There is a lot of talk going on in the industry right now about the direction that scrapbooking needs to move. There is one camp that feels that the industry should stay the course and keep marketing to crafters only as it is only a craft and there is another camp that feels that in addition to this, scrapbooking should be marketed to anyone who takes a photo because scrapbooking starts with a photo and is about connecting a photo with a memory or moment whether that is done in a regular scrapbook, a photo album, digitally, in a video or many other forms. (guess which camp I'm in :) yup, the craft AND photo camp! ) It is causing retailers and manufacturers to look towards the future and evaluate their business and plans for the future. Scary stuff for many, but very necessary. Change is always scary.
I'd love to know what you think scrapbooking is. Do you think it is just about the craft or that it starts with a photo and needs to become more inclusive to include women who are noncrafters and even men?
Michele
...it starts with a photo and needs to become more inclusive to include women who are noncrafters and even men...
I completely agree with this part. This would have everyone included and not just be a "creative" hobby or craft.
Posted by: Tracie | September 21, 2007 at 09:26 AM
For me, if scrapbooking was just a craft, then I probably wouldn't be doing it at all, or only very little, and feeling guilty about spending the time and money on it. It was the the real life connection, historical value, and a new perspective on making and preserving memories, which drew me in and gave it a solid and important place in my life. (mostly due to Michele's "brainwashing" oops, did I say that, I meant "enlightening" :).
Kudos to PE for making the logical connection between being a photo centre, and a scrapbooking mecca, and being genuinly dedicated to all it stands for, including its community involvment and very personalized service. That's tough to duplicate. Other craft/stamp/scrapbook sotres have lots of product and few customers - because their mix is wrong. Whichever direction scrapbooking goes to, I'm sure PE will be at the forefront if not way ahead.
Posted by: Dorota | September 21, 2007 at 11:54 PM
Wow, thanks for the wonderful compliments Dorota! And you have hit the nail on the head exactly. I feel it is about so much more than just a craft (though that part is fun)and am always stressing to people that they need to "just do it" in no matter what form - plain, simple, fancy, paper, digital - whichever form works for them.
Posted by: Michele | September 22, 2007 at 11:07 AM
I think so too Tracie.
Posted by: Michele | September 22, 2007 at 11:08 AM
I'm w/you Michelle. I started Scrapping way back in '98 because I had had too many close calls and wanted my boys to have something to remember me by IF something did happen. Thankfully I'm still here all these years later...and the Crafting part of it has been a really nice part of it...especially the collecting, LOL!!! But it's not what I really started doing it for.
Posted by: Candy Norman | September 22, 2007 at 12:49 PM
And we are so glad you are still here! I think that letting the world and our families know that we were here and what our life was like is so important. Too many people get caught up in trying to get "caught up". There is no such place! We need to enjoy scrapbooking and just do it - 50 years from now they won't care what technique we used or paper we used. They will care about the photo and the story. (And yes, I like to collect too!)
Posted by: Michele | September 22, 2007 at 11:22 PM