What would the PERFECT Local SS offer.......

Most of us have more than one Local Scrapbook Store in our area, I thought it might be fun to see what everyone's idea of the perfect Local Scrapbook Store would be. (If you don't have a Local SS, you can play too - just tell us what you think the perfect LSS would have!)


1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect?

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service?

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS?

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one?

NEW QUESTIONS:
Let me add to the questions....

5. What paper lines and/or embellishments are a MUST HAVE?

6. What OTHER than paper and embellishments should a LSS carry (or what else would you/do you purchase there)?

what tools - type/brand, etc?
adhesives - type/brand, etc?
magazines?
Idea books?
fiber?
fabric??
organizational items?
anything else you can think of.....

Those are very good questions, considering I just bought one......

1. A selection of embell ishments and papers . And maybe some coffee. I would love a cup of coffee when I shop.

2. A free crop room. Alot of places in Las Vegas, all charge to use there crop room.

3. Toddler Time, so I can take my son with me.

4. Scrapbooking is..."For Keeps."

Huh, it got my brain going. I think I'll have to try the toddler time at the store. Thanks!!!

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? Something that feels home like and that has a ton of cool and neat items to look at. Oh and lots of paper!!! 12x12

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service? Punch cards once you spend over a certain amount you then get stuff for free!!!

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? Free scrapbooking times!!

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one? no not really

everything would be free!

i dunno, i liek a good deal.

I really wish stores would organize merchandise not by theme, but by brand like online stores do...if i like a brand or particular line, I want alllll of it...I miss stuff if i have to look all over the store.

I would like coupons/discounts that are as exciting as those from joanns or michaels...etc. One of my local ss has a $20 gift cert. when you reach $200 worth of sales (they keep track of everyone's purchases)but since i buy in so many places (online, HobbyLobby, Michaels, etc) that I'm so far away that it doesn't mean much to me...

Also, sincere clerks/cashiers is super nice. Another local ss hires a lot of teenage girls for cashiers but they are so self-involved that they hardly look up at you when you check-out...and you can tell they Hate being asked questions. (i promise it's not just me! I'm there enought to see them do it to others). SOO, i would say A+ customer service is a must.

And if you can get whatever is "NEW" as fast as online stores can...that would be a plus! maybe it's b/c i'm in Nebraska...but things are so slow to get here.

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? Everything is free!! lol

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service? They do the punch card thingie too, after $1oo you get 10 free. They have email and mail flyers to keep us posted on new items and classes and great coupons. They have a little corner with toys for the kids so they arent so bored while mommy browses. They also do free "make and takes" and offer TONS of classes. They have scrap area you can use for free.

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? I would love it if they offered to keep registries or "wish lists" so that when it is time for ds to shop for my bday (like right NOW!!) I can say, just go to LSS! they will give you some great ideas!

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one?

i dont have a LSS...have to travel an hour just to get to a Michaels...

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? Have it so that a person could just come in and crop during the day, without any fees. I would also like them to be closer to where I live.

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service? Well, my favorite LSS is 1 1/2 hours away, but I make the trip because I love the way they are. The people who work there scrapbook and really care about what they do. The store is arranged by company, all the KI paper is in one section, the BG is in another, etc. They have both Bazzi.ll and National Cardstock -- incredible selection. They have all the embellishments that you can think of -- again, incredible selection. They also have a fenced in area for children. There are toys and a tv and movies to choose from. They also have the punch card. They have a wonderful crop area as well. They have a website, newsletter, calendar, classes, and crops. They also will special order for their customers. I have also bought things from them that were not in the online store here until about a month later. I am really lucky to have a GREAT LSS!!!!!

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? I agree that the wishlist would be great.

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one? not that I know of, but I do like their store name -- snap and scrap.

I don't have a local scrapbooking store, But I would love one, so my wish list is exactly that.

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? Being close, being resonably priced, plenty of parking and a area where you can leave the kids and not worry about what they are getting into with heaps of toys, maybe vides. also clerks that know what they are doing. One lady in a shop here wanted to fold my 12x12 in half because she didn't have a bag big enough. AGHHHH



3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? I agree with the punch card idea, brilliant. Free crops when ever you want.

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? Great selection of products that you can't find cheaper online

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service? I like the fact that they have a frequent shoppers club

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? They just raised the price of the crop room to $3/hour. They need to either lower the price or offer more in the crop room.

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one? My LSS needs to worry about a lot more than a catchy slogan. They need to get with the times and worry less about stickers and deco scissors and worry more about the products people want to use.

