Creative Memories

[lck33]

Hi everyone! I have a few questions about Creative Memories and I was hoping maybe some of you could give me your opinion, Pleaseeeeee?? Anyway I am the traditional top loading 12 X 12 background specialty paper, eyelets, ribbons, etc... scrapbooker. However, with that being said I had a first meeting with a creative memories consultant last week and absolutely loved the cutting system and the albums and stickers and everything, purchased about $185.00 worth of stuff. It just seems the way they do their albums I could get my albums done alot quicker and easier and more personlized with all the hand written journalling.

Well I got speaking with her and and she informed me I could join and get a percentage off and free items which with the amount I spend anyway on scrapbooking supplies would really be a no-brainer right???

What are your thoughts about this? I am so torn apart right now?

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I think I'd want to know what she means by join....if she means buy stuff that you like from them, ok. But there isn't any sort of membership or anything that I'm aware of.

If she means become a consultant, I'd think long and hard. But that is me. I know there are folks on here that are consultants mainly for their supplies.

Deb

 

[pattyT]

been there
done that
still doing it

that said -
can you afford to 'stock up' on items??
I HATED paying full price and don't mind that I have a closet full of albums waiting to be filled!

Do you know ANYONE who would order from you - so you wouldn't have to bear it all? (my cousin orders from me too)

I love them too - and couldn't find a rep to stay in the business for long so I just joined in the spring...

I have unopened stuff in the closet I will never use though (they send you so many cutting systems etc in the beginner kit) hopefully someone will buy them soeday - lol

also you can pay $25 to give inactive for a while - then reactivate later (so next time I don't feel like spending the money - prob in the spring - I will do this and I forget how long you have a hiatis for!)

 

[Alice28]

To become a consultant you must: join for $195- you get a TON of supplies, incl an album, page protectors, the cutting system, the pens, a few packs of stickers and papers, the medium size bag and more.

Then within 30 days you must order $500 retail ($350 to you as a new consultant) worth of stuff. Ask a friend to help you make this first order if you have some pals that scrap too.

Then every 3 months you must order $500 retail ($350) to remain active. I tried it and it didn't work out for me, but I still love the stuff and buy regularly from my consultant.

 

[bananiem]

For awhile they had a deal where if you spent a certain amount in a year you were eligible for certain deals. I don't use enough of their stuff so I never got all the details.

 

[pattyT]

ALSO -
when you buy a ceratin amount you can get the 'hostess gift deals' I forget exactlly what it is - but I think it is like 75 in merchandise for additional 30
?? someone else might be able to clarify that for me

 

[wtpclc]

In the catalog, it lists the hostess Thanks to You credits. As a consultant, when you turn in orders over $500, you get product worth the consultant credit for 25% of retail.

For example, if you turn in an order of $560 retail, you pay 70% of the 500 (basic consultant cost) and 25% of the remianing $60 plus tax and S&H. So, you get $560 worth of stuff for $365. The amount goes up for every $100 over $500.

If you have friends & family that would like to join in, it's a good way to save.

Also, sometimes there are gifts (in July it was a special 7x7 album) for hostesses that have a $500+ show. In that case, you get teh album for every $500 in orders, in addition to the other discounts.

CM offers a lot of special for CMCs. Some of them you could get with your $500 quartelry order, some are more. PM me if you want more details.

 

[lck33]

Thanks so much for all of your replies. It really seems like It would work for me and alot of my scrapper friends. We buy and scrap together anyway. I wouldn't look it like a business though, just something so that we could save money ourselves. And I don't mind stocking up, I do that anyway! I just wonder what type of tax ramifications if any I would have and do I have to claim it as a personal business? wtpclc, I will try to pm you, I have never done that before. Thanks again everyone!!

 

[mum of two pirates]

Can you place an order and have them ship it somewhere else? to me. or can it only be shipped to your house? I want to buy some new stuff. the disney stuff and some newer punches and the cm only stuff. Do they still have the small zip lock bags that have the peices in them to do a page? pm back as if you can I would buy stuff at cost to help you make your $500 a qu. sales. Mum of two pirates

 

[wtpclc]

Mum - All of the order goes to the CMC. The CMC could ship to you, but would need to recover shipping costs.


Disclaimer: CM really prefers you to have a local CMC who can help you with the new tools and give you any support that you might need, though.

 

[diznygirl]

They are supposed to be changing the "quota" - as it stands now it is a $500 retail order at least every three months. It will change to $600 - but can be spread out $200 each month. I don't have all the details yet, but ask the consultant who wants you to join up for all the specifics so you know what you are getting yourself into for the future.

I'm a consultant to feed my habit - but after three years I've reached a point where I can't sell enough stuff to other people, and I have got plenty myself thank you! Just keep that in mind... you may reach that point eventually, but think of the money you will save getting there!

Good luck.

 

[McScrapper]

I went down the CM route and thought is was too much $$ to spend to stay active. I personally think their product line is not as up to date as other companies. They don't do a 12x12 album that is top-load either so you HAVE to work chronologically.
I think the company as a whole is a rip-off. If you are truly looking for the latest and greatest in a direct sales company you might be better off with I Remember When.
I think you can still do simple layouts without doing CM.

From my personal experience CM sucks. Flame if you wish but this is my experience.

meredith

 

[pattyT]

I respect Merediths opinion -
but I want to note that I use the CM books exclusively as I like the quality of the album itself (and I use everything from every other company too)
and You do NOT have to work Chronologically -
I just 'wallpaper' the pages - a lot of times I make my layout all out of the albums on a paper then slip them in where they go later!

 

[Spinning]

Patty, Do you then adhere it to the page? or just slide it in so it is loose? Also do you cut each page down or cover up the jepping?
I have 3 CM books to finish. That I really want in order, DD baby book, first year, our family Christmas album and Jon's baby book...so close to being done.
This might help me get my CHristmas album at least done!

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by lck33
I just wonder what type of tax ramifications if any I would have and do I have to claim it as a personal business?

If you sell anything to anyone you have to claim that income on your income tax return ... either as hobby income (where you can't deducted the cost of the goods) or as business income (Schedule C).

I suggest that you go to www.irs.gov and search on "hobby income" and "small business" and decide how you're going to run your business before you sign on with CM.

If you're only buying the minimum ($500 per quarter) and selling only a portion of that, chances are the IRS will never audit you, but if they do audit you and you're not claiming the income properly you could be in deep trouble ... so check it out ... ignorance is not an excuse with the IRS!

I run a tiny little CM business, but I keep excellent business records and I buy CM product from myself, and keep my personal supplies separate from my "for sale" products ... it's a lot of effort, but if I'm ever audited I can easily show that I am running a business.

 

[pattyT]

Spinning -
i do cut them down and i slip them into the page protector until i know exactly where i want it - then i adhere it (especially if there are bulkies!)

 

[lck33]

Again, thank you everyone! your responses more than helped me make a tough decision. I decided that I don't need another thing to keep track of and that I will just buy the products I need from my consultant until such time that they may have a hobbyist type of program. I also thought that morally I didn't want to take anything off of anyone else's plate, since it was not going to be a business for me.

Again, thanks for all of your replies!!

Now - back to scrappin for me...need to finish my disney album from my September trip!!