Salt Lake City Owner’s Meeting Sharing Recap

Paper Craft:Hawaii: I enjoy the Paper Craft committee. I do not have a specific item of more importance are the project sheets in my packet. AccuCut Triangle Box (showed orange as a carrot at AccuCut) turned into a tree, a witch hat. We do a lot of business with Sizzix we used the French fry box and turned into a bat.

In card making blogging world we have the step card, score and fold. A Project our company (even ACE) is doing is the hello kitty fan I have a project sheet in the packet. We have project making for kids and add our logo to the fan to advertise our store.

Our projects sell our paper.

Pt Huron: Ecstasy Crafts Dennis Ecstasy Crafts includes sticky tabs with printed designs to create a dimensional card sold 744 kits since Jan ordered 800+ for Christmas season ordering. We are not a paper craft store. $2.99-$7.50 retail. ***Kelli to contact Dennis for SPC Discount

Pt Huron: Graphic 45 strong for us still on every surface. Reordered Halloween twice. Popular for us are Loralie Stamps www.loraliedesigns.com17 styles Aug 16th sold out by Aug 19th . Retail $19.99. Driven by Copic Markers $6.39ea. Circle Explosion book

by Pinecone Press made a model sold all the kits cost $4.00 retail $8.99-$9.99.

Tacoma: $6500 in Graphic 45 paper sold. Fill in through PA and 2 direct orders. Renaissance ordered twice. Ordering for two departments hard craft and scrapbook.End cap program in hard craft constantly filling our racks using Idea-o-logy corners, feet and buttons. Collage Pauge also a good product for this program

Springfield: Cuttlebug Quilling design dies selling like crazy. Items listed in packet. Order long adaptor for Cuttlebug. We buy direct from Provo and occasionally from PA.

Pocatello: Newspaper we borrowed the idea from. A dinner menu board magnetize the menu and pop onto monthly calendar board.

Redmond: Card stock packs from PA sell in 90 days what we do in a year $15,000 in 5 sizes in next 3 months. Great on the counter but we stack it out.

Waite Park: Viva Decor 50/20 SPC discount sold $1000 in a week. Most popular are the Glitter Liner pens and Inka gold great colors. When our paper craft and hard craft people are excited we have a good line. This is a line that you can put in to both Paper Art and Art departments. In packet

We have a Card event every month that people can show up and make a card creating interest.

Still our #1 department it has migrated to hard craft. Basic crafting really pulling up May-Jul a real resurgence.

Hawaii: A lot of stores are doing an end cap of tea lights because we made the cakes, lanterns and more the paper craft committee decided to make it a project end cap in their stores that will sell a lot of product. Those

are the little things to promote during 4Q for big sales.

http://dandeliondesigns.blogspot.com/

While we are talking about DIB, Dandelion Designs also used DIB pens from BFS Hawaii and made this fun projectMonroe: DIB we ordered 30cases except for clip boards and we are out. If there is another opportunity to buy definitely buy it they are going wild over it.

Tacoma: We are out of the Snap Book.Bonney Lake: We had a lady buy 300 of them. We have a few samples hung too high and they were selling like crazy without samples. Not in my $1 program. We have 7.5’

of it.

Idaho Falls: Maybe this is the next magnet center. Monroe: For fall ordered DIB 212 cases only 52 cases for spring I will run short.

Camas: 4x6 binders, 8x10 (?) ***Debbie to send info.***Heather to find out about another CFO for DIB spring shipment. Put out to you. If you have had success send reports to support the CFO. What would be helpful like Intco 4 stores provided by sku reporting so that we could offer the right sku’s. Research stationery companies to see what is trending

Monroe: I think price drives the volume but a lot of craft groups are picking them up as inexpensive projects. Kaysville: Bo Bunny Dot paper is strong for us. We use the chunky letters and add paper to sell more paper.

Bonney Lake: I liked Kaysville’s idea to add seasonal scrapbook paper to a collage frame to create a seasonal art piece. Great way to show a home décor piece or show your paper lines.

Larry: I only hear paper craft not scrapbooking. Is that the trend in our stores?

Tacoma: We still sell paper and scrapbooks to traditional scrapbookers only now we have people that like creating home décor pieces.

Bonney Lake: We have both but the surfaces are selling more paper products for us.Grass Valley: We still sell a lot of scrapbooks and albums. A lot of the variation is that the books are more about events vs. ancestry. That was the basis to start. A lot of smaller scale books but the crossover is so muddled you cannot pick it apart. Easier to identify all the products

Scott: We are not eliminating our scrapbooker only showing them new ways to use the products. We sell tons of glue, albums and storage just giving another avenue.

Pt Huron: Copic those things I cannot say enough if you have stampers you need Copic so far $1700 in pens this year just in Copic sell by sets and individually. They love them. The Stampabilities line paired with CopicNestabilities so far $1400 sold in those, works with card program.We have a certified Copic instructor to teach consistently. We carry @ 150 colors and rotate them out frequently.

Bonney Lake: I bought the refillable version of the Multiliner pen from Copic for Zentangle they are extremely smooth and last a long time. We carry 144 colors and retail for $6.99 in the Sketch. I own 90+ pens of my own. I am happy to put together a list of top colors to start with based on results and usability. We will stay at 144 colors in the store. Don’t invest a lot in grays. ***Kelli to contact Melody for best sellers list

Pocatello: When we were at CHAS we met with Imagination International and we started with 36 color pens. Got rid of Ciao by Copic and now we have the displayed near frame shop desk so that the consumer can see the color of the pen but cannot access them. We have the pen accessible by counter help. Heavily shop lifted item need to protect the pens.

Suggested the members send their paper craft people to regional certification classes for Copic. Grass Valley sent 3 people last week.

