402
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Post by cbscrapper on Jun 26, 2017 10:58:05 GMT
Thanks for the reveiw. I'm glad Nicole Petersen always seems to have the latest lines, but I notice she also charges at least 10% more than standard retail ($1.10 for paper for example).
I found that to get some prizes at the crops, you have to at least participate in the table decorating and the dressing up. They gave something to everyone who participated in those activities, plus there were other giveaways. I learned that lesson the first night when I wasn't participating and just threw some stuff together for the theme the next night.
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Post by crystalb on Jun 26, 2017 12:36:30 GMT
myboysnme It was great seeing you again! I had my headphones on because as sweet as the lady that sat next to me was (I didn't know her) she would not quit talking about lyme disease. She was a doll and very nice getting to know but I needed to get in my zone so headphones it was. Also for some reason on Saturday I had a really hard time getting back there so that was my way of calming down. I ended up getting 30 pages done so that was nice! I felt like the crop kits were VERY small compared to last year. I was also quite surprised that neither Friday or Saturday the crop was even close to selling out, there were TONS of empty tables, tables with only one person or two people. As for vendors I agree, a TON of stamps and die vendors. I was able to pass on a LOT of them for that reason but I still put a pretty dent in my wallet with other things. I found a vendor with OA things for a buck and stocked up on labels and letters. Then another with some Bella on clearance As for new/fresh product Nicole P was the only one but her prices were higher than online the line was always long so I passed. I did do some damage at Queen & co though.
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Post by ScrappyGlue on Jun 26, 2017 16:02:22 GMT
Hm. I'm really interested to see how it goes in Schaumburg, IL in August. There was a fiasco when the hotel/crop specials went on sale. Sold out in like 2 minutes.
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Post by cannmom on Jun 26, 2017 16:11:40 GMT
Sounds like fun. myboysnme and@crystalb you both got a bunch of layouts done. Way to go. |
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Post by myboysnme on Jun 26, 2017 16:50:33 GMT
myboysnme It was great seeing you again! I had my headphones on because as sweet as the lady that sat next to me was (I didn't know her) she would not quit talking about lyme disease. She was a doll and very nice getting to know but I needed to get in my zone so headphones it was. Also for some reason on Saturday I had a really hard time getting back there so that was my way of calming down. I ended up getting 30 pages done so that was nice! I felt like the crop kits were VERY small compared to last year. I was also quite surprised that neither Friday or Saturday the crop was even close to selling out, there were TONS of empty tables, tables with only one person or two people. As for vendors I agree, a TON of stamps and die vendors. I was able to pass on a LOT of them for that reason but I still put a pretty dent in my wallet with other things. I found a vendor with OA things for a buck and stocked up on labels and letters. Then another with some Bella on clearance As for new/fresh product Nicole P was the only one but her prices were higher than online the line was always long so I passed. I did do some damage at Queen & co though. I wish you had come to sit at the next table because a lady we know was sitting there by herself between you and us. Next year we will make better connections because I thought the lady was your friend that had showed up. I got handslapped on the SBE facebook page by someone when I said they could give out more prizes instead of one big wagon full of stuff to one person. I paid over $500 at that convention so I do get to have an opinion. I've been around NSBR too long haha! Page kits were bad this year and I got first pick because I registered very early. I know people love to tell the convention/expo staff how hard they worked and how nice they all were. Hey, that's their J.O.B. They are giving away nothing. We who attend are paying for all of it and them to provide a good experience. |
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Post by scrapcat on Jun 26, 2017 18:41:58 GMT
Thanks for the review! I'm getting ready to register for the Edison, NJ one. I am mainly just looking forward to the time spent scrapping.
I decided to go to the Mega Make & Take on Thursday night this year and stay over for the crop, so we'll see how that goes. I'm not so much interested in the make & takes as much as just getting in a creative groove, so I can accomplish a lot on Friday.
We'll see...
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Post by crystalb on Jun 26, 2017 19:14:07 GMT
myboysnme It was great seeing you again! I had my headphones on because as sweet as the lady that sat next to me was (I didn't know her) she would not quit talking about lyme disease. She was a doll and very nice getting to know but I needed to get in my zone so headphones it was. Also for some reason on Saturday I had a really hard time getting back there so that was my way of calming down. I ended up getting 30 pages done so that was nice! I felt like the crop kits were VERY small compared to last year. I was also quite surprised that neither Friday or Saturday the crop was even close to selling out, there were TONS of empty tables, tables with only one person or two people. As for vendors I agree, a TON of stamps and die vendors. I was able to pass on a LOT of them for that reason but I still put a pretty dent in my wallet with other things. I found a vendor with OA things for a buck and stocked up on labels and letters. Then another with some Bella on clearance As for new/fresh product Nicole P was the only one but her prices were higher than online the line was always long so I passed. I did do some damage at Queen & co though. I wish you had come to sit at the next table because a lady we know was sitting there by herself between you and us. Next year we will make better connections because I thought the lady was your friend that had showed up. I got handslapped on the SBE facebook page by someone when I said they could give out more prizes instead of one big wagon full of stuff to one person. I paid over $500 at that convention so I do get to have an opinion. I've been around NSBR too long haha! Page kits were bad this year and I got first pick because I registered very early. I know people love to tell the convention/expo staff how hard they worked and how nice they all were. Hey, that's their J.O.B. They are giving away nothing. We who attend are paying for all of it and them to provide a good experience. I too got first pick, I registered the day they opened. My kit had THREE pieces of paper and one pack of embellishments, seriously. When I went to will call I got a bag, nothing in it. Was that normal? I was not even offered a book with all the coupons but that is ok. My focus was getting in the groove and proving to myself I could do it, as silly as that is. Save |
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Post by craftmepink on Jun 26, 2017 22:22:41 GMT
Thanks for the review! Stamps and dies, I should have went!
I was going to go to the Chantilly one over the weekend but then I decided not to because I had just bought a bunch of stampin up products. I didn't need to buy anything else.
I've always wanted to go to those type of events, also to meet other crafty people since most people I know in real life don't craft.
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cbscrapper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,402
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Post by cbscrapper on Jun 27, 2017 0:12:36 GMT
I wish you had come to sit at the next table because a lady we know was sitting there by herself between you and us. Next year we will make better connections because I thought the lady was your friend that had showed up. I got handslapped on the SBE facebook page by someone when I said they could give out more prizes instead of one big wagon full of stuff to one person. I paid over $500 at that convention so I do get to have an opinion. I've been around NSBR too long haha! Page kits were bad this year and I got first pick because I registered very early. I know people love to tell the convention/expo staff how hard they worked and how nice they all were. Hey, that's their J.O.B. They are giving away nothing. We who attend are paying for all of it and them to provide a good experience. I too got first pick, I registered the day they opened. My kit had THREE pieces of paper and one pack of embellishments, seriously. When I went to will call I got a bag, nothing in it. Was that normal? I was not even offered a book with all the coupons but that is ok. My focus was getting in the groove and proving to myself I could do it, as silly as that is. SaveI wondered how the crop kits would be. When I signed up for one coming up, I was disappointed in the selection and my perceived lack of value for the kits that are advertised as a $20 value. 3 pieces of paper and some embellies is NOT a $20 value! I hope the ones I picked have more. I did pick some with sone Elle's Studio products, so I'm excited to get that. |
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