Our 50th Planner Sale
Fifty is Fabulous! We are thrilled that we just published our 50th monthly edition of Class in a Flash! Woo Hoo! We couldn’t have reached this milestone without all the support and feedback you have given us.Thank you! To show our appreciation, we are having a Fabulous Fifty sale this week only, starting Monday. Yes, that means 50% off a selection of our fabulous class planners!
Clearance Bin Blowout:
All Class in a Flash and Club in a Flash planners in our Clearance Bin are on sale for 50% off until Friday the 24th! After 50 editions it’s time for some spring cleaning. This is a great opportunity for you to get your hands on these planners before we say goodbye to some of them for good. Planners in the Clearance Bin feature retired paper, embellishments, and/or stamps. Of course, you can easily re-create many of these designs with different paper and stamps, so we think you’ll like the extra bargain! DISCOUNT WILL BE APPLIED IN THE SHOPPING CART.
Daily Deals: Each day a featured class planner will be 50% off! You’ll find these one-day-only deals Monday the 20th through Friday the 24th. We specially selected favorite classes and classes that will help you feature the Simply Adorned and Décor Elements product lines before they retire. For the first time ever we are even including the Technique Club Club in a Flash planner as one of our sale items! Watch Facebook, Twitter and/or sign-up below to get notified of special offer planner each day.
Plan to visit our store each day so you don’t miss any of these Fabulous Fifty deals! Sign up now for a daily reminder.
Thank you again for helping us reach this fabulous milestone!
Tips for Class Organization
Ideas and tips for organizing your classes. If you are offering classes to groups of 6 or more consider these options to keep the class moving efficiently. As with most classes having more than one of commonly used supplies will help speed things along. Here are some options to consider:
- Offer a Product Based class with the featured stamp set or tool. Product Based class are a good option to increase your sales, keep classes flowing smoothly, and encourage your customers to use new products.
- Consider a special offer to entice people to bring a buddy. Perhaps a “Half price for the second person” special and have them share the any products you include in a product based class.
- Consider setting up stations to make sharing supplies easier. For the easiest flow set up stations with supplies and materials separated out according to their use. For example:
|
Station |
Purpose |
|
Stamping |
Works well for projects that use the same stamps or ink pads. Customers can stamp at one station and then move to another station for other steps and assembly. |
|
Heat Embossing/ Glitter |
Having a station for messy supplies or supplies, like the Heat Tool, that require electricity can help a class run smoothly and reduce the risk of making a mess. |
|
Big Shot/ Special Tools |
Larger tools that need more space or items that you only have one of are ideal candidates for a station. |
|
Punching |
If you are using the same punch on multiple projects a station is an ideal way to share. Or consider including the frequently used punch as the featured item in a product based class. |
|
Assembly |
While standing may work well for other stations you probably want a more comfortable set-up for customers when they are assembling projects. This station should be set-up with basic supplies like Bone Folders, Paper Snips, SNAIL, Mini Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Stampin’ Dimensionals, ribbon, and other embellishments. |
- Another idea is to stagger the start times. Customers begin and move through the stations as described above based on when they arrive. This works well if you have large groups, late starters, and customers who want to make several sets.
- Save time prepping for your class by providing randomly sized scrap pieces of card stock for punching, rather than cutting pieces to sizes shown in the supply list.
- To save time during the class consider pre-cutting, pre-die cutting, or pre-punching some parts of the project. This option will help free up any delays in having people use larger tools or items that you only have one of.
Tips for Product Based Classes
Product based classes are classes where a customer pays a higher class fee and receives a product or products that they will take home with them in addition to the project that they make in the class.
3 Reasons to Offer Product Based Classes:
- Get products in your customers’ hands (active stampers purchase more)
- Increase sales (increase your Instant Income, Volume Rebates, Great Rewards, etc.)
