October Afternoon....What's the deal?

First, let me start by saying this is not an "I hate October Afternoon" post....but with that being said....Here is my gripe with this company, which is one of my favorites....Why does it take 6-12 months after CHA to actually see the products hit the stores?

Take for example Sasparilla....it was from CHA 2011 Summer. It still is not available for sale....7 months since it was introduced. What gives??? Does it really take that long to produce paper and embellishments?? Most other Scrapbook companies will have their products hitting the shelves within a month or two...some are even shipping right now.

I did order one of the new Noel Mignon Kits and it had a few pieces of the Sasparilla line in it. Not sure how she managed to get it, but every other online retailer does not have it yet...

Again, this is not meant to be a "hate" post cause I "Love" OA products, just wanted to see how everyone else chimes in on this subject....

I googled the collection and it does seem to be available at a couple of sites, at least. And a blog that says it started shipping to stores in November. So maybe the lack of availability is just small production, and/or possibly distribution issues?

My impression about CHA is that not everything is slated for immediate release, it's a venue to show everything that's coming out over the next several months following a show.

Sadly, October Afternoon is known for this. It's a shame, I like quite a bit of what they make.

• stick Said:

This, definitely. Many scrapbook companies have mid-show releases, as well, but for those that don't, all of the product they show at CHA are slated for release within that half of the year. Winter CHA releases will start showing up in the next few weeks right up until Summer CHA in July.

The ONLY OA I have ever seen anywhere was in a HL and it was just some 8x8 pads...nothing else, none of the embellies they apparently have. Their website has missing componants. Oh well, I like their stuff too, maybe one day.

I love them too. I thought I read somewhere that they were really quite a small operation and maybe that was why they didn't ship so early. I don't know but I'll keep loving them as long as they keep the great stuff coming.

I went on their website when this thread came up and I did not see a "where to buy". I agree they must a small company but their designs are darling! It's the 8x8 "Modern Homemaker" that I bought at HL.

Unfortunately this is how October Afternoon's release all go. Sad but true.

Sooooo, I decided to contact OA after this thread was started so I sent an email via their website:

Hello! I love your line of products, but I have only found one 8x8 pad of Modern Homemaker in a Hobby Lobby. Can you please direct me to retailers (store or on-line) that carry October Afternoon? I live in (City, St Zip)

And their response:

• Quote:

I don't know about you but I thought that was a wierd response. So, you don't want to tell people where they can buy your product? I'm pretty sure if you go onto any Brand website, you can find a list of retailers most with google maps.

So, I did google them and I found this on-line retailer of you are interested. I would link it but technically is a SB.com competitor even tho' they don't sell OA. A There are other on-line but it appears on-line retailers are the way to find them.

I almost emailed them back to say, You should Google October Afternoon yourself. Because if they did they would see this thread "What's the deal?" pop up!

I agree - that is a weird response. Most manufacturers of anything, not just scrapbook supplies, have a link or search function to find retailers of their products. If I wanted to increase my sales, I would!

• CrimsonMama Said:

I'd love to even find that! Modern Homemaker is one of my favorite collections ever, and none of my local stores carry it. I've only got a couple of sheets of paper that I found at an Archiver's while I was on vacation.

The company response does seem really strange... you'd think they'd want to promote their product and the stores that carry it.

Do not get Tricia started on this.



It's not pretty.

Stuff gets ordered. It just doesn't arrive very quickly.

I won some OA from a blog giveaway. Fly A Kite.

It's gorgeous.

I had never heard of OA before I got this.

My LSS seems to always have it- I bought and really LOVE the Boarding Pass collection. So cool!

I love October Afternoon too.....but I do think they are slow to arrive and not found everywhere. Weird response!!!

My LSS always seems to get it in.... one fo the DT's I am on has Sasparilla in the March kit - if you are interested.. pm me

• Quote:

I remember being sooooo excited when you started carrying OA here. Then, well, nada.

It's a shame. I love OA to pieces!

Wow!! That is a very bizarre response to the email you sent....one would think they would have a list of their retailers and wouldn't the retailers want to have their info given out to increase their sales as well??

I have purchased OA products from other online stores and lss's in the past and it's not that I don't know where to purchase their products, it's just so frustrating that they are already introducing new products from cha 2012 and they haven't even shipped the lines they introduced at summer cha 2011... So i am guessing that we will see the 2012 collections in 2013 if they keep to their ways.

maybe they like the 'exclusivity' factor? i've noticed at the veggie site that once its sold it rarely gets reordered and other than there i've never seen it anywhere. of course i don't have a lss to check.
all kind of sounds strange. i like the designs from late 2010 and first part of 2011 better than the recent releases so i'm not losing out on much but it does seem weird.

Its crazy how it always winds up working out this way. You would think that they would figure it out after several CHA shows--that if they aren't able to ship out their product before the next show (6 months down the line) maybe they should wait to show the product.

People understand delays happen, but when they are the norm and not the exception...people tend to get a little leery :/

Yep, we order it. Then we wait 6 months. If we are lucky, it shows up. If not, well, we just spend our money elsewhere. I've got some really nice My Mind's Eye that just went up for sale.

I want your job!

This link was posted on Facebook this morning.

http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/product-availability-updates-dear-lizzy-authenique-graphic45/

• SoonerT Said:

Too funny!! See, they (OA) should really google themselves maybe they would realize that their customers are tired of waiting 6 or more months for product and by the time it actually hits stores one of two things have happened...
A. We are already "over" the product and don't want it anymore or B. We spent all our money on My Mind's Eye!!! LOL!

Well you know their Farmhouse group? Crate Paper has a darling one.....just sayin'.

Memory Works has deleted the entire Sasparilla line from their website....It has been up since CHA Summer 2012 saying Out of Stock. I am now wondering if they cancelled their order. I finally found some on another website and placed an order...wonder how long it will take to get Cake Walk??? Winter 2014?

I was wondering why I could never find October Afternoon on sb.com

We no longer have a LSS. so sad

I just saw the entire new October Afternoon at an LSS. And they had all the entire last line- well, what wasn't sold-

I'm wondering if they show preference to non-internet shops?

-kory