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I saw on one of the blogs I follow that SU is making changes again. Can anyone explain them? The only thing I got was they are now doing 2 larger minis instead of the 3? smaller ones. And the main cattie will be smaller. Not sure how much smaller.
Will we still get a retirement list? When will it come out? How will Sale-a-Bration be impacted next year? Will this year be the last year they do Sale-a-bration?
I heard the main catalog will be smaller, o minis and they would have more, so we do not have so much of the same products for a year! Nothing else yet...
__________________ Karen
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That's interesting! I wouldn't mind bigger and fewer minis since they would be more season and holiday specific. Only thing I don't like about minis is that the majority of what is in them gets retired as soon as the time period is over. I don't like feeling as if I have to order NOW or never.
There will be some changes....not major, but here is a quick note from the SU demonstrator website.
In a nutshell, starting June 1, 2012, Stampin' Up! will release one annual catalog, comparable to (but smaller than) the current Idea Book & Catalog, and two seasonal catalogs, comparable to (but larger than) the current mini catalogs.
No changes to Sale-a-bration(no mention of any changes, so that is what I am basing my opinion on)
the one thing you should know....this catalog will be ending May 31st, not June 30th...no phase over to the new catalog. And also no Summer Mini...just the Holiday mini and the Seasonal Mini...although they will be larger around 40 pages. HTH, just some tweaking, it looks like.
They havent told us exactly when the retired list comes out, but thinking your date of May 1st will be about right. The mini right now goes toMay 31 and the summer mini starts August 1st.
they will also be doing away with two product lines...
decor elements
simply adorned
Yeah, I heard about that; I don't care for either of those lines so it's not an issue for me. All that concerns me is which stamps sets won't make the new catalogue and if Sale-a-bration will be phased out. Since they mentioned going to 2 minis, and didn't mention SAB and how it fits, I'm nervous. Though admittedly, SAB hasn't been as great in recent years so it might not be that bad if they let it go.
They havent told us exactly when the retired list comes out, but thinking your date of May 1st will be about right. The mini right now goes toMay 31 and the summer mini starts August 1st.
My mini says it ends April 30. Have they extended it to May 31 now?
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SU always list Saleabration as a promotion, not a mini. Even demos don't know the dates for sure until the pre-order goes live. SU starts talking about it the month before that.
The reduction in the big catty it also a financial one. They are lowing the cost in hopes that more demos will give them away. When they took the supply list out to make room for more merchandise, lines of merchandise, I counted 12 pages I felt they could lose. I don't think it will be noticed.
Also the minis are now called Seasonal Selections (I think). At FORTY 8.5x11" pages, there will not be much mini about it.
Personally, I like not having a mini competing with the new catalog release. I know with 3 minis, Saleabration, the retire list, the new catty launch and an almost monthly promotion, many demos felt they were on a treadmill. Hopefully people will now have more time to make wise purchases and have more fun with them.
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Originally Posted by muscrat
My mini says it ends April 30. Have they extended it to May 31 now?
No, the mini still ends at the end of April. With the new format we will be without a mini for the first few months of the new big catalog. I think it's a good thing since the summer mini usually gets overlooked a lot in favor of the new catalog.
I'm sure the retired list will come out on May 1 as that is the date we as demos can pre-order stuff.
I'm sure they will still have SAB. It's not really considered a catalog as it's more of a promotion so I'm guessing that's why it was not mentioned. The minis are going to be bigger in both size (8.5 x11) and pages I think. MOST of the seasonal items will be found in the mini.
I'm one who is fairly resistant to change but I think this is a really good one. I know I bought way too much stuff from the summer mini that didn't get used because I was so intent on stuff from the big catalog. I also like having more time with the stuff from the minis, they will be 5 months each now!
Any more questions just ask, that's what we are here for!
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Originally Posted by wendykins
They havent told us exactly when the retired list comes out, but thinking your date of May 1st will be about right. The mini right now goes toMay 31 and the summer mini starts August 1st.