- Reduce costs by using Hostess Benefits (product you don’t pay for helps you profit)
Do you want to offer product based classes? Product based classes are a great way to introduce customers to new products and increase sales at classes, where getting sales can be more difficult. The most successful product based classes include products that are new and that you are featuring in your class. When deciding what products to offer as part of a product based class consider using the products in the “Featured Products” section located at the end of the Demonstrator Planner.
Understanding how to price a product based classes is important, and there are many different ways to present it to customers.
- Some demonstrators require a product purchase with the class by making it all one cost to the customer.
- “Join me for the Spotlight on Style class and for only $X you’ll make four gorgeous cards and a coordinating box, plus go home with the beautiful Elements of Style stamp set!”
- Others offer the product as an add-on, usually at a discount. If offering the product as an option you could sell the product at full price, offer the product at a discount with a class, or charge less for the class if customers purchase the product.
- “Join me for the Spotlight on Style class, and if you order the featured stamp set when you RSVP, you’ll receive a special 20% discount on the stamp set!”
- “Join me for the Spotlight on Style class, and if you order the featured stamp set when you RSVP, you’ll receive $X off the class fee!”
No matter which way you offer product based classes, you need to understand what your cost for both the class and the products are. Your class costs are detailed for you in the “Cost Analysis” section of the Demonstrator Planner in each Class in a Flash publication.
The example below shows two different options for offering a product based class.
- Option A – shows a stamp set as an option of single product with a mid-price range.
- Option B – shows two coordinating products as a higher price range.
Notice the catalog price for the Elements of Style stamp set is $27.95 US before shipping and tax. The cost of $25.16 US shows how much it costs after your Instant Income discount and shipping costs are included. Don’t forget to include tax, if applicable. The tables below also show the price and cost of selling 10 of the item. When you order products for product based classes you can use the Hostess Benefits and potential Volume Rebates to decrease your cost of doing business and increase your profits. Remember to keep these important things to keep in mind when you are deciding how you will offer and price product based classes.
Class Option A (U.S.)
|
Product |
Item # |
Price/ person |
Price for 10 |
Cost/ person |
Cost for 10 |
| Elements of Style |
118611 |
$ 27.95 | $ 279.50 | $ 25.16 | $ 251.55 |
|
Totals |
$ 27.95 | $ 279.50 | $ 25.16 | $ 251.55 |
*The U. S. Cost analysis is made with the following assumptions. Shipping is 10%, and Instant Income is 20%. Tax is not included.
Class Option A (Canada)
|
Product |
Item # |
Price/ person |
Price for 10 |
Cost/ person |
Cost for 10 |
| Elements of Style |
118611 |
$ 33.95 | $ 339.50 | $ 30.56 | $ 305.55 |
|
Totals |
$ 33.95 | $ 339.50 | $ 30.56 | $ 305.55 |
*The Canadian Cost Analysis in this document is made with the following assumptions. Shipping is 10%, and Instant Income is 20%. Tax is not included.
Class Option B (U.S.)
|
Product |
Item # |
Price/ person |
Price for 10 |
Cost/ person |
Cost for 10 |
| Circle Scissors Plus |
112530 |
$ 29.95 | $ 299.50 | $ 26.96 | $ 269.55 |
| Glass Mat |
112531 |
$ 19.95 | $ 199.50 | $ 17.96 | $ 179.55 |
|
Totals |
$ 49.90 | $ 499.00 | $ 44.91 | $ 449.10 |
*The U. S. Cost analysis is made with the following assumptions. Shipping is 10%, and Instant Income is 20%. Tax is not included.
Class Option B (Canada)
|
Product |
Item # |
Price/ person |
Price for 10 |
Cost/ person |
Cost for 10 |
| Circle Scissors Plus |
112530 |
$ 39.95 | $ 399.50 | $ 35.96 | $ 359.55 |
| Glass Mat |
112531 |
$ 28.95 | $ 289.50 | $ 26.06 | $ 260.55 |
|
Totals |
$ 68.90 | $ 689.00 | $ 62.01 | $ 620.10 |
*The Canadian Cost Analysis in this document is made with the following assumptions. Shipping is 10%, and Instant Income is 20%. Tax is not included.
