Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
So since all the new catalogs are coming out this summer for the direct sales companies. I noticed that some are small compared to years past.
Stampin Up is 209 pages long with a great variety of new items in it.
Fun Stampers Journey is the largest out of the three at 318 pages and I got to say that I love all the Dude stamps and the faith Stamps. I google it and was able to see the new one.
Close to My Heart is the smallest but the Seasonal Catalogs at 112 pages.
I have been in all three companies and at the current moment with Stampin Up. My question is what do you think about this and what do you think the consumers are going to say about it
I know this isn't really what you asked but it has to do with the actual catalogs...
SU catalogs used to be so vibrant and fun to look at. Now the pages seem so dull. I think it's the type of paper they use. Which makes the catalog not so bold anymore. Not so appealing to just sit and look at.
FSJ catalogs are so full and bright and colorful. FSJ uses a heavier paper and is larger so it would naturally cost a little more but I think the expense to make it more vibrant is totally worth it. Makes it more interesting and appealing to browse through. Plus more pages is good though it wasn't that big last year, so YAY for this year's catalog.
No idea about the CTMH catalog, but with a larger seasonal catalog, I guess it works.
I would love to get my hands on a FSJ catalog to see in person as from what I saw I want so many things out of it. You are right about the quality of the catalogs.
I think that the smaller main catalogs is related to the increase in the seasonals. I mean, my understandings is that SU took out most of their holiday stamps from the main catalog to go in their holiday mini.
I personally don't mind that. For one thing, I already have plenty of supplies and a long enough wishlist from the main catalogs, even if they are smaller. But I also like the minis. It helps to cut down on fatigue from looking at the same items in the main catalog for an entire year.
I forget about A Muse Studio but theirs won't be out till next month. Now wondering how theirs will be.
I feel like their main one last year was smaller than usual, but they switched to having monthly catalogs. (I don't think those are in print, though, just online.)
For A Muse Studio their monthly is online only and I found out that CTMH Seasonal catalog is only 68 pages. Now I am getting the FSJ catalog this week and this one by far is the largest one out of the four direct sales companies.
2009...is that when they were doing 2 catalogs a year though? Don't recall which years they did that but it didn't last too long.
Oh. Not sure about that. I don't have many of the minis still around. But since the OP was about this year's catalog being smaller than in years past, I just thought it was noteworthy that the main SU catalog this year is the same size as the main one from 7 years ago.
I would love to get my hands on a FSJ catalog to see in person as from what I saw I want so many things out of it. You are right about the quality of the catalogs.
I got the impression from something you said in an earlier post in this thread that you are a former FSJ coach. If I am correct, then you already know that you can select a coach in your area and order a catalog from the website.
**
ETA: oopps!!! I should have finished reading this thread! I saw that you will be getting a catalog in a few days!
I saw FSJ catalog for the first time and WOW....for some reason they seem very different and fresh comparatively. I LOVE the Tea set and some others and their FAITH stamp sets and they have loads of dies. Golly, may have to sign up to buy all I need...LOL
Having seen both the new SU catalog and the FSJ catalog, I was hands-down blown away by the products in the FSJ catalog. There is so much I want from FSJ; they really seem to be so fresh and vibrant.
$12 (I thought $12.95) but it's over 300 pages BIG! The SU catalog is over 200 pages (about 209 if memory serves) and it's about $10 if you buy it.
FSJ, totally worth the cost for all those great ideas.
$12 (I thought $12.95) but it's over 300 pages BIG! The SU catalog is over 200 pages (about 209 if memory serves) and it's about $10 if you buy it.
FSJ, totally worth the cost for all those great ideas.
I purchased my FSJ catalog from my demo. the catalog is really good. I have found some really good things that I want.
$12 (I thought $12.95) but it's over 300 pages BIG! The SU catalog is over 200 pages (about 209 if memory serves) and it's about $10 if you buy it.
FSJ, totally worth the cost for all those great ideas.
A Stampin' Up catalog is 5.00, and most demos give them away with a purchase or a party (don't know what FSJ demos do either way).
Just didn't want anyone to thing the price of our catalog had doubled.
Speaking of Catalogs, has anyone seen the Close To My Heart catty yet? We can usually get a link for SU and start making lists but how do we get a look at the one from CTMH? They have a couple new cartridges for the Cricut too.