As my previous post the occasions mini will end at the end of April as stated on the publication. The HOLIDAY mini will begin in August.....so we will be without a mini this year from May--July.
As my previous post the occasions mini will end at the end of April as stated on the publication. The HOLIDAY mini will begin in August.....so we will be without a mini this year from May--July.
I sure wish they would at least give a list of what is retiring so we could plan accordingly. I would be making sure to get things if I knew they would not be in the new catty.
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Originally Posted by muscrat
I sure wish they would at least give a list of what is retiring so we could plan accordingly. I would be making sure to get things if I knew they would not be in the new catty.
Do you mean from the minis? They never do a retiring list from the minis. It's kind of luck of the draw...and it's good marketing:-) However, ALL of the big shot item will carry forward, they have told us that a long time ago. Everything else is anyone's guess. Punches usually do....except now for the stocking punch!
Do you mean from the minis? They never do a retiring list from the minis. It's kind of luck of the draw...and it's good marketing:-) However, ALL of the big shot item will carry forward, they have told us that a long time ago. Everything else is anyone's guess. Punches usually do....except now for the stocking punch!
No, I meant the large catalog...just would like to know what's retiring from it so I can make sure I get what I want
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What I don't get is why they have a catalog that says that products in it will be available until June 30, 2012, but the new catalog will now be coming out June 1 which means that some of the items that were supposed to be available until June 30 now won't be. It's like what they did previously when they had the dormant list. For the dormant list of stamps, they even went so far as to delete any mention of when they originally said stamps would be available - trying to make it like they had never said it in the first place. Now they're taking a month off the availability date of some items because they decided to change the date of the catalog release.
And wasn't it only a few years ago that they came out with the Decor Elements line? There was the big mess with lots of high level SU demos (and other SU demos) having to choose between SU and Uppercase Living because SU decided to start offering the same type of products that Uppercase Living did. Now SU decides to drop that line? Why did they even bother to start it in the first place? What happens to all the money they invested in equipment to produce that line - not to mention all the lives they impacted with a line they're now going to drop? Is that an indication of a possible increase in other prices to recoup that cost (not like SU doesn't already have some high prices).
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Just a note that while they are discontinuing the decor elements line there MAY occasionally be a FEW decor elements offerings. Emphasis on the FEW and not a whole line like they have now.
I liked the decor elements and think they went well along with stamping as I used them for a variety of stamping/crafting projects but I'm glad they made the decision they did. They do stamps well...other companies do vinyl wall art better:-)
Companies have to try new things every now and then. SU would not be where it is today with out throwing some things out there! It's like me personally, I'd rather try something and fail than look back later and say what if....exactly what I did a few years ago when I got a new job and moved. I wasn't happy with my new job/boss so I packed it in and came home. 50 years from now I can say I gave it a shot and it just didn't work out but I won't look back and wonder what would have happened if I never tried it! :-)
There will be some changes....not major, but here is a quick note from the SU demonstrator website.
In a nutshell, starting June 1, 2012, Stampin' Up! will release one annual catalog, comparable to (but smaller than) the current Idea Book & Catalog, and two seasonal catalogs, comparable to (but larger than) the current mini catalogs.
No changes to Sale-a-bration(no mention of any changes, so that is what I am basing my opinion on)
the one thing you should know....this catalog will be ending May 31st, not June 30th...no phase over to the new catalog. And also no Summer Mini...just the Holiday mini and the Seasonal Mini...although they will be larger around 40 pages. HTH, just some tweaking, it looks like.
So wait. What catalog will be in effect from June 1-July 1?
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Originally Posted by SkyNacho
So wait. What catalog will be in effect from June 1-July 1?
The new big annual catalog will run from June 1-May 31st now, so that one will be in effect. THere will be no mini from May-july. The holiday mini will run starting in August. make sense?
The new big annual catalog will run from June 1-May 31st now, so that one will be in effect. THere will be no mini from May-july. The holiday mini will run starting in August. make sense?