Blog Resource for Facebook
We have a wonderful resource in our Class in a Flash Class Planners called the Blog Resource Text file. It includes everything you need to market your class and highlighted products on DBWS, blogs and yes even on Facebook. In this video below, we show you how easy it is to publish content on your Facebook page via the Wall and Notes.
If you run into any display issues, click here ==> CIAF Blog Resource for Facebook
Review of 2011
Review of 2011 for a Sane and Successful 2012
2012 is almost here! The New Year is a good time to look at new ways of doing business. But before you look forward, it is good to take a look back. Look at what areas of your business are most successful. Ask yourself questions about what is and isn’t working well for you. What classes get the best attendance? What new product lines do you want to feature?
We do this type of review for Class in a Flash twice a year, at Convention and at Leadership. We usually start out with a sinful dinner and then grab a couple cups of coffee while we look over our sales data and feedback we’ve received from you. Then we plan our future class planers and Club in a Flash projects based on that information. Sometimes we are really surprised by what we find! Some of the things we think will be most popular are and some aren’t. Sometimes the popularity of a planner will surprise us, like our 6 Ways to Watercolor class, which has quickly become one of our top sellers. What we’ve learned over the last four years (yes, we are celebrating 4 years this month!) is that if we take the time to look at what is working, we can make our services better for you. You can use the same type of review to make your business better for you and your customers.
What we look at:
1. What have we offered? We look at what types of classes we did in the last year and make a list. We list if they were card projects, scrapbooking, décor, Big Shot, etc.
==> You can do this by looking back through your schedule, calendar, newsletters, and/or blog entries to make a list of what classes and clubs you offered.
2. How successful or popular where those classes and Clubs? We pull sales reports and look at the financial side. (Amy’s least favorite part, thank goodness Debbie is so organized!) We also look at feedback we’ve received from you.
==> You can do this using your accounting software, bank statements, or by looking back over your calendar and email to see what type of response you received. Are your scrapbooking classes always full, but card classes need more attendance? Or do you fill-up your classes and need to add more to your calendar? Are certain clubs needing a facelift?
3. What should we offer going forward? Based on the sales data and feedback we start planning the types of classes we will offer. Since card classes are some of our most popular classes we plan more of those into our schedule. We also look at things like holidays or events such as National Scrapbooking Month and plan projects accordingly.
==> You can use the information about what works best for your schedule and your customers’ interests to make a plan for the year. If something is working really well do you want to add a second class or group? If something isn’t working, maybe it is time to change the format or replace it with something else. If a year seems too daunting try making a plan for 6 months first.
Once you know what is working for you and what isn’t then you can decide how you want to move forward. If card classes are really popular you may decide you want to add another one each month. If you haven’t done scrapbooking, maybe add it to your schedule. If your customers really like the techniques you teach at card classes maybe it is time to add a Technique Club. Maybe your schedule of classes is good, but you need to reduce the time you spend planning or have a better idea of what your classes will cost.
That is where we can help! Because we know that variety and options are good for business we have lots of class and club planners that will help you save time and sanity for 2012. Below is a list of resources from Class in a Flash for any type of class or club you want to offer.
• Scrapbooking Class/Club
o Scrapbooking Club – Volume 1
o Or visit our Clearance Bin for a variety of scrapbook projects you can re-create with current products: Year in Review, Always Accordion Album, Scrapbooking in the Box, Baby Scrapbook Album, and Brag Book.
• Card Class/Club
o Easy Events Stamp-a-Stack
o Mocha Monogram Purse Set
o Spotlight on Style
o and many more, some with 3-D items like purses and some that are only cards
• Technique Class/Club
o Technique Club (Volumes 1-4)
o Bow Boutique
o 7 Watercolor Wonders
o 6 Ways to Watercolor
• Décor & Gifts
o Sweet Centers Card Treats
o Handmade Holiday Gifts
o There are even more ideas for décor and gift projects in our Clearance Bin
• Big Shot
o Holiday Stocking Club
o More ideas for Big Shot projects in our Clearance Bin
o We’ve received a number of requests for a Big Shot Technique Club planner. Let us know if that is something you’d be interested in!
