i finally saw it......

[party of 3]

well i went to michaels today and i finally saw the martha stewart stuff!!! well, can you say WAY to big! holy cow is that thing huge. i can't even imaging using that stuff. wow! what in the world is michaels thinkin'?? really. how long to you give it before they figure out that it's a dumb idea?!
just my opinion of course.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I've not been in Michael's since the BIG book hit the stores. But I'm sure it'll be easy to find when I do go.

 

[Mic_n_Min]

I really can't imagine using (and storing) books that big. I was amazed at all of the Martha stuff, but not interested in much. Pretty expensive too!

 

[Yzerbear19]

I was tempted to ask one of the employees at Michaels today if they've even sold one of them yet, but chickened out.

 

[TinkerKat]

I too have seen that Gi-normous Book! Imagine it "filled"?

When I saw it all I could think was , it looks like a "prop" from Harry Potter!
You know, the "BIG Book of Rules" or something!
Yikes!
Kathy

 

[Macca1111]

I went hoping that Michael's would have sales for National Scrapbooking Day today, but no such luck. I did, however, get to laugh at the ridiculousness of the 18"x18". I understood that it was going to be big, but you have no idea until you actually see the thing and try to lift it. It is the most stupid thing I have ever seen. She is selling "normal" sized albums too, at least here in podunk Colorado. No paper, but books that size. There were some sort-of-cute stickers too, but not cute enough for purchase. I say eh to the whole line.

 

[annakris1973]

I took a closer look at those albums of Martha's. I noticed that the 8 1/2 x 11 album is horizontal, not vertical...meaning its wider instead of taller (kwim?) and the small album is 6 x 8 (not 8 x 8). So, if you want either of these albums, you will have to buy Martha page protectors, because nothing else will fit (very clever, Martha!) I liked the style of her albums, (the 12 x 12) very simple and classy. But would probably never purchase them because of the price.

 

[ddavis860]

I was tempted to ask one of the employees at Michaels today if they've even sold one of them yet, but chickened out.

I asked the cashier about the Martha line and sales. She said she is doing around $60-$80 dollars worth a day. She (a scrapbooker) said she has tried and loved the glues, and pens. She also said the glitter was the best she has ever tried. So I asked about that gi-normous album...she just laughed and rolled her eyes, so I'm guessing sales there aren't that good...

Martha intorduced the line on her show last week...my die-hard Matcha fan friend called me. She showed the albums on a counter in her "craft room" (bigger than my kitchen...but I digress), and said that the 18x18 is a perfect size for a wedding album

I did like the cutting mat she showed, so I'm going to check that out...but not being able to use coupons will probably price that too high...

 

[PoohBearLovinMama]

I went to Mike's on Friday to see everything and wasn't too impressed. I did buy 2 things, 6 white scallopy embossed borders (although now I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with them) and some white flourish rub-ons. So I just gave MS $5.

I was really shocked at how huge the 18x18 album was. I mean, you think 18x18 is going to be huge but man it was ginormous! Where the heck would you put that thing? My Dd looked at it and said "Woah Mom, that thing is SOOOOOOOOO big!" It was pretty funny and the other lady in the isle with me chuckled too. Can you imagine trying to look at that thing, it would be wider than my kid is tall open!!

 

[hopemax]

I took a closer look at those albums of Martha's. I noticed that the 8 1/2 x 11 album is horizontal, not vertical...meaning its wider instead of taller (kwim?) and the small album is 6 x 8 (not 8 x 8). So, if you want either of these albums, you will have to buy Martha page protectors, because nothing else will fit (very clever, Martha!) I liked the style of her albums, (the 12 x 12) very simple and classy. But would probably never purchase them because of the price.

There are a couple places that do make a 11 x 8 1/2 album already. Bazzill Basics is one. I don't know if their page protectors will fit (probably not), but they are 10 sheets for $4. I bet Martha's would be more.

 

[kaddjr]

I asked the cashier about the Martha line and sales. She said she is doing around $60-$80 dollars worth a day. She (a scrapbooker) said she has tried and loved the glues, and pens. She also said the glitter was the best she has ever tried. So I asked about that gi-normous album...she just laughed and rolled her eyes, so I'm guessing sales there aren't that good...

Martha intorduced the line on her show last week...my die-hard Matcha fan friend called me. She showed the albums on a counter in her "craft room" (bigger than my kitchen...but I digress), and said that the 18x18 is a perfect size for a wedding album

I did like the cutting mat she showed, so I'm going to check that out...but not being able to use coupons will probably price that too high...

1. I would be curious to see how much per day they are selling of the KandCompany line or just other lines in order to do a comparison. What I'm wondering is what percent of scrapbooking sales is MS's line generating? And do they do the breakdowns by co. or paper, adhesives, tools, etc., or both within each line? $60-$80 of her line a day doesn't seem like a whole lot overall for just one store.

