Scrapbooking Careers
In the last several years, scrapbooking has taken on a new life. No longer are these albums simply photos and labels or a couple of prom tickets taped to a page. Now they are elaborately styled memory books with fancy embellishments and features. Some people consider scrapbooking an art form, and when you look at some of these pages, you might agree.
Scrapbooking has blossomed into a billion dollar business. In fact, the latest figures reveal that it's now a $2.55 billion per year business - and that's only in the U.S. Worldwide estimates put the industry at $5 billion.
Event Organizer
There are retreats, crops, getaways, cruises, conventions, and more being held every single weekend now! Scrapbookers love to connect, and you can help provide the connection. If you're well-organized and can put together the kind of event that will generate excellent word-of-mouth, an event planning company could be a profitable venture for you.
While this is along the same lines as teaching a class, events are meant to be all day affairs – even multiple day affairs.
One website we've found gives an account of her "Scrap Camp" that she hosts where a camping experience combines with scrapbooking to provide attendees with not only a getaway, but a way to talk and interact with other scrapbookers and get ideas from each other.
Just like the classes, you'll need to set a price and decide whether or not supplies are included in the price. Obviously, the cost is going to be a bit higher, if you include supplies, but most attendees expect that.
Concentrate a multiple day event on putting together an entire scrapbook. Encourage your students to bring along as many pictures as they can find and then show them how to organize them into beautiful layouts.
This CBS News article points out that an event might require you to spend more one-on-one time with those attending, but personal service could be the difference between you and your competition. Contact scrapbooking suppliers and let them know about your event. See if they would be willing to donate supplies in exchange for liberal advertising at your event. You might be surprised at how many companies would be happy to sponsor T-shirts, flyers, and even supplies. This is especially true if you really play up your event and have great attendance.
If you can find a company willing to donate toward your event, you want to keep them on your valuable contacts list. The best way to do this is to send a followup after the event is over to show how successful your event and their products were.
You can do this in many ways. We would suggest having all participants sign an over-sized card with personal comments and include pictures of that company's products being used. They'll surely appreciate the advertising and are more likely to sponsor one of your other events further down the road. The best part about scrapbooking events is that you can plan other activities to go along with classes to enhance the experience. After all, you really don't want to spend 12 hours doing nothing but scrapbooking, do you? It would seem too much like work.
Even though scrapbooking is the main reason for the event, networking, sharing ideas, and making friends is also important. This is an excellent way to promote scrapbooking in your community and share your love of the hobby.
Product Designer/Manufacturer
Many scrapbooking products were designed by scrapbook enthusiasts, who saw the need for a product and filled it. Product designers can either license their idea to a larger manufacturer or take the plunge and start their own company!
Success stories abound in this industry about people who went from an idea to a multi-product corporation. And if you're the next success story, prepare for profits! Of course, going it alone also means an investment of time and money, so be sure you have both before starting your company.
What types of qualities does a product designer need? Above all, creativity is the best thing you can offer. Perhaps you've come up with an excellent new die cut. How about inventing a new pair of decorative scissors? When you're a product designer, literally anything is possible.
You need to find a niche that hasn't been filled. Then do product research. See if your idea is feasible and what kind of investment you'll need to make in order to bring it to reality.
Use the library or Internet to locate information about your product. While conducting your research, you'll notice that products with a good reputation or success story are easily located. That's because companies who've had success with a product are not afraid to boast about it.
Rely on your experience. All great success stories begin with a person that has knowledge or a great interest in the product they're selling. Is the product interesting to you? Will you use it on a continuing basis? What is the life expectancy of the product? Do you know people that are familiar with the product?
Contact a scrapbook supplier and tell them about your idea. See if they think it has marketable potential. A word of caution here – don't be too specific about your new idea. You don't want to risk someone "honing in" on your new invention.