We hope that sharing our planning process will help you plan for a sane and successful 2012! Thank you for all your support for the last 4 years and the years to come!
Class Time Specials
Creating a sense of urgency is critical in moving customers to action…that is getting them to make the purchase now! One way to create a sense of urgency is to offer a special that a customer can only get when attending a certain event. Here are some options to offer:
- Customers attending this class can receive a free gift with the purchase of a bundle of products featured in the class. Free gifts like a yard of ribbon, assortment of embellishments or split packs of Designer Series Paper are a great way to feature products, promote sales and help you by increasing your sales.
- Customers who purchase the bundle of featured products receive the Detailed Customer Instructions document free by email.
- Offer $5 off the class fee with an order over $75 placed during the class.
The key is the limited time to get customers to commit to a purchase now, so be sure the special offer only available during the class.
Ways to Get More Value
Below are a list of some of the ways you can get extra value from your Class in a Flash planners by using the projects to show appreciation to hostess and customers, save time planning workshops, and marketing your business. Below are some ideas to try:
Customers & Hostesses
- When a workshop order arrives, include a couple cards or a project from the planner as a thank you gift to your hostess.
- Include a thank you card using a design from the planner in with your customers’ orders. This fast and inexpensive touch will make a big impression.
- Write a quick thank you on a sticky note inside a card from the planner and leave the card blank for your customer or hostess to re-use. Of course, your personalized stamp should be on the back of the card so whoever receives it has the chance to contact you. Customers will appreciate your thoughtfulness and top-notch customer service is great word-of-mouth advertisement for you!
- Give hostesses and club members the Tutorials as a thank you gift.
- Hold hostess or customer appreciation events where hostesses or customers can make projects from the planner.
- Consider bundling several products from this class. Then offer the Customer Instructions, or Customer Instructions Summary document as a bonus gift with purchase of the bundle. You encourage sales and your customers get inspiration for their new products.
- Use this class as a springboard for other classes where customers can create handmade cards to have on hand and to give as gifts.
- Offer a morning and afternoon session of the class, customers that want to make a couple sets can attend both sessions or offer a kit to-go for customers attending the class that want to make additional sets.
Workshops
- Display the projects at your next workshop or class as an advertisement for your upcoming class. Also use them as a conversation piece about the fun and versatility of stamping. This helps show the value and possibilities of the great Stampin’ Up! products.
- Use the cards, projects, or Customer Instructions document as a booking bonus.
- During a workshop, demonstrate a project or technique from the planner.
- Use a card or small project as your Make n’ Take project.
- Show the full set, and then give it or a few cards from the set to your hostess as a thank you. This is a great opportunity to invite the people at the workshop to join one of your clubs or schedule a class with you.
Marketing
- Use the information in the “Products Highlighted” section as informative blog content with a call to action. Link to the product so customers can shop from your blog or DBWS easily.
- More informative content for blogging is available in the Blog Text (TXT) file.
- Give customers that purchase a bundle of products the Tutorial. The Tutorial is available as separate PDF file for your convenience.
What Will You Make Challenge
Do you share your creative gift? It is easy to overlook the fact that gift giving is a great opportunity to share what you love. Handmade gifts are the perfect way to give your friends and family unique and thoughtful gifts, shop from your own store, and showcase more ways people can use and love Stampin’ Up! products in everyday life.
Each year Amy makes 12 calendars for grandparents, aunts and uncles. It has become a tradition. Previously the calendars were individually hand stamped, but the last couple years using MDS it has been so much faster to make the 12 copies of the custom calendar! This year Debbie is giving aprons made from the beautiful Designer Fabrics. She is using several different sets of Designer Fabric so the aprons fit each person’s style. We are both giving our favorite bakers and families with kids the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps! They make a fun, useful and affordable gift that our friends and family will enjoy throughout the seasons and years.