*Punch cards that's a great idea
*kids area (nice too especially for parents with young children)
*Also liked the previously mentioned idea of having the paper grouped by mfg instead of by theme.
*Free area to scrap in
*Fun & Inexpensive Classes
*Monthly newsletter with coupons and advance notice of sales
*website with a store where you can purchase items if you can't get into the store
*Reasonable PRICES

1. A gated play area for kids to play while you crop or even just shop the store.

2. When you attend a crop/class you get a 40% off coupon for anything in the store plus 15% off anything you purchase that night.

3. I think it would be awesome if they had swaps at the LSS that you can do with others from your town.

4. no catchy slogan

My LSS has...

Punch cards. When your card is fully punched, you get $25 off your next purchase. Love that!

Special sales -- about every 4 months, they do a big sale. 40% off your most expensive item, PLUS 10% off your whole order. Then, the first "X" people get a goodie bag. The last bag was worth around $25.

During the special sale, they have free make & takes -- 3 or 4 different projects.

I love the kids' area idea: a gated area with videos and toys. MUST have adult supervision; preferably where mom can see them easily from within the store.

I love the idea of swaps!!

My LSS has an AOL Group set up; she emails specials and events and posts classes and allows members (customers) to upload photos. She also posts when new materials arrive, when backorders come in... everything. Very nice. It's not open to the general public, but you only need to send her an email asking to join, and you're in.

I only wish she also had a general web site with basic store info.

I would love if the LSS regularly donated a portion of their income to a women's-related charity, like a local battered women's shelter, breast/uterine cancer research, etc. Even lung cancer research (more women die of lung cancer than breast and uterine cancer combined). It wouldn't even have to be a huge percentage, but I would feel like my purchases were going to something bigger than just my addiciton... KWIM?

At my LSS' last big sale, they did a raffle for the local animal shelter.

I don't think my LSS has a slogan.

I like the idea of a free scrap area. But, *if* you charge to use the scrap area, charge a flat fee for the day, or give a monthly rate for unlimited use (obviously you would need to specify that during classes, it's not available).

If you charge for scrap room use, offer them a % off supplies. Maybe give them 10% any paper they buy while using the room. (That probably wouldn't work if you charge a flat monthly fee.)

COUPONS!

Clerks/cashiers who are into the hobby is also a must... I was working on a LO for a while (my "London, Baby!" LO). It was tricky, and I had asked the owner's opinion about how to mount the coins. She had an entirely different idea that I couldn't get into, so I did my own thing. When I was done, I brought it in, and she was SO supportive!! She even showed it to other people in the shop. It felt wonderful! (Kinda felt like being on this board!)

Well, that's all I have for now...

Oh yeah, and they have their stuff organized by both brand AND type of item.

That is, all the Bazill paper together, all the SEI paper together... etc.

All Junkitz charms & buttons together, next to the other brands of buttons and charms... All MM together on one wall.

Wow lots of women that know what they like..
I want first...a store stocked with the latest and greatest. 2nd I want helpful knowledgable people who care about the customers. They also should know where everything is, when new orders are coming in...
I am frustrated living in the midwest...our LSS never seem to get anything early. Online stores have a big advantage.
Also ...very important...get rid of the old to make room for the new...
one LSS not in buis. anymore never put anything on sale...think of all of the money sitting in the merchandise that just is sitting there... Archivers seems to blow stuff out if it is not selling...they are smart...
Anyway...Selection, excellent staff...loads of samples and layouts..contests and make and takes... anyway hope that helps..

Oh yes... my LSS has a "sale table" all the time... paper that's not moving, stamps that are out of season... etc.

1. I would love to have coffee when I shop (since I spent quite a bit of time when I go) and also the idea of a punch type card so after you get 5-10 punches you get 50 per off or something.

2. Mine has a free crop room and also a children's play room.

3. The many classes they offer is wonderful. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable of the hobby. I always need someone to help me with color coordianation and they always have someone there. Also, if I want something and they are out, they will call me at my request, when the item comes in. That way I can run down and get it!!!

4. I like their name - Scrap Happy

A Perfect LSS? I would love to have a crappy one where I live.

1. Large Crop area, Plenty of room.
2. A line of SB supplies grouped by Manufacturer, the latest in supplies and a really good markdown table.
3. A special request section. If by chance they don't have it on hand.
4. Friendly, knowledgeable and customer orientated staff. I hate Grumps!
5. Punch card and frequent shopper promos would be fantastic ideas.
5. Cheap or rather inexpensive crop nights themed or unthemed cheap make and takes for newbies.
6. Newbie classes by instructors not trying to sell their product lines just what people need to know on how to do things to get them started.
7. Newbie must have lists. tools, paper, adhezive etc.
8. A decent sized idea book area and displays using the products as ideas.