However, an informed opinion about the product's potential in the marketplace is possible after you have gathered all the information possible. All you really need to know now is if there is a real need for this product in the marketplace so do not rush into making a decision prior to bringing all of your tools to bear analyzing the item.
Scrapbooking has blossomed into a billion dollar business. In fact, the latest figures reveal that it's now a $2.55 billion per year business - and that's only in the U.S. Worldwide estimates put the industry at $5 billion.
Event Organizer
There are retreats, crops, getaways, cruises, conventions, and more being held every single weekend now! Scrapbookers love to connect, and you can help provide the connection. If you're well-organized and can put together the kind of event that will generate excellent word-of-mouth, an event planning company could be a profitable venture for you.
While this is along the same lines as teaching a class, events are meant to be all day affairs – even multiple day affairs.
One website we've found gives an account of her "Scrap Camp" that she hosts where a camping experience combines with scrapbooking to provide attendees with not only a getaway, but a way to talk and interact with other scrapbookers and get ideas from each other.
Just like the classes, you'll need to set a price and decide whether or not supplies are included in the price. Obviously, the cost is going to be a bit higher, if you include supplies, but most attendees expect that.
Concentrate a multiple day event on putting together an entire scrapbook. Encourage your students to bring along as many pictures as they can find and then show them how to organize them into beautiful layouts.
This CBS News article points out that an event might require you to spend more one-on-one time with those attending, but personal service could be the difference between you and your competition. Contact scrapbooking suppliers and let them know about your event. See if they would be willing to donate supplies in exchange for liberal advertising at your event. You might be surprised at how many companies would be happy to sponsor T-shirts, flyers, and even supplies. This is especially true if you really play up your event and have great attendance.
If you can find a company willing to donate toward your event, you want to keep them on your valuable contacts list. The best way to do this is to send a followup after the event is over to show how successful your event and their products were.
You can do this in many ways. We would suggest having all participants sign an over-sized card with personal comments and include pictures of that company's products being used. They'll surely appreciate the advertising and are more likely to sponsor one of your other events further down the road. The best part about scrapbooking events is that you can plan other activities to go along with classes to enhance the experience. After all, you really don't want to spend 12 hours doing nothing but scrapbooking, do you? It would seem too much like work.
Even though scrapbooking is the main reason for the event, networking, sharing ideas, and making friends is also important. This is an excellent way to promote scrapbooking in your community and share your love of the hobby.
Product Designer/Manufacturer
Many scrapbooking products were designed by scrapbook enthusiasts, who saw the need for a product and filled it. Product designers can either license their idea to a larger manufacturer or take the plunge and start their own company!
Success stories abound in this industry about people who went from an idea to a multi-product corporation. And if you're the next success story, prepare for profits! Of course, going it alone also means an investment of time and money, so be sure you have both before starting your company.
What types of qualities does a product designer need? Above all, creativity is the best thing you can offer. Perhaps you've come up with an excellent new die cut. How about inventing a new pair of decorative scissors? When you're a product designer, literally anything is possible.
You need to find a niche that hasn't been filled. Then do product research. See if your idea is feasible and what kind of investment you'll need to make in order to bring it to reality.
Use the library or Internet to locate information about your product. While conducting your research, you'll notice that products with a good reputation or success story are easily located. That's because companies who've had success with a product are not afraid to boast about it.
Rely on your experience. All great success stories begin with a person that has knowledge or a great interest in the product they're selling. Is the product interesting to you? Will you use it on a continuing basis? What is the life expectancy of the product? Do you know people that are familiar with the product?
Contact a scrapbook supplier and tell them about your idea. See if they think it has marketable potential. A word of caution here – don't be too specific about your new idea. You don't want to risk someone "honing in" on your new invention.
However, an informed opinion about the product's potential in the marketplace is possible after you have gathered all the information possible. All you really need to know now is if there is a real need for this product in the marketplace so do not rush into making a decision prior to bringing all of your tools to bear analyzing the item.