This month’s Tip of the Month is Holiday Gifts. We hope you find this tip helpful in making the best use of the Class in a Flash product.
Leave a comment about what you will be making for gifts this year and we will choose one random winner on October 9th to receive our Handmade Holiday Gifts Class Planner.
Holiday Class Planners
Whew! We just responded to several questions about what are plans are for this coming Holiday Season in regards to our planners so I thought I would share it here for you. We understand that many of you appreciate the ease and affordability we offer with our planners for making your holiday sales and planning hassle-free. In fact, one person wrote today that she could buy a class planner from us so much cheaper than her doing it herself. This holiday season you want to work smarter, not harder right?
We routinely share our upcoming plans with our valued Class in a Flash members (monthly & 6-month). It’s one of the perks of membership! And we will continue to send our members sneak peeks when they are ready. For planning purposes, here’s what we are working on.
We are offering (2) Class in a Flash Card Sets and (1) Club in a Flash Holiday Set.
Aug 10 we released a fabulous card set that offers 8 cards, 4 mini notes and 4 tags all contained in a card folder using the Quick Accents from the Idea Book & Catalog. This is flying off the shelves at our store. It’s perfect for new stampers, people who want to create a lot of cards, quickly, fabulous gift and a great introduction to the new Simply Scored product. Yes, we try to cover all the bases.
Sept 10 we will be releasing an over-the-top card set using the Christmas Lodge set and coordinating designer series paper from the Holiday Mini. This class if geared for the more experienced stampers who want their holiday cards to be special and unique.
Sept 15 we will be releasing a Club in a Flash set. For more details about our Club in a Flash line, visit ClassinaFlash.com. This set will contain both cards and 3D projects using both the Stitched Stockings stamp set and matching punch and the Bigz L Die Holiday Stocking. You can use the ideas for workshops, clubs or stamp camps. Use just the stamp set if you like or just the die, it will be flexible. If you haven’t invested in a Big Shot yet, you can still share ideas and sell it using our planner. How cool is that?
So that’s our story and we are sticking to it! We will be providing more details when they become available to our Members. Now is a great time to become a 6-month subscriber.
Scrapbook Club Formats
With the new release of our Scrapbook Club, we (Debbie, Amanda, and Amy) each have different ways that the card-to-scrapbook page format works best for us. Below is a bit of information about how each of us customizes this tutorial to fit our needs. Use these examples or ideas of your own to create the clubs and classes that work best for you! 
Debbie’s Scrapbook Club: My customers have been asking for a scrapbooking class, but it seemed too overwhelming for me to offer one until now. With the Scrapbook Club, I feel confident to offer a 2-page monthly class to either novice or advanced scrapbook enthusiasts. I’ll be advertising my class as a scrapbooking class where the participants will make two completed pages. I’ll give participants, supplies to make an additional card if they purchase the stamp set at the class.
Amanda’s Scrapbook Club: I’ve been offering this monthly class for three years and have found it to be the perfect way to work with your card makers and scrapbookers while saving you time and money. What’s brilliant about it is that I’ve been able to combine three classes into one-a card class, a scrapbook class and a stamp club (it’s their free class). This has significantly eased up my calendar and has been successful in converting card makers to scrapbookers. Working out of the same supply bin, attendees can choose to create three different 12×12 page designs or 3 coordinating cards or both. If they do both, they can decide at class whether they want to convert any of their cards into the 2nd coordinating page. If they do, I sell them a scrap mat pack which includes the matching 12×12 sheet and cut photo mats for the second page to complete their 2-page layout.