Yes, thanks. I am in a club with my rep and June is my month to hostess, so I was trying to figure out what people would be buying from!
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Originally Posted by SkyNacho
Yes, thanks. I am in a club with my rep and June is my month to hostess, so I was trying to figure out what people would be buying from!
No problem, it's confusing I know. You should have seen me the day I found out, trying to read and comprehend the change, lol! They made us a chart...that was most helpful, lol! I kind of felt like I was back in school with a hard math word problem, hahaha! Have fun with your hostess month! Maybe you'll get lots of hostess benefits since it will be the debut of the new catalog now! :-)
What I don't get is why they have a catalog that says that products in it will be available until June 30, 2012, but the new catalog will now be coming out June 1 which means that some of the items that were supposed to be available until June 30 now won't be. It's like what they did previously when they had the dormant list. For the dormant list of stamps, they even went so far as to delete any mention of when they originally said stamps would be available - trying to make it like they had never said it in the first place. Now they're taking a month off the availability date of some items because they decided to change the date of the catalog release.
And wasn't it only a few years ago that they came out with the Decor Elements line? There was the big mess with lots of high level SU demos (and other SU demos) having to choose between SU and Uppercase Living because SU decided to start offering the same type of products that Uppercase Living did. Now SU decides to drop that line? Why did they even bother to start it in the first place? What happens to all the money they invested in equipment to produce that line - not to mention all the lives they impacted with a line they're now going to drop? Is that an indication of a possible increase in other prices to recoup that cost (not like SU doesn't already have some high prices).
I think they looked at their bottom line, saw where their sales trends are, and must have concluded that this new model is going to be better for them. I can't begrudge them that.
As to the Decor Elements, clearly they aren't selling well enough to warrant continuing with them. If the products were popular, I am confident they wouldn't be getting rid of them. While I do feel badly for the people who had to choose between SU and UCL, they had to know it was a risk. The economy is tight; I would imagine SU looked at their financial picture and realized they had to streamline in order to remain cost effective.
If anything, it could well lower the prices for consumers to get rid of underperforming product lines.
I think they looked at their bottom line, saw where their sales trends are, and must have concluded that this new model is going to be better for them. I can't begrudge them that.
As to the Decor Elements, clearly they aren't selling well enough to warrant continuing with them. If the products were popular, I am confident they wouldn't be getting rid of them. While I do feel badly for the people who had to choose between SU and UCL, they had to know it was a risk. The economy is tight; I would imagine SU looked at their financial picture and realized they had to streamline in order to remain cost effective.
If anything, it could well lower the prices for consumers to get rid of underperforming product lines.
I think the only risk they thought might occur would be whether or not they could sell enough of a particular type of product to recoup their investment. I doubt that any of them thought when they signed up with UCL that SU would venture so far away from traditional stamping and scrapbooking into vinyl wall decor that they would have to choose between their two business ventures. Since SU isn't going to be doing very much of it in the future, I think the initial thought by many who said it wasn't the best business choice for SU to go into the vinyl decor selling in the first place had the right idea.
And if a customer has a lousy demo, they won't even hear about a lot of the catalog changes until it's too late unless they hang out on sites like SCS. When does SU plan to put any information on their website - in May when the retiring list comes out?
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If a person isn't happy with their demo they are free to find a new one:-) There sure are plenty of us around, lol! SU has encouraged us to let our customers know but I'm not sure when/if there will be anything on their website as demos are the business model, kwim?
Thanks Minders for all the good info on what's happening. I for one am glad SU! has decided to get back to their roots: stamping! No more wall decor, jewelry, etc.
It doesn't bother me about what format the catties are in (big, small, more mini's, less mini's) or when they are effective. I belong to a stamp club for 10 months of the year, so I make a giant wish list and then divide it up over the year. If there is anything on the retiring list that is a "must have" for me, then I may bump up my May stamp club order. But, usually I get what I want out the of the main catty within the one-year period it's active.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see new stuff when it comes out!