Hawaii: I have Copic envy we are not permitted to carry them in all of our stores. If you are working with a particular stamp company find out from them what the colors are that they are using so that you are offering those colors too.

Waite Park: We sold $7000 in Copic with only 36 colors. We will probably have someone certified and will increase the line.Bonney Lake: Is anyone using them as promotional ***Kelli to work on CFO 12color set for promotional buy opportunity.

Grass Valley: Zentangle is a really strong category

Who is having success with stamps?Idaho Falls: Stamps are selling in beading for glass tiles, metal tags . We scaled back our stamps but do see sales from the add on sales alcohol ink. Our most successful program for stamping is the stamp of the month Great impressions as a guaranteed sale program. Tacoma: Great Impressions has changed their program you cannot return the supplemental stamps only the featured stamps can go back.

Louisville: People cannot visualize things. Years ago we would make wreaths for people now they cannot visualize that. They say we need to see it and cannot envision what it would look like

Springfield: We usually buy board programs not monthly program but I do buy the Penny Black, Savvy board programs and also with Hero and a few others I pay someone to make a board for me. Our stamp sales are not necessarily up but we sell a lot.

Pt Huron: Our sales are driven by classes we teach Gamsol colored pencils and Stampabilities House Mouse stamps and the class is filled each time and they buy a lot of product. We show them how simple and it sells the product. They come back every month.

Papercraft Committee: Shared that wood mount stamps are back in demand because of altered and mixed medium uses.

Kelli: Idea found in Rexburg using Hampton Art Stamps acrylic blocks, Mod Podge and Paper. Hampton sells a

64 piece mixed asst (2 styles) acrylic blocks cost .49 retail $1.00 VC0028 $31.36 for a single assortment. Contact Cheryl at Hampton Arts/Studio G

Yorba Linda: I have not heard much about stickers I am hearing a lot about older techniques coming back.

Springfield: Sticko is still okay but not the layering of stickers and stamps. Sticker sales are slower. Sticker King we still do well with that line.

Yorba Linda: We started earlier this a.m. with paper layering from Ecstasy Crafts it sounds like old techniques are coming back.

Waite Park: Clear stamps were not doing that hot but wood stamps were so we cut 1/3 out and have not lost sales and clear stamps have grown. It may be attributed to ordering more and staying on top of it.

Camas: Is there anything in the way of accessories? Flower Soft, Smooch, Bonney Lake: We carry the refills for Distress Ink pads and sales are strong because of additional techniques using the re-inkers. Yorba Linda: I talked to Judikin’s about sales and he said accessories are strong and stamp sales are not as strong.

Idaho Falls: I see more 3D with canvas, Tattered Angels, layering paper. We are seeing a huge trend in glitter teens are buying to put into their nail polish. Prima MarketingWaite Park: Canister of flowers from Prima are the strongest seller. Idaho Falls: Those flowers are ideal for headbands for babies. We ordered quite a bit of Prima.

Bead Sharing:Richmond: Mulberry Studios Marina De Buchi (SP?) great album selling well.Connie’s Crystals saw in CW put in our stores. Sell 170 a week. They have a nice spinning tree rack 300pc order = free rack. They have a new program with colors coming in a little more money but look great.

$1.65 cost from LA Trendy Gifts. http://www.sierrapacificcrafts.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=618 this vendor info is on the SPC website.

Camas: We brought in Connie’s Crystals and we sell them well. ***Publish Connie Crystalshttp://www.conniecrystal.com/

Yorba Linda: Anyone having a problem with weights and measures? Zim’s doesn’t include them.

Yorba Linda: Pier 1 came out with flat back crystals to decoupage the back.

Burlington: Crystal bracelets good.

Kaysville: Doing well with Scrabble Tile, watch program, bracelets and crystal strands

Camas: Thank David and Paul for their work on finding these great programs. We have had a problem with theft. One employee of 2yrs stole $50,000 in beads. If anyone has any suggestions relating to controlling theft let me know.

Redmond: We made a major commitment to our bead department 75% of people caught for shoplifting were in the bead department. When you are setting up your bead department set up your staffing to support and protect the department. Higher percentage of theft. If you have not caught anyone in the last month you better go look

Pocatello: Renee level priced specific Garlan chain sku’s x4 on every strand Took highest price in each grouping of chain that look alike is the same retail at the higher You need to jump on the Garlan chain program if you haven’t. Great program. We have reordered 4x

Louisville: Jewelers glass tiles domino is the best. You can use collage sheets, pressed flowers, paper and more. The company is a kitchen and bath tile company. Box of 20 or 40 www.WholesalersUSAinc.com go to jewelry supply section to find the tiles.

Wire wrapping is growing in our store. I have a few suggestions:

Make lots of samples with instructions

We sell a lot of different wire Darice, Beadalon and Beadsmith. Beadsmith does the best for us German Style wire. Just came out with a square and half round style. There are samples on the table. Beadalon is stainless steel. Beadsmith is brighter like sterling.

You need books, wire, hammer, anvil, instruction sheets and Beadalon has new tools.

Monroe: I pulled a report on seed beads $9900 hemp was the second top ranked product category in sales $9000 in cording.

Large Hole bead sales coming from hemp and cord. Cherry tree is our source as well as DaBeads.