2. I think she's out of her mind if she thinks that her "monster album" would make the perfect wedding album! My Art Leather wedding album, which is measures slightly larger than 13x12 and has just pictures in it (I have one of each "proof" in it and they are mostly 4x6), weighs about the same as Martha's monster- maybe slightly more, but not much. Imagine putting all your pics in her album, plus adding embellishements, keepsakes, and such- that thing would weigh a TON!

3. I won't spend one dime on her line until coupons are allowed to be used on it- period. I am fairly frugal, however, there are some things I am willing to pay full price for if I think it's worth doing so. Having said that, I think it's a bit to not allow customers to use coupons on her line. Now if they would, I might try some of her stuff, maybe even at full price. But since they don't, I won't buy a single thing of hers. I wouldn't care if her adhesive (for example) turned out to be the best there is, I would go without because of the attitude.

 

[Mic_n_Min]

There are a couple places that do make a 11 x 8 1/2 album already. Bazzill Basics is one. I don't know if their page protectors will fit (probably not), but they are 10 sheets for $4. I bet Martha's would be more.

American Crafts also makes page protectors for this type of album. I use them myself and love them (they go into their D-ring landscape album)

 

[DisneyJan]

I won't spend one dime on her line until coupons are allowed to be used on it- period. I am fairly frugal, however, there are some things I am willing to pay full price for if I think it's worth doing so. Having said that, I think it's a bit to not allow customers to use coupons on her line. Now if they would, I might try some of her stuff, maybe even at full price. But since they don't, I won't buy a single thing of hers. I wouldn't care if her adhesive (for example) turned out to be the best there is, I would go without because of the attitude.[/QUOTE]


I agree. I was at Michael's this morning and was not impressed. But I HAD to pick up (please send a forklift to aisle 1) the HUGE album and just laughed. I thought that most of the time someone is looking at an album it's on their lap. Try putting that on great-grandma's lap, it would crush her.

 

[Macca1111]

3. I won't spend one dime on her line until coupons are allowed to be used on it- period. I am fairly frugal, however, there are some things I am willing to pay full price for if I think it's worth doing so. Having said that, I think it's a bit to not allow customers to use coupons on her line. Now if they would, I might try some of her stuff, maybe even at full price. But since they don't, I won't buy a single thing of hers. I wouldn't care if her adhesive (for example) turned out to be the best there is, I would go without because of the attitude.

It was quite hilarious that this weekend's ad that has the 40% coupon was a full page of Martha stuff...way to go Michaels. Right underneath, 40% coupon that says in bold Excludes Martha Stewart A work of sheer marketing genius.

 

[moikturtle]

When I was in a Michael's near me on the day that Martha's line was released, I heard one staff member telling an other that 40% can't be taken off the Martha items, but that coupon can be used for 25% off those items. I don't know if it was just that store or what, but I thought that was interesting and that I'd pass it along here just in case.

 

[kaddjr]

It was quite hilarious that this weekend's ad that has the 40% coupon was a full page of Martha stuff...way to go Michaels. Right underneath, 40% coupon that says in bold Excludes Martha Stewart A work of sheer marketing genius.

At the very least, they could have allowed the customer to use them until they got hooked on the product, then yanked coupon usage. Martha is banking on her name alone to sell the products. I'm sure she feels that her products are high quality (and they may be for all I know)- couple that with her name, why should she let consumers use coupons on her products? Well, I have news for Martha- she needs to get off her snooty patootie high horse and get back to reality!

 

[scrappinmom]

I totally agree with you guys. I went yesterday.....first - that album is HUGE! I can hear the conversation now "Mommy can I look at our Disney scrapbook" - "Not now honey, money hasn't been to the gym this week & I can't get it off the shelf for you"

The sales person made it a point to seek me out and tell me "you know you can never use a coupon on any ms stuff, it's the BRAND they won't let us...it's not US" hmm, she sounded a bit perturbed...like she had been asked that question a million times already.

I did like some of the embellishments, but I'm not buying them without a sale or a coupon! period

 

[fireplug]

Our Son in law is a manager at a Michaels and that is the official terms of the agreement with Martha's Company NO SALES OR COUPONS! And he says there hasnt been much stuff selling yet.

Squid

 

[Fran98765]

I'm all for thinking of new products or reworking old products to make them new, like a new size... but really... 18x18.... that's just not sensible thinking!

 

[Camicar]

I've looked at the MS stuff in two different Michaels and was unimpressed. Nothing is new or inventive or clever. In fact, it was all pretty much more of the same -- I noticed her wedding cake embellishment was very similar to a Jolee's wedding cake embellishment. And I can use a coupon on a Jolee's, so guess which one I'm going to buy?

I am not someone who is a slavish follower to a name or brand in anything, be it clothes or cars or scrapbooking supplies. I buy what I like, regardless of the name on it, as long as it suits my needs and is in my budget. So IMO, Martha's name and higher prices aren't giving me anything more: in fact, her stuff is very very plain and is already available from other vendors, who will allow coupon usage. So guess which product line I won't be buying plain pastel paper from? Or a circular hole punch?

And $2 a sheet for that 18x18" paper? It is to laugh.