Amy’s Scrapbook Club: My club is a 3 month club using one theme each month. Customers make two cards, one that stays as a card and one that is converted into a scrapbook page. Customers can purchase pre-cut supplies to complete a second scrapbook page so they have a two-page layout. The second scrapbook page uses layouts similar to the scrap maps for the theme, but only has mats for the photos and a couple embellishments like butterflies or flowers that tie in with the first page. The second page does not have another complete card on it. My little trick is that I don’t advertise it as a scrapbook class since scrapbooking is scary to some of my customers. I advertise it as cards and memory pages they can add to their fridge, shadow box, or send to grandparents as a gift. At the end of the club customers may be surprised to find that they have been scrapbooking! At that point I offer them albums to continue their newfound hobby.
Like this tip? Please share your thoughts on our blog
Save Your Sanity
You know those days when all kinds of extra stuff lands on your schedule and you have to figure out how to squeeze it in while trying to maintain some of your sanity? I know you’ve had them! I had one the other day. Between working on a cool new project we’ll be offering soon, taking the kids to swim lessons, and trying to entertaining and feed them while they are out of school for the summer— I had to squeeze in getting the car from the repair shop and picking my husband up from the airport, plus a quick side trip to the grocery store to get the milk and bread that we were out of. Because of the craziness I drove through that famous coffee place for a $3 jolt of energy and later served my darling family a $20 paper-wrapped dinner from the drive-thru fast food shop on the way home. I won’t win mom or wife of the year for that meal, but I’ve learned a secret. There are times when spending a bit to save my sanity is worth it!
Class in a Flash customers have discovered that same secret — Saving your sanity while growing your business is worth a small investment. For a whole lot less money (and calories) than my coffee and fast food convenience, Class in a Flash customers get a ton of resources to help save them valuable time and reduce stress.
Every month Class in a Flash provides many resources to help you save time and sanity, including:
• 20 or more pictures you can use on your blog, DBWS, newsletters, etc.
• 3 product reviews to keep your blog running smoothly and customers tuned in to your valuable informative content
• 1 Card Template you can use to engage customers in your card sketch challenges
That’s almost enough content for a blog post every day of the month! How many hours do you spend creating informative content for your blog or newsletter like project samples and product reviews? If you aren’t doing those things, how much could you improve your business if you offered that content, knowledge, service, and relationship building to your customers? Where else can you find that kind of value for only $6.97 a month? That’s less than $0.24 a day, way less than my $3 caffeine fix and $20 dinner solution!
Be sure to make the most of your Class in a Flash subscription with these valuable resources and more! Not a member of Class in a Flash yet, now is a great time to join and start the new Stampin’ Up! year prepared with great projects, content, and time-saving solutions! Click here to learn more.
Share Photos on iPad2
I’m sure you have heard of the iPad™ right? Did you know you can use your Class in a Flash (CIAF) membership in conjunction with an iPad? It’s true! Because we offer you so many high-quality photos in each and every class planner, you have a plethora of photo inspiration at your fingertips. This month we wanted to share with you 7 business building ways you can use the iPad2 built-in Photo Application to bring even more value of your membership.
Tip #1: When you need inspiration you’ll find loads of project inspiration at your fingertips. Just turn on your iPad2 and go to the Photos application.
Tip #2: Show potential hostesses your ‘Class in a Flash’ gallery – knowing with confidence that you have all the cutting measurements and step-by-step instructions to easily convert the card into a workshop Make & Take. Most of our cards are less than a $1 your cost, so planning the workshop will be easy. Think how special your hostess will feel by offering this type of custom service to her, and how professional having your own catalog of project appears.
Tip #3: Have you ever run into someone at the store or at your child’s game who asked about making a card for an event? Before you would fumble to explain some ideas or go to your car to get the catalog. Not anymore! With the iPad and Class in a Flash membership you can open up your 24/7 card inspiration gallery. With the Class in a Flash Card Gallery, you can consult with the customer anywhere.
Tip #4: You can run your iPad as a slideshow as an entertaining performance at an event. If you hostess has a TV with a VGA connection, you can have the slideshow on the big screen for all guest to see. Heck, I often run the slideshow at my home just for fun and inspiration.