Gee I could think of a million things I would like to have in one. Might need to win the lottery and start my own!!!!!

Okay, you asked! In my perfect little dream world, a LSS would:

1. Be HUGE. Like, the size of WalMart. So the aisles could be spread out and not crowded. So you could push a stroller through them without injuring other customers or knocking stuff down.

2. Include an area for scrapping with die machines, etc. and several computers so you could print journalling or whatever.

3. Have a separate classroom area for classes so you could crop there whenever.

4. Provide a place for kids. Video monitored with monitors all over the store so you could see your kid playing wherever you were in the store. And definitely needs adult supervision.

5. Have a snack and coffee bar so when you're cropping you don't have to leave to eat. Priced reasonably. This would also be great for dh's waiting for you to shop!

6. Be staffed by people who are friendly and who really know their stuff. Who take the time to listen to make sure they understand what you want before rushing off to show you something. (I was at my LSS one day looking for paper to match my mom's wedding pics, I'm supposed to be putting them in her album. The pics are old and yellowed, and her wedding colors were pink and burgundy. The lady who helped me suggested using AQUA cardstock. That was her only suggestion. HUH????? I haven't seen her around much since then!)

7. Have a kodak picture maker or something similar so you can print digital pics, enlarge or edit pics you have, etc.

8. Provide incentives for shoppers like %-off deals for croppers, discount cards, sales, etc. I really like that my LSS offers a "husband's shopping day" around Christmas. You can fill out a wish list, dh can go in on a certain day and there's extra staff to help, free gift wrapping, and munchies. Stuff like this makes me loyal to my store.

9. Have AWESOME selection. If I've seen it in a magazine I want it in my LSS. My biggest gripe with my LSS (which I love, BTW) is that they don't carry Chatterbox. I think the stores should do everything they can to carry the product lines that you see in the magazines.

10. Employ someone whose job it is to demonstrate products. I'm a visual, hands-on learner. I need someone to EXPLAIN and SHOW me how to set eyelets, heat emboss, whatever.


Okay, I think that's all. For now! Oh, and I did like the idea of Lynn's to have some of their proceeds go to a charity or something. That shows that they really care about people, not just about a profit.

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? if the owners and employees knew what the hot items are in sbing right now and carried them, in large amounts

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service? we have a 10% discount on everything we buy when we pay a 1 time $10 fee.

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? weekend classes

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one? nope, it's actually a photo shop

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? Monthly coupons, reasonably priced items and events, a shuttle van for those who can't get there by car or other means (for crops and other events)

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service? They give birthday cards which account for 20$ of total purchase

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? An event van for those who can't get there by car or other means

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one? no

btt

I love going to SS's when I go out of town. It's neat to see how they have things set up and what they carry. It's hard to say what would make a SS perfect because there are so many lines and one store can't carry every single item from every line. If I need something that my LSS doesn't carry in the store I'll ask if she can special order the item(s) the next time she places an order with the company. So far she has special ordered the items I have wanted.

My LSS has a Loyaltly Card and you get a point for every dollar you spend. She also has one day a week during the month for double point days for Loyalty Card holders which is nice. The days change each month. Like this month it's wednesdays. There are different levels to redeem store credit. I can't remember the number of points for the highest level but you receive $40 in products.

She charges $3 per hour to use the crop area when there are no crops, classes, or special events. I don't think it's bad because you can use the computer and have access to the store's tools like quickuts and sizzix etc.

She offers a crop membership. 10 crops for $50. So it knocks 1/2 off the regular cost of $10 per crop. I won a crop membership at one of the special events I attended so I'm excited.

Another SS that I visit when I go over to my alma mater has a keychain that you pay $1.99 for and when you fill it you get $20 in free products. I bought one because I'll fill it eventually. My best friend is moving close to the area and so now I'm sure I'll be going there when I go to visit her. They have a great selection of stamps which my LSS does not carry many. Their selection of scrapbook supplies varies from the LSS that I always go to.

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect? All products categorized by brand! I know it was said before, but that is my number one pet peeve with my LSS. And again, I want to be able to find all the new products I see in the magazines. I also LOVE the idea of coffee in the store. Mmmmm. And I've also seen a handful of store that will honor Michael's or Joann's coupons!! That would be awesome!

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or service? My LSS offers a frequent buyer program, which is a good idea. However, I have to spend $200 and the reward is only 10% off my next purchase. That's barely enough to cover the sales tax. I feel that I deserve a little more than 10%. The store also has a variety of classes, which are great. My favorite part about the classes is that people can register online through their website and pay with PayPal. They also have a coupon for 20% off your entire purchase on your birthday.

