Especially for Custom Scrapbook Designers
by Sue DiFranco
Copyright 2003 Sue DiFranco/Fun Facts Publishing
After our last seminar on making scrapbooks for others in Orlando, I received
this email from one of the wonderful participants, Eileen Ciriaco, and I asked
if I could share it with all of you. Here is the abridged version:
"I got a chance to speak with some of the other women in the 'Scrapbooking
For Others' seminar after the class, and the number one question they asked
was, 'Do you really think people will pay that much?' I wanted to share my
response to them with you, in case you have other people asking the same
question (and I'm sure you do!).
"I have a part-time job (in addition to my regular job) at Williams-Sonoma, and
I've been there for about a year now. It's funny; foodies have the same reaction
when they walk into a Williams-Sonoma that scrappers do walking into a scrapbook
store.
"Anyway, I can't even begin to count how many times someone has come into the
store complaining about our prices. It doesn't matter that most of our items
have a lifetime guarantee, or that it's superior craftsmanship, etc. All these
people care about is the bottom line. These are the people who balk at the idea
of paying $28 for two cake pans that will last them a lifetime and are perfectly
content to go to (major retail chain) and pay $2.50 for one that will fall apart
after 3 cakes.
"Williams-Sonoma doesn't need the business from (major retail chain) shoppers
who could care less, just like we scrapbook artists don't need the business from
people who are content to let their photographs deteriorate in magnetic albums.
The price for two cake pans is $28; if you don't like it, go somewhere else.
"So with that in mind, if someone balks at my $35-$70 per 8.5"x 11" side price
tag, I can thank him for his time, wish him a good day, and pay more attention
to the person who raises his eyebrows and declares he's getting a great deal.
"Stores like Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, and Restoration Hardware never
wanted to appeal to the general masses - they want to appeal to the masses with
money, and they are doing beautifully. Scrapbook artists should have the same
mentality, and we will succeed beautifully, as well."
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Eileen! I couldn't have said it better myself!
And, of course, you can get yourself totally fired up to make a ton of money
doing what you love by reading our exclusive 200-page manual,
Make Money Scrapbooking For Others. Information on everything from pricing
to finding the clients who will pay upscale prices is included, and much more.
You can read more here!
Sue DiFranco is the founder of Fun Facts Publishing and the author of
more than a dozen books on building and marketing scrapbooking businesses and
services. This article was based on her books, "Secrets of Scrapbooking Success:
Making Money, Making Memories," a detailed overview of the business
opportunities in scrapbooking, and "Make Money Scrapbooking For Others: The
Complete Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams," a 200-page Super-Success
manual. Visit
http://www.funfactspublishing.com to read a library of FREE information and
get started today!
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