Bonney Lake: With regard to the spirit of SPC and our sharing I have been the recipient of one of our local members that has developed a strong bead program and we are up 89% for month of August. I have spent the time in the Redmond store and learn continually.Scrabble Tile pendants brought them in and did them exactly the way Idaho and Utah stores did them and did okay with them in the small bowls. In Redmond’s store they put them on an actual Scrabble Tile board and put them on the board. I went to a second hand store and found a swivel board version of Scrabble that holds each tile. The pendants fit on the tray beautifully. Sold 96 pieces in 6days.Camas: We brought in the Scrabble tile pendants and Salem used the beading trays with stair step and set by register sold 1000 first 5wks. Ready to go jewelry sells well. Bonney Lake: The ball chain is a perfect add on

Silicone Watches we sold 255 in last 2 months at a nice margin $20 each 2/$30. Cost $5 nice margin and I was told when I bought them that the large face sell the best and they are doing 30% of our watch sales now. Now we are bringing in the small ones. Also carrying the small kid’s watches from Sbar’s and they are selling we have them clip stripped at the front. We have the Yousuf watches on the floor too each employee can buy 1 watch at cost to wear. Rexburg: We buy them from Timeworld. Paul/Springfield has found them overseas you can call him to order those.

Springfield: We have sold 500 pieces of Scrabble Tiles in last 60 days.Paul has provided 2 companies that he does well with both are shared in the packet one is Skull Crown they have a spinner holding colored ball chain with dog tag Wine Stoppers cost $1.10 Hawaii and Monroe have them retails $5.00 we have some to send. It does say lead free in Paul’s book.Rexburg: If you have any ideas for them we do not sell a lot of wine stoppers in Idaho.

Idaho Falls: Vintaj still doing well for us in bulk. Lucite beads from too. We bought our own decrease by reducing our stones.

Biggest increase in bead department is our findings. Findings are what makes the shop unique. We can boast in our Rexburg and Idaho Falls stores that we have the largest assortment in the area.

We are expanding TierraCast and adding more packaged too.

Redmond: Thanks to Paul/Springfield for taking the time to find great programs for us.

David will not say much sold 2000 since march. SPC stores are a part of the business they have but they have Disney and a Vodka distiller that is buying for their bottles. We do get a lower price and priority shipping.

Camas: How often are you coming out with new designs?Redmond: All the time 4 new ones in the pack right now, if there is a theme or design you want Camas: We would like to sign up for some sort of auto ship that freshens up the program. Redmond: We could work on that one. It is our one of our top classes in beading. Using scrapbook and punches in the store and resin and tiles from Lara’s Crafts. Speaking to Omaha’s tools we are doing a beginner kit in our store for $29.99 and we are excited that we can get this tool offer.On Paul’s stuff I want to share a few great items: colored ball chain ordered 5000 for our store, glass pendants, leather ropes 50pcs per color $.08 sell $1.99 sold thousands, Pandora style beads. If you sign up for Paul’s email list he will send you an email with what he finds. If you want it great if not no worries.

Helena: Thanks for sharing Zim’s and Triveni August was quite flat for us and those two programs helped us gain a couple points for August. Highest gross margin product in our store at 84%.

Hawaii: Two bead items to share. Part of the project sheets are the Beaded Pen Jewel we took the beaded pen Jewels attach to eyeglass holders and stick it on a pen. Also the first page in the packet a BeadSmith Kumi braiding an adult version of the Friendship Bracelet Maker the books and disk are available in English print. You will get a lot out of your cording sale program. Round and flat versions of cord brought in to our craft stores and in August we sold 111 in first 4wks.

Strongsville: 3/$10 reordered $25,000 sales in our store were Awards to David for Crystal Bracelets we have sold $31,800 Award to Chuck for Games Program we did a total of $128,000 in our stores inline

Framing: Anchorage: We carry 200 in stock mouldings and have 2000 available. In stock we have turned around in 24hrs. We do not up charge. Our philosophy is if we can do it we will do it and if we cannot we tell them. It pays back not to up charge. The customer service in a custom dept is paying off.

Corporate Accounts the nationals cut back last year and they are coming back. The local commercial accounts are still strong. There is nothing that new happening in custom or ready made frames but these are the programs that are strengthening our customer base.

Springfield: In April we signed an agreement with Framer’s Inventory and did $18.000 at cost with Framer’s and since our wall change was finished we

Grass Valley: Intco 4 series 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 frames in the spring we switched to 2fers. When we discovered they came in later we red stickered the 2fer sold 150 in a few weeks. This import opportunity for getting another order in for January is important and you should definitely take a look at it. 4x6 is slower the jumbo size with photo printing is 5x7. The shipment coming in first of DEC we have 1400 of 2fers and think I will sel through most of those in December.

Structural Industries aluminum frames the way we retailed them during our tent sale we ended with a 54% margin at a 2fer buy one get one for $.01.

Omaha: We have equipment for sale, Tom Mangelsen upgraded his equipment and has a few items for sale.

Louisville: We owe Craig a big thanks to make our ready made program strong.

Neil: Trends International keeps up on the latest movies, posters and more. We sell $500 a month in Justin Beiber posters cost $3 sell $8. We mount and add photo corners. End up with a $25 sale when it is all said and done.

Yorba Linda: We are going to have a quantity of supplies available to sell our custom frame shops have been shut down. Sales dropped 80%. We will sort out the product and send out a list. We have double bed size vacuum presses etc…

Helena: I shared a few months ago with Kelli our frame program and how we work framing we are up 17% for year. We took a little different look in our frame department and decided to reduce our options in domestic and import table top products and forced people to look at the custom. We have 4 full time frame employees they have 1/3 the volume in the store. They took it upon themselves to grow the department sales and up selling. Because we messed up on LFA order we ran a third frame promotion in January and may be in part responsible for the the We usually only run 2 used to have a local chopper and about 18mo ago he closed shops and equipment. At the time we were ordering our Larsen product from him and now we order the same amount from Larsen for the first time in 30+ years we now have a Larsen rep stopping in our store. Our gripe was that we used to buy a lot from a local guy. We get a credit from them every month and getting a freight credit and terms discounts when paying in a shorter window.