I heard that the new annual Amuse catalog will be digital only.
Yes, they are going digital only. With how technology and social media have evolved, I love the idea of having a digital copy...so easy to go through on a tablet. If you like "flipping" through pages, it's really easy to just print off a copy. The A Muse monthly collections offer new product EACH month which allows them to remain fresh and trendy. I find that about half way through the year, I already own everything I want in an "annual" catalog so then I shop elsewhere to get new, contemporary, and popular items/trends.
Having seen both the new SU catalog and the FSJ catalog, I was hands-down blown away by the products in the FSJ catalog. There is so much I want from FSJ; they really seem to be so fresh and vibrant.
I could not agree more... I need to win the lottery to buy it all. :-)
I also heard that for A Muse Studio that it's only $49 a year with no quota now. So you can be a consultant without the worries of making a quoting every quarter.
I also heard that for A Muse Studio that it's only $49 a year with no quota now. So you can be a consultant without the worries of making a quoting every quarter.
Yes, this is true...starting 8/1/16. And, if your sales volume reaches $900 in the membership year (8/1-7/31), the $49 membership fee is waived. I think this is an innovative change that will benefit all levels of consultants... from hobbyists to those who want to build a business.
There are changes to the hostess rewards and also price increases which I can understand the need for....so, if you need paper, ink refills, etc. contact your consultant before the current catalog expires on 7/31/16.
Does anyone else see the humor in A Muse's spin on their digital catalog?
"...did you know paper in the U.S. represents one of the biggest components of solid waste in landfills � 26 million tons in 2009. Okay - that was 7 years ago, imagine what it is now!"
Does this mean we have to stop making cards from real paper and start making them all digi now?
That's my chuckle of the day.
Yah kinda hard to get behind that statement when we're, you know, PAPERCRAFTERS! :rolleyes:
At least with A Muse being digital now you KNOW exactly when you will have the new catty. In the past there have always been one issue or another with the paper cattys being delayed ... printer, shipper, etc. etc. etc ... This makes it so hard for the consultants to plan a new catty launch or get together. Very frustrating. With it being digital there's no excuse. Oh wait, maybe they will have internet and IT problems. I fully expect that one!!!
Yes, this is true...starting 8/1/16. And, if your sales volume reaches $900 in the membership year (8/1-7/31), the $49 membership fee is waived. I think this is an innovative change that will benefit all levels of consultants... from hobbyists to those who want to build a business.
There are changes to the hostess rewards and also price increases which I can understand the need for....so, if you need paper, ink refills, etc. contact your consultant before the current catalog expires on 7/31/16.
My bad....the new catalogs are live now!! I was misinformed....sorry.
Wow, there are no projects in these catalogs to give inspiration for the product! Is it just me who thinks that's the best part of the company catalogs? What a bummer. :
Wow. First time I ever laid eyes on the A Muse catalog.
I agree that it is missing something to not have ideas. Not as big a deal for a seasoned stamper as for a brand new one, I think. I would also think that samples would help sell product. Maybe it's a cost saving method.?
On the other hand, I loved some of the colors!
Ya the no samples thing is just another disappointment. I really feel they are struggling because the consultants can't make any $$$ with what they are given. :(
Ya the no samples thing is just another disappointment. I really feel they are struggling because the consultants can't make any $$$ with what they are given. :(
Yes, this is quite disappointing. I don't know why they coudn't just replicate the art work that was used for the monthly collection catalogs considering many of the stamp sets were from previous monthly collections. Honestly, I feel that there is lack of support and clear communication from the top. I feel that a lot of times, their solution is to just sweep things under the carpet.
As much as I LOVE catalogs, they become a problem for me over time as I can't throw them out and I don't want to (continue) cutting out the inspirations and putting them in a notebook.
Digi-Cats....I can enlarge the photos and because they live in my computer I don't struggle with 'saving' everything I like/love and finding a place for it. Not to mention, when my desk is piled high cause I don't keep it tidy, I can find my computer, not so with my catalog.
And...since Karen mentioned it, not saying I am old like she is....lol....that enlarging thing on the computer beats those icky trifocals of mine by MILES! (Karen, we aren't old are we??)
New Catalogs for All DS Companies
