SB: Would you *really* want to work (or own) at a Scrapbook store?

[DVCajun]

I enjoy scrapping so much, but I know that for me a lot of the enjoyment would disappear if I *had* to do it. I have made cards for others before, in bulk, and by the time the project was over I was wishing I had never heard of cardstock! I asked the owner of a lss here one day if she enjoyed scrapping as much now that she owned her own store and she said, "Honestly, no I don't." Shocked me to death-- I fully expected her to lie to me!

 

[Spinning]

I think I might like to work part time in a LSS but never own one or be there all the time. Maybe during the busy season...LOL But I wouldn't make any money all of it and more I am sure would be spent!
I use to paint and sell theorems loved it for a long time but once I started selling and needed at least 30 or more for each show and had to make many over and over I lost total interest and haven't painted in almost 3 years! I keep saying I will get back to it but never do!

 

[twinglefam]

this is so on the money....I also went the selling route...and all my free time was spent finding customers, ordering, etc.
NOw that I just do it for pleasure I'm finally getting things done. I just changed around my basement and made 1/2 of it into a scrapping room!! I'm so excited to paint it and make it my haven.

Actually, if I didn't have another job I would probably love it, could have devoted more time to it and done it right.
Some people are very good with time management; not an art I've mastered yet.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

I think I would really enjoy working at or owning a scrapbooking store. I did make some invitations for my childrens recent joint
All American Birthday Bash, and it didn't take long before I was completely irritated with making having to make several of the same thing (though I tried different variations). I would get bored with having to make several of the same thing all the time. And my friend is a CM consultant and she said that becoming a consultant has kind of taken from her drive to work on her own albums. She hardly ever wants to work on her own albums, and I'm sure it's because she spends her energy in establishing her business.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I worked at a scrapbook store for 1-1/2 years. Ask me how much scrapping I got done during that time. That's right -- *almost none*!

I usually spent most of my paycheck at the store, buying the latest and greatest of everything, but never finding time or ambition to work on my own pages. It got so bad that I dreamt about the store at night .... pricing and counting stickers in your sleep is no fun!

I've gotten much more done since I quit (the owner was a nightmare) but I definitely miss the interaction with all the other wonderful scrappers I met each day. I don't think I'd ever go back to working or owning an LSS -- scrappin' is my hobby, work is....well, *work*.

 

[chessie]

I don't think I have the personality to be a scrapbook store owner. The owner of my LSS is high energy high drive type A personality. I am so laid back I am just about backing up. It's any wonder we're friends. She has very little time to actually sit down and scrap anymore. The store has grown to need several employees. She keeps asking me when I am going to quit my job and come work for her full time. (We laugh) I teach a few classes and I really enjoy doing them. Designing and pulling one together from it's concept is quite a bit of work but once you have taught it you only need to massage it and make it better for the next time. I have a weekly crop time and a weekly dance time. It took me some time to train them but my family now respects those times. The question being would I like to work there? Absolutely!

 

[abbyndrewmom]

I work part time at a scrapbook store and absolutely love it!!! i can work on my albums when we are slow and I just love having everything right there for me to use. I love helping people choose paper, stickers etc to match their pages. The best is when I get to introduce someone to this wonderful hobby. Most of my paycheck does get redeposited into the store but that is better then before I was working and was spending "the family" money.

i would not want to own a store as that is way more responsibility then i want to take on at this point. My boss is an amazing scrapbooker and still spends lots of time on her own albums. she is always entering contests and has even won a couple.

Allison

 

[DiznEeyore]

Allison: That sounds like a fabulous place to work! I wish the LSS I worked at had been like that. The only ones "allowed" to work on their own things during slow times were the owner's two best friends (stamping teacher & the woman who is now -- so I hear -- the manager). I didn't know this (and I'd worked there for quite a while at this point), was working on my own album during a midnight crop (nothing else to do) and she stopped in and about had kittens!

 

[DVCajun]

Oh geez-- the egos of some small business owners amaze me!

 

[lisaschu]

I worked in retail for over ten years and you couldn't pay me enough to do it again. I would never in a million years open a scrapbook store. Never! However, I am a CMC and I love having my own business. I know some consultants lose ambition to work on their books, but I honestly don't think I'd have accomplished as much had I not had my business. I finished one book before I became a CMC. I now have 10+ books going/finished with plans for a few more. This stuff is expensive and there's no way I'd have this many albums if I didn't get it at cost! If I need supplies I just go "shopping" in my stock - in my own home! It's awesome! Now, having said that, I don't faithfully work on my books. I go in spurts. At the beginning of the year I cranked out about 75 pages in less than two months. I didn't touch my pages until a couple weeks ago and now I've got about 20 more completed. I'll probably keep going for a while and then put it away again. I guess everyone's different. Having a store or business isn't always easy and if it's a chore it definitely takes it's toll on your interest.
Lisa

 

[abbyndrewmom]

Originally posted by DiznEeyore
Allison: That sounds like a fabulous place to work! I wish the LSS I worked at had been like that. The only ones "allowed" to work on their own things during slow times were the owner's two best friends (stamping teacher & the woman who is now -- so I hear -- the manager). I didn't know this (and I'd worked there for quite a while at this point), was working on my own album during a midnight crop (nothing else to do) and she stopped in and about had kittens!

Yikes, I don't think I would be happy there either. I am very lucky as the owner of the store i work for is wonderful.

Allison