Anchorage: We give our employees a bonus occasionally for a restaurant in the area for a job well done.

Burlington: We take a picture of the employee with the custom job and they write a note to the customer with a coupon and send it to them. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to frame XXX. ****Request Marks’s template.

The frame rep came in recently and said “you don’t show much framing on your website” we are reworking our site to promote framing more actively also showcase artist’s

We are going to try to have customer testimonials take a picture of the guest with a little story about their frame project.

Burlington: I ran a YTD sales report in our packet LFA is 1/3 of our sales. Our ready made sales dollar wise are soft unit wise still the same.

Rexburg: Where do you get your 40% off coupons.

Burlington: KencoIdaho Falls: We are trying to get our girls to work on add on sales. One girl brought in pictures of her kids playing soccer she designed a matte shaped like a soccer ball. I tried to encourage our girls to try these things. We are trying to make our customers aware that we can cut almost anything.

Grass Valley: Almost everyone has a city celebration in their area. We have a Draft Horse event in our town that has posters. We were going through Roma’s close out mouldings and we bought a couple styles and showed them in our September ad and got community interest. We have prebooked 17 orders for this event and the event hasn’t happened yet. Look for closeout mouldings that work with the event poster in your area.

We have a couple matting samples around a Zentangle project in our packet. We have a few photos in our packet to check out.

Richmond: I got something that wasn’t in our packet Tru Vue glass had a spiff and one store got $25,000 in spiff. ****Kelli to talk to Anthony M about Tru Vue group opportunity. Louisville: they were trying to drive sales with museum glass and went around

We have done the thank you notes for years and included a coupon and also used Google Ad words for our framing ad’s.

We have also done the same thing for hats

We are trying to work on buying ad’s on Facebook. Set the metrics for age etc…

Alex: Facebook is now providing lead lists based on demographics #for 25yr old male etc…

Louisville: Facebook also allows you to include photos. www.facebook.com\advertising

Kaysville: How many are doing the Facebook ads?

Camas: I would pay close attention to what you are hitting if you are hitting your max it would be time to increase. We had a specific thing we were going to target we dialed it down too tight and hit our minimum too quickly and could not determine based on minimum.

Redmond: Sent a flyer www.facebook.com\coupon.comFAQ

Import Presentation by Greg

Starting Aug 1st we will need to bill for actual freight we exceeded our estimated max.

Ocean freight more than doubled this past season.USDA charges are at an all time high they wanted to inspect Tripar. PVC was inspected. Each time you pay $3000 fee, demurrage fees to FTN,

One thing I run into trouble with is we come into these windows is when we get notice of delay. I say “what would I do?” I have been accepting delays because we may not be able to get product elsewhere because of the date. You usually have an impact to your margin when you have to take it late.

Import Spring DiscussionChina is changing they want to become a brand and do their own branding changed tax structures shortage of workers for basic low price items. We gave a vendor a po, ship date, asked for confirmed shipping window. They responded we cannot tell you “you should cancel”.

MOQ’s are being requested large quantities. We have a lot of sku’s in one container. Add freight, shipping issues, product delivery, product production are my fears.

Constantly working on where we are at on the orders. Trying to work on the front side of shipping windows. That will be our biggest thing. China currency is low everyone is encouraging them to raise it which will result in big prices. The perfect storm is happening in a bad way.

We are going to work on providing more information early.

I am going to propose that we work with our fall vendors to get our requoted orders in earlier. We might need to work on shipping smaller productions runs if ordered early. Or lighter containers. Fall we might look at identifying 60, 80, 100 items that we want to go back on and buy earlier than the import presentation.

Consensus?My thought is if the product is ready to go I will airfreight it to get it faster and sell it at a higher margin. Also deciding on what we can take later. Let me know and if I hear otherwise from the majority I will change course.

I am worried about spring. The containers will be more available. We waited 3wks on one order because of no capacity.

Import Offering from Greg

We bought 2 containers of self contained fountains we will buy 5 containers. Colors were good finished gross a little over 50%Andrea: they told us we could land it on the east coast for roughly $500 more and run it through the Panama Canal. To save on freight

We bought other pots too but are going to put more emphasis on the fountains.

Rexburg: we did not do well with the pots. Fountains flew out sold small fountain for $69. Large sold $149 Blue sold best we have weighed it for that reason. Pumps are included in fountain. One fountain is a round bowl should be in a round dish. Sample is wrong.

Grass Valley: we sold the pots

CFO for INTCO You can order anything on your electronic order form. Mouldings have sku’s on back.

Another CFO for LFA

DIB will be offered again

ZKM will try again we need to order a container per sku. Spring did not go. We need to either sku down or build orders

Helena: I thought there were new offerings from LFA.

Greg: we are only offering what was available in spring

Mike: Should they be pre-priced?Craig: It is a pain not to pre-price.

YORK POTENTIAL ORDERPotential Paper WeightsLodge Candle Holder

Operations PresentationAlex’s Power Point Presentation

Larry: QR CodesWhat does this mean? Kim: when are fees removed? When you choose once per month or whatever you want. Adrian: How soon do you get the money? They will discuss that they post within 24hrs and it is up to the FED.

Impulse/Gift and Stuff that Sells

Jayna: Dog signs ***SEE REPORT Scan Decal cost $1.00 90days dating and guaranteed sale

Kim: We have been talking to a company that sells pet supplies and they have not experienced a slow down. People buy for their pets.

Bonney Lake: Melissa and Doug have a little shopping cart in packet. We sold 7 sell $59.99 in last 4mo. Melissa and Doug will send a free sample they sent us 2. Kid’s love the mini shopping cart.