As an SU consultant w/a very small customer base in reading about all these SU catalog changes (once again) my main concern is my cost on the long run. As a customer I love the idea of a larger, seasonal mini catalogs, having the big IB&C, and the company staying competitive w/current trends and their counterparts such as Hero Arts, Penny Black, Just Rite, Flourishes, etc. But from a consultant's view I am looking at it as more expenses for my pocketbook, which in many instances is hard to even catch up w/my own addiction spending.
So again as a consultant I am looking at it this way - It will mean an increase in the price of the mini catties due to larger and more pages, and more difficult to send electronically w/o causing a computer crash; and shorter lifetime of stamp sets if I want to stay current too. This last one came to mind as I have been recently organizing my stamps and realized that getting all those hostess and specific limited edition stamps set is just money down the tubes. I got a lot of virgin stamps, because I don't get to use them as quickly as their lifetime and if I want to sell I have to give it at a fraction (sometime beyond my consultant discount). So this all said it will be interesting how we consultants (w/small customer base) can stay afloat. Yes, I want SU to stay up-to-date with the market, but it worries me if I will be able to make it w/o spending a fortune every quarter, even when I don't get to make a penny many quarters. It may come down to survival of the fitted :(
So, the current catalog will end June 1st instead of July 1st with no overlap?
I'm glad they're getting rid of most of the Decor and jewelry stuff, I never was into either of those.
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Originally Posted by Njoilif
As an SU consultant w/a very small customer base in reading about all these SU catalog changes (once again) my main concern is my cost on the long run. As a customer I love the idea of a larger, seasonal mini catalogs, having the big IB&C, and the company staying competitive w/current trends and their counterparts such as Hero Arts, Penny Black, Just Rite, Flourishes, etc. But from a consultant's view I am looking at it as more expenses for my pocketbook, which in many instances is hard to even catch up w/my own addiction spending.
So again as a consultant I am looking at it this way - It will mean an increase in the price of the mini catties due to larger and more pages, and more difficult to send electronically w/o causing a computer crash; and shorter lifetime of stamp sets if I want to stay current too. This last one came to mind as I have been recently organizing my stamps and realized that getting all those hostess and specific limited edition stamps set is just money down the tubes. I got a lot of virgin stamps, because I don't get to use them as quickly as their lifetime and if I want to sell I have to give it at a fraction (sometime beyond my consultant discount). So this all said it will be interesting how we consultants (w/small customer base) can stay afloat. Yes, I want SU to stay up-to-date with the market, but it worries me if I will be able to make it w/o spending a fortune every quarter, even when I don't get to make a penny many quarters. It may come down to survival of the fitted :(
This is probably a conversation more approprate for the demonstrator forums instead of general stamping talk since it deals with the actual business of demos.
I'm really not understanding how this is going to cost you more either. I'm pretty certain SU said that the minis will be priced the same even though they are bigger and the annual catalog will be cheaper. Also, now we only have to buy THREE catalogs instead of four, another costs savings. Also, the mini sets will have a lift of FIVE months as compared to THREE so we get longer with those that won't be carrying over. Am I misunderstanding something? I see all these things as a cost benefit. Maybe check out the info over on the demo forums too!
Point taken. After my posting I did find out from other consultants that the cost of the catties will be cut almost in half, as they will be dropping about 40 pages off the main catalog and also the stamps from the mini will have a 5 month lifetime vs 3 months. Nevertheless, since I still have concerns I will stop my discussion here and wait for the company's full story.
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Originally Posted by Njoilif
Point taken. After my posting I did find out from other consultants that the cost of the catties will be cut almost in half, as they will be dropping about 40 pages off the main catalog and also the stamps from the mini will have a 5 month lifetime vs 3 months. Nevertheless, since I still have concerns I will stop my discussion here and wait for the company's full story.
Sounds like maybe you didn't see the current update on the demo website. I think a lot of people aren't aware they posted about it already! It's dated 1/19/12 and has some important information and is directly from SU:-) It's got a link to a whole page of info plus FAQ's!
SU Catalogue changes???