3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? Like I mentioned before, reorganize products by brand and get more of the hot items, like Chatterbox, Gin-X, and Basic Grey.

4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one? No.

They must have constant changing variety to keep me interested...I walk in stores & leave empty handed because I already have everything they have....I walk out crying! Also....A BIG PET PEEVE: Mark the prices clearly on the item! I will not purchase something that is not priced...I am not one to drag 30 items up to the counter to see how much they are, I'll just pass it up.
My local scrapbook store has a cropping area, they offer classes, and yearly members rec. discounts....They get 20% off everything in the store the month of their birthday. If you are not a yearly member then they mail you a coupon for 25% off of one item the month of your b-day...VERY cool and smart thinking on their part...They already know you can't stop at one item
Another store has a punch card...once you spend $100 you get $10 in free stuff!
Everyone loves a good deal!

tons of patterned paper, every kind!

ok - i have to preface this by saying that i work at my fave LSS. it's not the closest to me. there's 1 that's 20min away and one that's 30mins, but i drive to the oldest, bestest, most favorite of mine because i figured if i was going to apply at one i wanted to work at the one that was the best! so i drive 45min-1hr for a p/t job! lol.

i think our store is great, but there are definitely things i'd add and/or change a little.

1. What would make the PERFECT Local Scrapbook Store - perfect?
like others have said, products by company. mine is like this, happily. looooots of space (which is hard to come by). tons of product. all the newsest and greatest and COMPLETE collections

2. What does your Local SS offer that you think is just a fantastic idea or
service? ***a state-of-the-art color copier. a kinko's employee even said it was better than anything they have. lovely, shiny, thick paper that has been mistaken for a real photo! ***also, we have an earned discount program. the computer tracks your sales and after $200, you get 5% off for the rest of the year, $500 = 10%, $750 = 15%, and $1000+ = 20%. and twice a year there's a sale that's 20% PLUS your discount. and at the end of the year you only drop back one level. it's great for customer loyalty and everybody loves it! ***FREE cropping and reasonable classes that always have lots of goodies. ***a great crop/classroom that's full of tools and a die-cut machine ***i also just think it's great that we employee love our jobs and know our "regulars" (ie: i ran into one of them at target last week and we started chatting like old friends! it's great!)


3. What would be a fantastic idea or service that could be added to your Local SS? space! **a place for kids. **a couch for dad's/husbands/older people who can't walk around for so long! **coffee/snack bar. we've got a soda machine, but it could be better. **a computer for journaling and a photo/12x12 printer for customers.


4. Does your Local SS have a catchy slogan? If not, do you have any ideas of one? "making beautiful memories"...we've even got a jingle!


i think that's it!

good questions....

Guess I have a close to perfect LSS

Lots of paper--one thing I like to see in person, match in person
Free work room--love it
Punch card
Friendly workers--they even can tell my friends what I like, or just recommend a gift certificate
Sale table at front
Free make and takes (I always end up buying something I use)
They have special ordered me lots of things I need.
Classes aren't free, but they include a discount for that day.
Crops aren't free, but they include pizza, snacks, a gift that usually is worth more than the cost of the crop, and a discount that night
Gift certificates

Looking at other lists, they could add free crops, but then they wouldn't offer the food and discount.
Coupons could be nice, but they often have special sales they advertise through their E-mail newsletter, so not sure it would save me any money.

What could they add--that cumulative discount superpezgirl talked about--now I would love that. And a computer/copier etc. would be nice.

They have no slogan, at least that I remember.

Enjoyed thinking about this. Thanks

and some really good ideas! We should all go open a scrapbook store! We would ROCK!

Let me add to the questions....

5. What paper lines and/or embellishments are a MUST HAVE?

6. What OTHER than paper and embellishments should a LSS carry (or what else would you/do you purchase there)?

what tools - type/brand, etc?
adhesives - type/brand, etc?
magazines?
Idea books?
fiber?
fabric??
organizational items?
anything else you can think of.....

paper lines -- for me, Chatterbox, Basic Grey, SEI, Scrapworks
I also think that Urban Lily and Gin-X are hot lines right now. I haven't seen any in person though.

Embellishments -- ribbon (lots of ribbon) I love May Arts, run-ons, buttons, sarah heidt (I love her line), Go West, brads

For tools, scissor wise, I love the Bees -- Cutterbees, Honeybees, etc. Provo craft has come out with a new line that is also supposed to be great.
Adhesives - tombo, pop dots, glue dots
fabric - maybe scraps, cut in thin strips, like ribbon
fiber - like ones that coordinate with the paper lines