Quincy: We sell the cart and it sells very well.

Rexburg: TY is coming on really strong for us two key items Lil One’s and the Boo stuffed animals and the Beanie. Boo sold 160pc we have 2 racks for $1007

Games we are continuing to grow with. For last part of my report I put in top 100 items for import program.

Idaho Falls: I would highly recommend the Lumps game guaranteed sale counter display. 4th quarter marketing plan it is in there.

Rexburg: R&M is still our principle supplier for this category. I am staying with the big box pricing and I am doing on the Mattel I buy direct. If it is a hot game and they are selling at cost I match it. I just want to become a force with games.

We featured a power aisle a couple years ago and we are at 30’ now. Consider direct on those games you are selling a lot of. We also pick-up games from VDI Matel, Hasbro etc…

Idaho Falls: We also get a tub of Little Hex dice from R&M sold 889 pieces in the register area

Helena: Popcorn balls that were originally shared by Kaysville. We keep It in the store year round do $6000-$9000 cost $1.00. Gary’s Originals

Spirit Tales Minkee scarf with cuff ends have a muff. Just got it in Aug 30 sold 18pc going to be excellent. In packet.

MMM International in our packet linen table runners and table cloths. Third fall carrying this category. They do not have a catalog we order from a rep fall 09 sold 400pc at $2300 60% gross. Will carry year round in spring and everyday colors.

Helena: Embellish Your Life we shared in the spring they have new styles coming out.

Waite Park: Brynn Truffles at the register 1000pc month at 53% gross

Annie B’s caramels two great check stand items

Nail Polish will do $10,000 on the small little acrylic rack from Jordana. Light Up Puffer Ball from Darice sold $6900 at 66% gross.

Hawaii: two items one from Joel the one thing is the $ program we have info in the packet Kingsford Intl pre priced 50% of retail. Had such great success we have reordered. Hello Kitty pan sold 115 in 6wks with the accessories like cupcake toppers and bags. We did have a promotion on Wilton products and now have 67 rainchecks for these pans. I also posted to my blog. Hello Kitty is turning 50yrs old we are going to have a celebration NOV 1-7th. Our big Hello Kitty event.

Strongsville: Pet section continuing to increase in sales in packet

Omaha: Aspen mulling spices we serve it, sample it, we sell a lot throughout the Christmas season

Also Loran oils for candy making and baking cost is $.70 retail $1.79

Wind in Willow dips and soups we sample on Saturdays and have a lady wearing an apron during the demo. This one is fantastic. Quincy: They now have a mushroom dip that is delicious.

Pocatello: TY Boo’s for us are popular too. Order more than the rack holds order 144 not the 120 that the rack holds. Keep it full to sell more.

Also unpack one and put it on top of the spinner rack so that they can touch and feel it. We cut fat quarters of 18”x30” Cuddle and fold in half and did a critter animal up through the center $4.99 Boo and $5.49 for a Fat Quarter of Cuddle. We sold 30 kits (2) 30” sq of Cuddle and the animal with instructions. Don’t ignore TY.

Idaho Falls: We brought in the super giant marshmallows

We brought them in for $6.99 and then had the source for $1.80 bought 80 cases reduced freight by $.30 case grocery store was at $3.99 and we moved our price down to $3.99. NAFTA

Rexburg: Bought CQ S’more book to go with it and sold that too.

Quincy: Recipe for Friendship from Ganz. Evergreen or Ganz distributes

In January we found Miller Décor we have done 2-3 reorders from this company since January. Party Bags new company since June at Dallas headbands we can pick the colors.

Rexburg: those head bands for babies are terrific so glad to have a new source to get them.

Quincy: Crossroads Candles $12.88 feature limit 3 Sbar’s Wreath also a great item in packet

Doing great with SPC items especially the clay pumpkin.

Had a VDI show in Omaha and it was awesome

Burlington: Bananagrams #1 in our store $21,000 ytd in games. we have promoted them at 25% periodically.

Sbar’s Plaid Paint promotion is a great item we sold 10,000 since FEB. in packet 46% margin on promotion

Darice reading glasses sell $5.99 ****Debbie to send glasses to us

Richmond: Question about Kyber, we are in a warmer client what should we expect? Buy it, it is a fashion item

Annie B’s Caramels sell 1500 mo. have them at 1 register in every store.

Jelly Belly terrific seller for us what is not in our assortment that you bought is the Candy Corn #45118 20% of sales come from one sku. You can order it directPocatello: Sugar free option is great, we sell a lot of them and have them on our rack.

Richmond: Spice Time VDI has them as well small rack we have in Wilton department. It does not make sense to buy from Sbar’s ***in packet

Magnetic Bookmark Company *in the packetFiki Sports little footballs a BF in Leesburg sold 1000 of them NCAA or NFL we will carry VA Tech and Redskins. I would suggest the 72pc display *in packet

When Silly Bandz were at their hottest we asked kids what else was popular. They said Crazee Beans

Skateboards from JaRue $2.99 full power panel due in October.

Yorba Linda: Finally jumped on scarf and headband band wagon. Steve’s uncle has always sold fashion accessory products. He showed us scarves and headbands and we are offering them to the group. We also found a pincher for picking up things we retail for $3.99 cost $1.00 selling like crazy. We sell the headbands for $2.99 each

We also found Party Favors a source in LA www.papermart.com they have bulk pieces of party favors boxes and bags.

We found another source for totes and bags. Info is in the packet. They are out of LA. There is room to improve the price, margin great, sales great. They have luggage and rolling totes. Computer cases, pencil cases and cosmetic bags. ***Kelli to work on CFO

Tacoma: Layering the spices and putting those in jars and giving as neighbor gifts. You could sell 5 jars of spices and a bottle.

