Recollections

[chessie]

There is a store called Recollections owned by Michael's that will be coming in about a half an hour from me. This store is about the size of a Michael's and deals only with scrapbooking stuff. They will have all the latest stuff way before any of the local scrapbook stores because they have contracts with vendors like EK Success and Memory makers to provide exclusives for 60 or 90 days before selling to the LSS. They will also have services that are impossible or not cost effective for your local scrapbook store to offer. Sounds great but here is the dilemma. If we don't continue to patronize our local scrapbook stores they will be put out of business. In an area in Texas, where Recollections opened their first store there were 50 LSS and with in the first 6 months 35 of them went under. I am not saying to not patronize these big box stores like Recollections but I am asking you to please continue to patronize you LSS. It is not only the scrapbooking industry but any other industry that Mom and Pop decide to get into. When the big box guys sees a profitable industry they gobble up mom and pop because the can afford to.

Sorry this post is so long and thank you for the soap box.

 

[Maple]

I hear you but it can be so hard to stay away when things are cheaper and you are on such a tight budget.

Very good point you made though.

 

[Spinning]

I know.....I was so excited when I heard way back when a store like this would be here eventually. Then I became very close to my LSS and love it there. I know her paper is a little more money and less sales and deals but the service and feel is worth so much! I can't remember the last time I bought any scrapbook stuff at Mike's. Plus I seem to have better control of my spending when I stay away
It will be very hard not to shop there. I so home my LSS will make it through. She has been in business for a long time and has a good base of coustomers.
I do think unfortunately the other LSS that is very close to me will go under. It is a small store. I love the owner but the store is small too small and limited. If given time I think it will expand but not if this new store comes to town.
Chessie where is the new store going to be built? It could easily be only an hour from me. I think you are about 2-21/2 hours from me now (That is about how long it took me to get to the scrap flea market last year)

 

[bananiem]

I've actually been to the first one that opened. It wasn't all that great. I am LSS-deprived though, having none within an hour drive of me. It wasn't as big as a Michael's, though they've probably changed the floor plan as they've gone along. Down in that area of Texas the warehouse stores opened shortly afterward. A couple of the places my SIL went to faithfully closed and said it was because of the warehouse stores.
It is too bad that the smaller stores can't compete. I prefer a bunch of smaller stores so I don't get overwhelmed!! I know where to go for embellishments, where to go for albums and paper, etc. I think you get better service at the smaller stores too. When we move back to our old town I'm going to try out the 2 stores that moved in while I was gone and see which one I want to go to for a weekly crop.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Small business is always tough and as a previous poster noted, they must compete on service and customer relationship building.

Of the three main LSS in my area one is going great guns. Thankfully for me, it is the closest one. BUT the two sisters that own the place made a commitment from the outset to do some things their counterparts didn't. They are literally in a strip mall at the front of the parking lot that is backed by Hobby Lobby.

The other 2 LSS? 1 is still hanging in but it is half an hour away and I don't get there that often. Although she has carved a niche by setting up at EVERY crop held in the area. The 3rd is closing. I admit to helping her clear stock at 35% and more off.

Do I go to Hobby Lobby? (Michael's is in the area but not in my home town, I pass it going and coming to/fromwork - not my preference) Sometimes. I will occasionally pick up mounting squares and a tape runner I like there. If I happen to see a paper pack or something I'll pick it up. And we do get most of our GS troop scrapping supplies there purely due to cost.

For my personal stuff I go mainly to the LSS. Why? First they have included film processing! As a marketing instructor I always use this as an example of differentiation and competitive advantage with my classes. They offer 1 hour at prices competitive (in most cases LESS) than the overnight developers. And it isn't just run through a machine on autopilot. They color balance every print. One of the sisters will even go ahead and make special (enlargement, panaoramic - yes it can be done from 35MM - and so forth) prints for her regular customers. A gamble? Sure but she knows her regulars and their scrapping patterns. And let's face it...what are we buying all the other stuff for? To preserve those photos! So the more good photos the more we scrap.

Additionally, they do a whopping mail order/internet order business and have brought out some unique products of their own. Their laser cut stuff is awesome!

Anyway, the whole point of this long reply is that the LSS have a place. But in order to survive they need more than the support of their loyal fan base. They need to provide something that warrants that support. If they are just a me too supplier they will lose to the chains.

Deb

 

[chessie]

The new store will be in Columbia. I am not saying don't patronize these stores but keep your relationship with you LSS. We as scrappers built this industry into a multi billion dollar industry. The big box guys weren't willing to give us more then an isle or two in their stores until we grew the industry. The LSS owners were willing to take the risk. OK........... I promise.......... I am really stepping down from the soapbox this time.