Tip #5: You can easily find, select, print or email project picture(s) for your customers.
Tip #6: Want to showcase different projects at your workshop or classes without carrying 40 cards that can be damaged, bent or mishandled? Bring along your iPad2 and the Class in a Flash gallery. If you have been a Class in a Flash member since our debut you would have over 720 project pictures.
Tip #7: Take a break and go to Starbucks for coffee and use the Wi-Fi access to upload your pictures to your DBWS and/or your Blog while reclining in splendor.
So how easy is this to setup? You’ll be glad to hear it is very simple.
First you will need to have a Class in a Flash folder on your computer’s hard drive. If you have been following our suggestions under the Technical Assistance section in the monthly newsletter, you may already have this. It’s at the bottom of each newsletter and looks like this:
We recommend that each month you download all the Class in a Flash files that you use onto your computer’s hard drive for safe keeping. Create the following folders:
Root Folder: classinaflash
Monthly Folder: apr11-7 Watercolor Wonders
Move and extract all files into the monthly CIAF folder.
Your folder structure should look something like this:
classinaflash
—may11-Travel Log Card Set
—apr11-7 Watercolor Wonders
—mar11-Always Accordion Album
….
iPad2 requires you install iTunes software on your desktop/laptop as your gateway to transferring content to your iPad2. You will need to go into settings and link to your Class in a Flash root folder. And that’s it. Sync and you are done.
Every month, simply create a new folder using our suggested folder names, download all the files to your folder, and sync your iPad2. You will receive at least 18 new photos each month. That’s well worth the cost of the membership, don’t you think?
Disclaimer: please research the iPad before investing based on this article. Author is not responsible for any actions taken by an individual. For complete details visit the iPad2 Photos page >> http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/photos.html
For more iPad business cases visit our Technology and Marketing blog at http://tech.craftyperson.com.
Scrapbooking Made Easy!
I know many of you think that scrapbooking isn’t your thing, and that is okay! But with 25 million Americans spending $2.5 billion annually on scrapbooking you may just want to consider adding some form of scrapbooking to your line-up of services. You might find that non-traditional scrapbooking like mini albums and gift albums are an effective way to introduce scrapbooking to your existing customers.
Let’s be brutally honest here. Traditional scrapbooking can be a bit overwhelming for beginners. Most people don’t just wake up one day and say “Hey, I’m going to dive in and buy $400 of supplies and create a big scrapbook!” In today’s busy world the idea of finding the time and money to create a massive album just seems too daunting for many people. Basic scrapbooking classes will mostly appeal to new scrapbookers and given time constraints those new scrapbookers can be hard to find. Frankly, dedicated scrapbookers often have their own ideas, methods, and resources and don’t need your expertise.
So, how do you make scrapbooking appealing to your existing card customers and to dedicated scrapbookers? Try holding classes where you make scrapbooking gifts or mini albums. Gift items like scrapbooks in a box or mini albums are bite sized projects that appeal to non-scrapbookers because they want to give a special gift for Mother’s Day, a graduation or a wedding. Gift items appeal to dedicated scrapbookers because they love scrapbooking and creating a gift doesn’t interfere with their personal style in their traditional albums. Mini albums are popular for much the same reason. Even non-scrapbookers like the idea of creating a mini album as a gift for teachers, for a special occasion, or to highlight a special vacation. Because the projects are limited in size and scope they are not nearly so overwhelming. Include traditional card and box projects along with the mini albums for the most crossover appeal.
Once your existing customers get their toes wet with gift items and mini albums they may discover that they have a passion for the art of scrapbooking. And you’ll be there to guide them. Your dedicated scrapbookers will appreciate that you offer classes where they can explore other types of scrapbooking without interfering with their personal projects.