CQ has a spice book for $20 it is a good seller

Louisville: Lucite bowls that have been shaped for napkin holders we use them for display and they hold up and people still buy the bowl. Switchable night lights $14.95-$20.00 family owned company made in the USA. They also have jewelry stained glass. You have to buy the display with the night lights.

Snoozies good for us. They are cute.

Photo Cables for hanging photos from Streamline and Mishu in packet

Mixed Bag Designs inexpensive bags we add 3” and 4” monograms in pink, black and white. Packaged the vinyl monograms are offered by CK by Design. Treasury of Memories is doing them for us unpackaged.

JAM totes recycled material bags you can get the $1.95 price if you can order the case. The totes are great available in all sizes. We sell more mixed bags than we do the JAM bags.

Pt Huron: If you are in the market for hand bags we found a great source for purses 24 sold since mid August doubled my next order coming in. Cost $17.50 Canadian. When I saw that TaiPan was selling purses I did $3917 in one store and $3927 in the other store in purses in August. I bring in 2 pc per style.

Yorba Linda: I went to the ASD show and saw a ton of purses.

Louisville: We have several sources we buy off the internet. Rexburg: We have a lot of choices and one of our best was a blinged camo bag that people liked.

Pt Huron: Hatley boxers HATLEY # 800-667-2583 Burlington, VT

Pt Huron: One of the biggest sellers in our packet is the Tote Bag made from the Sbar’s placemats it takes 3 placemats to make the bag, sold 408 since April

Annie B’s caramels

What’s the Big Idea? Great line info in packet be sure to buy the pet products

3D Bookmarks a super hot seller, thanks Jayna!

Louisville: We bought Bucky Balls bought 2 displays of 30 each from C2F sold 30 in 5wks. They have a video you can run. Retail $30.00. #1 selling adult toy. Helena: We sold through 2 displays

Louisville: Scarf Collection cost was $6.00 now down to $5 for SPC. Ruffled scarf is trending up. Rexburg: The round tube scarf from Sbar’s has sold out. HSN has had it on and they sold it out each time.Louisville: They will send you samples

Redmond: $1.99 item impulse We are going to buy nail polish, Bucky Balls, boxers,

FABRIC SHARING:Pocatello: Quilt Block Program in the packet

Cuddle Corner in packetDRG Bitty Babies program lots of add on sales in the packet look at the chart $8000 in sales in crochet hook, dolls, book, knit crochet thread requires 2 skeins per outfit, Aunt Lydia’s, we had an employee make the samples for us.

Canvas wrapped with T-shirts team logo, event etc…

Legacy Premier Quilt Batting by Pelon I worked with HD on a program for SPC members, 15% discount off wholesale. 9yds on a bolt.

Pt Huron: Cuddle Fleece and cotton Leopard coat sells as a kit quite well.

Pt Huron: Mary Maxim yarn Sparkle Mohair suggested retailShawl Pins are an easy add on sale for shawl projects.$9.99 per skein. Sparkle Mohair

Mary Maxim Sugar Baby Stripes similar to Chunky Marble Baby Baby Bunting Bag $4.99 retail $1.99 cost. ***Ask Carol to send project sheet electronically

We have sold 10,400 balls for $52,000 of Baby Marble.

Buttons Etc… carries the Shawl Pin sold 890 and 95 Pattern at $8.50 for Table Runner in packet

We have 4 different apron project sheets on our end cap with apron kits that include fabric. *in packet

We have a 7yo that learned to knit this summer and he is now wanting to knit more…

Premier Yarn promotion ordered in March ordered 112 cases $17,000 sales 60% margin.

Addi Turbo Knitting Needles by Skacel

Bernat BCA Collection for the Cure I would highly recommend if they offer it next year.

Monroe: Dresses for Africa program ***in packet

Slouchy Beanie Books from Leisure Arts we sold 35 of top and 55 of bottom.

Pillow case Challenge

Helena: I have three patterns to share in the packet. Really strongPom Poms and Polka Dots by Charmaine McLaughlin

My “Charm”ing Apron retail 49.00 406-459-1646The Mod Girl Purse $9.The In town Bag $9.

Redmond: Kitted baby girl and baby boy Cuddle blanket for baby Row by Row sells for $19.99 and they buy a yard to finish the back at $18.99

Idaho Falls: sold 472 cuddle kits for $12,000 Shannon will sell you boxes to kit your own Fat Quarter boxed collection. ***CHECK # in packet

Rexburg: I only know programs and managing money I don’t know the cute and creative stuff. I have included information in our packet about what our process looks like.

Camas: There are pretty big dollars in the bundles. Flat Folds since January put together a plan to work on flat fold programs will buy a targeted amount of flat folds each month and will accumulate to build for our 3 truckload events Jan, May and Sept. you cannot typically buy enough quality goods quickly so we accumulate our selection building for the event and sell at the regular promotion price and then during he event drop to $3.99 and in Sept we went to $2.99 we buy flat folds and bolts and buy to fill the dollars. Jan bought $90,000 at retail sold $72,000 $150,000 increase in fabrics finished margin @ 40% really successful. Plan for $600,000 at the beginning of the year and will exceed that. We only advertised the September event, everything else was in store advertising and banners and word of mouth. I was really happy with the way the program was going. We used Jan and May to clean up our own problems and in Sept we do not do that due to space limitations. We give it Jan and May event we run down the middle aisles in front of the department and stretch across the back near our frame dept

Kaysville: Pumpkin Party Pattern sold 35 patterns and made the kits and sold 45 at $11.99 .Nancy Halverson books sold out of the books and all the material. Have the Tidings books going now. ***Check packet for $’s

Sold Hemstitch blankets with thread, needles and more.

