ScrapBiz -- News

Providing our MEMBERS with the resources and support they need to succeed in the SCRAPBOOK INDUSTRY
SINCE 2002.

I couldn't do this without Scrapbiz. I love meeting everyone at the shows. And so many of you have helped me out - and still are, it's wonderful to have this place to come to for support and so much more!

ScrapBiz News Where Business and Creativity Connect

Scrapbook Business Brings Digital Offerings to RetailersScrapBiz Announces New PhotoBookBiz Program

(EVERETT, WA. August 22, 2008) Professionally printed photo books are quickly becoming the scrapbooks of the 21st century. According to current research from the Photo Marketing Association, the photo book industry is expected to top $350 million by the end of 2008 with nearly 10% of U.S. households having made at least one book.

For the past six years, Everett, WA based ScrapBiz.com has helped entrepreneurial scrapbook enthusiasts set up their own businesses selling traditional paper, embellishments and kits for the "hands-on" approach to scrapbooking. Now ScrapBiz is offering members the ability to profit from photo books in addition to their traditional offerings through a new PhotoBookBiz Program.

"The scrapbook industry has changed rapidly in the last five years," said Kim Guymon, industry consultant and founder of ScrapBiz. "Digital scrapbooking and photo books have become very popular ways to preserve your memories. The majority of scrapbookers have digital cameras and for some of them, it makes more sense to print a photo book rather than individual photos. Retailers in the traditional scrapbook industry have struggled to figure out how to capitalize on this trend. The PhotoBookBiz Program is that answer to that question.

The wholesale Photobook Biz program is offered by ScrapBiz and supported by Visan Industries, the creators of Rocket Life. Visan provides the creative software plug-in, product printing and fulfillment while ScrapBiz provides the business support and marketing materials.

Retailers can offer their customers photo products such as mugs, calendars, cards and collages in addition to the photo books. "The plug-in or creative platform used to make these products is very user friendly yet innovative," said Guymon. "Visan's exclusive 'Smart Arrangement Technology' makes creating a beautiful product or book easy for anyone who knows how to click and drag."

Currently, the program is only available to ScrapBiz members but will be launched this October to all retailers in the scrapbook industry. Interested retailers may sign up at ScrapBiz.com to receive more information on the program.

ScrapBiz Now Open to Established BusinessesScrapBiz now offers member support program to those with established businesses

Starting May 7, 2007, ScrapBiz will be offering membership to the ScrapBiz Member Support program to home-based scrapbook business owners with already established businesses. All the resources, vendor relationships and support will now be available to any scrapbook retail business who can meet the requirements of an established scrapbook business. Click HERE to view requirements.

"Running a business on your own can be lonely," says ScrapBiz founder, Kim Guymon. "We wanted to open up our resources and support current businesses as we have been doing for start ups for the last 5 years. Every business owner can benefit from sound business support" she adds.

Established businesses are not required to purchase the Start-Up Guide but will have access to the same support services as new businesses. For more information about the ScrapBiz Member Support Program, please click HERE

ScrapBiz Business Members Celebrate National Scrapbooking Dayby Giving Scrapbookers Their "Just Desserts"

Weight-conscious Scrappers may want to ditch the calorie counters the first week in May as ScrapBiz Members celebrate both "National Scrapbook Day" and "Eat Dessert First Week". Independent Scrapbook businesses who are part of the ScrapBiz Business network will be sponsoring a variety of activities during the 1st Annual "Sweet Memories Event"

"Sweet Memories" is sponsored by Seattle-based ScrapBiz (www.ScrapBiz.com), which offers independent scrapbook businesses a variety of consulting, training and support services.

Once the domain of sentimental grandmothers equipped with Elmer's Glue, family snapshots and blank albums, scrapbooking has become one of America's hottest hobbies. Nationwide, scrapbooking has grown from a $1.5 billion industry in 2001 to more than $2.5 billion and growing, according to the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA).

"This celebration may seem like light news (except for the desserts)," says ScrapBiz founder Kim Guymon, "but 'Sweet Memories' highlights the importance of preserving our memories. Our members and their customers are helping to preserve and interpret family histories in ways that are more appealing to the younger generation. Every scrapper is an individual History Channel."

For more information about the "Sweet Memories Event" or ScrapBiz, visit www.ScrapBiz.com, or contact Kim Guymon at Kim@ScrapBiz.com.

Scrapbook Boom Feeds Need for Paper, Scissors ... And Small Business CoachingScrapBiz aims to create armies of independent entrepreneurs

Once the preserve of sentimental grandmothers equipped with Elmer's Glue, family snapshots and blank albums, scrapbooking has become one of America 's hottest hobbies. Fueled by Baby Boomers determined to marry quality graphics design with their archival talents, the scrapbooking business grew from $1.5 billion in 2001 to $2.5 billion in 2003, according to the Hobby Industry Association.

But many scrapbooking enthusiasts (known as "croppers") want more than acid-free paper, scissors and software. Increasingly, they are hiring consultants to help improve "product quality" – and are even launching their own home-based businesses.

Training would-be entrepreneurs to launch their own firms has spawned a new growth industry, and no company is more innovative than ScrapBiz – a fledgling venture headquartered near Seattle . Unlike its competitors, who offer discounted supplies and/or commissions for sales made at Tupperware-style parties, ScrapBiz aims to create armies of independent entrepreneurs by giving women the tools needed to succeed.

For just $99, ScrapBiz provides a Business Start-up Guide that features detailed information on everything from wholesale distributors and license requirements to management, marketing and financial models. For an extra $25 a quarter, ScrapBiz offers membership in its Member Support Program, which includes: special negotiated terms with (and periodic reviews of) wholesalers and other vendors, news about industry trends, and an online forum for exchanging tips and information.

"ScrapBiz was born of my frustration with multi-level direct sales companies in the scrapbook world," says 38-year-old founder Kim Guymon. "Few offer any real business support; they just want to sell their consultants as many products as possible. I decided to create a company for women with an entrepreneurial spirit – women who possess the talent to run a scrapbook business, but who lack large sums of money or business experience."

ScrapBiz recently celebrated the acquisition of its 250 th member, "meaning we've helped launch 250 woman-owned businesses," and it plans to revise its Start-up Guide to include a wider variety of marketing and sales models.

"We have some very successful members who are becoming known regionally and even nationally," she says. "Some offer large regional crops, some teach workshops in private homes and others have founded bricks & mortar stores. The biggest obstacle to starting a business is inaction, but there's not much we can do about that. As Will Rogers once said, 'Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.'"

For more information, visit www.ScrapBiz.com or contact Kim Guymon Kim@ScrapBiz.com