The other arm of the scrapbooking market is digital scrapbooking. Digital designers or digi-scrappers are a rapidly growing market that you can tap into with My Digital Studio. Digital designers are most likely not your current card customers. This gives you access to a whole new market of people. And while they aren’t your traditional customer they do appreciate the art of preserving memories and scrapbooking and can be candidates for classes that feature gift items and mini albums.
Not sure where to start? Each year we feature scrapbooking projects for National Scrapbooking Month. Most recently we have a mini album called the Always Accordion Album that is perfect gift for Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings, and more. The planner also includes a box and card helping you create that crossover class that will appeal to scrapbookers and non-scrapbookers. Additionally, we have the Year in Review 6” x 6” album and Scrapbooking in the Box planners in our Clearance Bin. While these classes feature retired products they are still great resources for creating mini albums and gift items that will appeal to your customers.
Try adding a mini album class where customers can create gifts into your schedule. We think you and your customers will like the change of pace and the results!
Demo Document Quick Links
Did you know our Class in a Flash Demonstrator Planner has an convenient tool for finding just what you are looking for when developing your class, workshop or club? We create our Demonstrator Planners to offer you the most convenient and helpful information out there. When you open your Demonstrator Planner in Adobe Acrobat 9.0, on the top left-hand side you will see an image similar to the one below.
Let’s say you want to know your cost for making the 5 note cards in our free trial Elegant Monogram Card Set. No problem. Simply click on the bookmark and you will be directed to that spot in the planner. How about Shopping List or Product Based Class Options? All just a click away. Don’t have Adobe Acrobat 9.0? Not problem, it’s a free download here: http://www.adobe.com/Acrobat
Haven’t tried Class in a Flash yet? Visit our website to request your free trial copy at http://freetrial.classinaflash.com.
New Updates in Demo Planner
Beginning with the February 2011 Celebration Central planner you’ll find some new features designed to help you save time and help you provide valuable resources to your customers. Read on to find out how you can provide more value with less effort!
Experts in the newsletter and blogging industries suggest that to keep customers engaged 80% of your content needs to be informational or educational. Now that’s all fine and dandy you say, but where to find the time to create all that content? That’s where our changes to the Demonstrator Planner come in!
Check out the section titled “Selling During the Class” and you’ll see that we’ve changed the “Product Benefits” section to a product review style that includes a call to action. Now you can use these reviews directly on your blog or DBWS to provide informative content to your customers. Copy, paste, publish, done. Yeah!
So now you’re probably wondering how this might look in action. You might try posting one product review a week or one every other week (there are three in each class planner). Some people like to have a specific day to highlight products, perhaps each Wednesday. Using the February Celebration Central class planner as an example, you might copy the section that reviews Chunky Essentials Stampin’ Glitter and include one of the photos from the class that shows the glitter. You could also include the “Tips” section about the glitter, or save that for a follow-up post. The reviews include a call to action that encourages your customers to purchase the featured product. You don’t make the sale if you don’t ask!
How much time to you spend designing, planning, and preparing to appreciate your customers and hostesses, hold workshops, and get out effective marketing materials? It all takes time! To help you save time we’ve replaced the “Hostess Appreciation” section with a new section called “Ways to Get More Value”. This features three sections that offer suggestions for using the planner contents to save time planning hostess and customer appreciation, workshops, and marketing for your business. For example you might want to use one of the cards from the February Celebration Central planner as a workshop demonstration, use a mini note from the class as the Make n’ Take project, and gift the hostess with the birthday calendar and a couple cards. How much time planning would that save you? We think a lot! We always appreciate your feedback and suggestions, thank you for partnering with us to save time and sanity!
Import Images to Blogs
This month’s tip is about getting more done with the Class in a Flash class planner content. With our product, it only takes you a few minutes to copy and paste content from the class planner into your blog, even images. Our demonstration today highlights using the FREE class planner Elegant Monogram Card Set. Request your copy at http://www.classinaflash.com. We are using the FREE version of WordPress. If you would like to setup a WordPress blog visit http://www.wordpress.com.
Let’s hear it for working smarter, not harder.
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