Richmond: Premier Yarn we have done very very well put it in an add for $1.00 great add on and impulse. We also tried the Big Ball of yarn we sold 300pc in last 8wks for $8.99 skein. Will look at more Premier.

Fat Quarters sell 1250 a month. WP sold 847 Sbar’s Fat quarters. We sell at $1.00 in the stores and $.60 out of Sbar’s warehouse.

Grass Valley: Heather at our store talked about Kertzer Marble Chunky yarn we sold 1800 ytd. We have had a 17% increase in yarn.

In fabric we went to Triad for upholstery fabrics all kinds of quality stuff for $1.49 yd. if you have an old Oilcloth rack that will work.

he is buying JC Penneys overruns and discontinued. ***CRAIG to send phone and contact info.

GENERAL CRAFT:Monroe: Glass block in our packet the green project sells a lot of glass tall blocks. And the little feet you should project out.

Magnet Program we like our program but will make slight changes after seeing Chuck’s displayPeachtree sticker ***JAYNA TO SEND KELLI INFO

Pt Huron: Itty bitty Babies, Friendship Bracelet Maker and Melissa and Doug. What prompted me to bring in Melissa and Doug is the guaranteed sale.

Redmond: INSERT packet highlights

Hawaii: Reusable bag program. They will need to use our reusable bag for the bag sale. We did another one that was a BYOB (bring your own Ben Franklin bag sale)

Louisville: Can bring any reusable bag 20% off one day each month yesterday it doubled our sales for the day. With exclusionsGrass Valley: Once each month for the last 3mo. We sell the cotton bag for $4.99 and they can come in the last Wed each month anyone that buys $25 in product they can buy the bag for $4.99 and receive the discount. Average M-T average $11,000 lately $18,000-$19,000 on bag day we may drop $1000 the day before but we gain it on bag day.

Richmond: $9.99 jars at $1.75 we ran them in last ad for 3/$10 made 40+ sold 1200 in first 4 days. They limit to 1000 pieces did an everyday and a seasonal one. $25 jar you get for $6.25 will do a black Friday and blow through them. If you ask about it you will find out a lot about their specials.

Pt Huron: All of Toronto charges for a bag $.05 for small and $.10 for large.

Yorba Linda: CA tried to pass a no plastic law

Louisville: If they bring a recycle bag we enter them for a drawing.

Pt Huron: We have to pay a waste management fee in Toronto to get rid of the bags by weight.

Tacoma: Vinyl take advantage of Hayden’s Vinyl Words 60images sets for @ $9.75 = .025-.04 per image. On her website. Some lines are available bulk. Reindeer, Snowman, We cut them apart and sell them bulk for $1.99.

Louisville: Waite Park Sold 271 we sold 500 of the Libra Party Pail Ice Buckets $2.25 plus freight sell for $5.95 on sale marked at $9.95. Waite Park is at $6.99

We asked Treasury of Memories to make vinyl for the holidays. ****REPOST LIBRA INFO and Treasury of Memories info.They have a lot of Libbey. Phone number in Waite Park packet

Omaha: Who are you using for domestic glass?Louisville: Craig Bachman for us we hit Quincy: We get ours from Hill’s if you spend $1000 they cap freight at 15%.

Advertising and Marketing

We encouraged people to open the Christmas binder and review all of the materials that are available in support. Based on conversations at the start of the meeting during financials review we determined that a survey should be composed for everyone to complete. The survey will consist of questions relating to each component of the marketing campaign to determine which components are being used. We will compile the survey results and post to the membership for review. We will then host an open dial in conference call for those interested in discussing the results. The campaign will be adjusted if the results and membership deem necessary.

7 stores did their own version of OY last year 19 are doing it this year. 2 stores did BOO last year, 9 so far are participating this year.

Discussions about Events, Promotions and Community Relating to Marketing:

Pt Huron: Rusty Bucks! Used as an incentive in the mail order division effectively. Now they are using it for the model challenge – slow moving product. A model back with a project sheet = Rusty Bucks. Result – new models, project sheets, cross merchandising, etc., The customers are asked to choose the best project, and then that person gets more Rusty Bucks. The Rusty Bucks are used like cash in the store. Result = quality models.

Louisville: Dee’s does something similar with Dee’s bucks that are given to an associate by the manager when a customer compliments a certain person. Dee’s bucks are also given for achieving specific goals – breaking records, etc.

Strongsville: Catan’s VIP club. Emails, etc., as well as discounts.

Omaha: Mangelsen’s Art Event: gallery exhibition in the store. Artists send people through to view the exhibit. Art sale in conjunction, rep demo’s, etc.

Burlington: Frame “Thank You” program. Pictures of customers with their framed art work. Helps you to explain the breadth of projects that you frame in the store.

Hawaii: Reusable bag program. How to address the challenges.

Waite Park: 40th Anniversary ad, Labor Day coupons.

Quincy: Quincy’s ad – all the fall campaign pictures!

Reno: Michelle shared that they bought a booth at the local quilt guild show. They sold at the show and then gave out 20% off coupons for stuff in the store. Brought in a total of about $2500. The information is in their packet. This is an event that occurs every 3 years, and they’ll probably do it again.

Yorba Linda: Jim B shared that next weekend Ricki and Michelle will be doing a hotel based quilting event. This will go on through Sunday. The quilt retreat keeps selling out – they’ve done one about every 4 months. They negotiate a room block with the hotel, arrange for the electrical hook-ups, etc., They typically have 20 – 24 people / retreat. Staff: Ricki, Michelle, and 1 or 2 other teachers.

Tacoma: Trina trying to step out into the community a little more. A ladies’ lunch at the Catholic Church, decorated the table with lighted branches – sold $2500 in branches, bicycles, etc., in the few hours they were there. They also did an Art Event at which they demo’s the Flower Soft and then gave them a coupon to go back to the store. A good return to the store with the coupons.

Yorba Linda: Jim B positive support of the Children’s Hospital card sales. Tall Mouse has been the dominant seller of these cards for a number of years. Repeat guests call early in the season to see if they have the cards.

Kelli: talked about a stamp store owner who went up to a retirement center to find out if she was on the “route” for taking people to the bank, etc. It worked – for 12 years, she’s had the card class every Monday of every week, $10 / person, she feeds them tea, cookies, etc, and they make cards and shop!

Monroe: Jayna talked about what a neat way it is to communicate with people on Facebook. She tries to respond to each of the people that make a comment, so she’s made a lot of new contacts for the store. Take customer pictures, partner with local businesses on their Facebook pages, etc.

Bonney Lake: Adrian C. talked about the Scrapmania event that they’ve done for a number of years. New product, a social event, networking, etc. The issue has always been space, so their plans was to not do it in Oct, Nov., and Dec. this year. Instead, the high school band is going to do a fund-raising scrapbooking event at the high school. They are going to send product down there to sell, the high school students will sell the product, and they’ll give a percentage of the sales to the band.

Pt Huron: Rebecca shared the Fairy Godmother’s program where knitters, sewers, crocheters gather an work on project, blankets, chemo caps, premie outfits, for the local hospitals, Red Cross, etc. They work with donated yarn from the store. Mary Maxim gives them a place to meet, 15% discount on anything they buy, etc., and it ends up to be a very beneficial program for everyone.

Camas: Greg asked how many had done the same thing on Labor Day that John Schlect did? No one had done it? Greg reminded us again that we need to do something like this! Take a look at their September anniversary ad? We need to do the “We’re proud to be a part of SPC” section of their ad. They’ve noted SPC frames, SPC etc., in their ads! Take a good hard look at the ad! Note the Thank You coupon on the front of their book

Yorba Linda: Jim suggested that we all take a look at our stores to see what is unique and different, and then share those another time eg. gift-wrap by the foot at the Tall Mouse stores.

Richmond: Mid stated that if anyone wants copies of their in-store signage, etc., on email they will send it to us. Their newspaper inserts are now going into the newspaper on Thursdays.

Rexburg: Chuck is sending an email out on Friday morning with the ad information. They do know that their weekend Hot Deals are working. The items are different than their ad items. One of them was Cuddle at $9.88 – huge response. The specials are on the email and then paper in the store Friday morning. These specials run parallel to, but independent of the printed tab ad.

Seasonal Floral and Home DécorBonney lake: UMA we put our Vase, Stick program together customers are excited it is well priced. We have multiple colors and sizes. The twigs and dried we have done so far have done really well.

Rexburg: We did well with the sun catchers

Rexburg: Buy those white trees to display the crystals.

Monroe: We did well with the Kissing Crystal

Pt Huron: Sbar’s Light Bulb Jars Sold 900 sets of 4 of the snowmen and just under 500 of the penguinWe are going to order a pallet for spring to sell bunnies and chicksWe sell the pattern with the kit the pattern and four light bulbs and line list everything we used. Retail $9.99 for set of 4

Quincy: Miller Décor starter kit bought for 4 stores and one store has reordered 2 or 3 x. Black lettering plaques and blocks.

Quincy: York 1925 or 1926 Clay TerraCotta Cylinder pumpkin sold well

Idaho Falls: Tall twig pumpkins ran out first.Louisville: we are selling bigger round than the smaller round

Kaysville: we took the small twig pumpkin and put it on top of the large twig pumpkin. Bonney lake: We bought a Halloween tree from Darice retail $44.99 we sold all 4 pieces in 3 days. Really good item and customers loved it. Branches were stiff and you could hang things off of it.

CLOSING TAKE AWAYAndrea: PotterylandCraig: Credit Card Guy: Credit card companyPaul: PotterylandJoy: Email ContactCory: Pottery Audrey: PatternLinda: Mary Maxim totedAdrian: Bands and hats and party bagsJayna: Models that will be done before we get back recipe calendarRenee: Credit Card company and patterns and Ronell’s patternsHaydens sheets of vinylEmma: Paul Johnson stuffMike: Paul Johnson stuffJeff: Zim’s Gems and Bette: Ronell bags and apron pattern Yorba linda scarves and pincher and Kaysville: Credit CardDebbie: Ronell’s patternsMark D: Caramels lots to catch up in jewelry and tea light end caps Mike D: Credit cardGreg: Paul’s stuff and Kaysville kit of the month concept for 12x12 framesAnthony P: Kyber hats, crystal bracelets, Bucky Balls, Mid: Dog tags from PaulAnthony M: Yarn from Mary Maxim, Justin Bieber PosterMichelle: Credit card and email marketingDonna: patterns we saw and purses from Pt HuronGene: GrabberKim: crystal bracelet, tealight projects, patternsJim: glass tiles, thanks for the meeting many programs that were shared are low entry $’sTrina: credit card, yarn and beadsVince: grabber, canvas covered with t-shirts, bookmarksKathy: a lot of my ideas are about what I already own and make new samples. A lot of things we can make more money on what we already own and crystal strandsCarol: Zim’s, crystal strands, purse and apron Rusty: Ty, Kyber Kids, Snoozies, Vinyl Words bulk vinyl, paint brush setKelly: models we can do when we get home, Pashmina sample model, Helena apron and purseRebecca: Zentangles, Gypsy Gripper Sit Upon.Larry: whatever Kathy tells me to buy.