Scrapbooking: Digital & Traditional Paper

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Scrapbooking: Digital & Traditional Paper

So... I have a question for your ladies. I realize most of you are probably digital crafters only and have never known the difference but I'd still appreciate any input/opinions on the topic.

I grew up like most of you, I'm sure with a journal of sorts... whether writing only as diary type or a scrapbook type with photos sort of thing through the 70's and early 80's. In the late 80's, early 90's I jumped in the deep end of traditional paper scrapbooking as we know it now. Of course that led to digital scrapping, mixed media arts and now art journaling.

So... all that to say... As artist in memory preservation whatever form that has taken for most of us. I have watched over the last 3-5 years the entire "local" market for art supplies deplete. What I mean by local isn't specifically to my town/city but to everyone's towns/cities. Almost every LSS I know of has went out of business. What we had left was pretty much Michaels, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore, Jo-Ann's and Archivers for scrapbook or other creative art products. I know there are a couple more like Blicks for artist, can't think of the others right now.

These are my thoughts... I'm concerned that the digital age (although it has brought about some AWESOME things I wouldn't want to do without) is bringing about a collapse of the tangible product and way of doing art. I realize the economy has played a huge role in some of this. But for example. I live in a state capital and I'm within driving range of 2-3 hours of 3 MAJOR city hubs Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Raleigh, NC and I also travel through several other MAJOR city hubs: Nashville, TN; Little Rock, AR; Birmingham, AL just to name and few and almost every single one of those places went from 10 LSS at least to ONE if they are lucky and most have NONE left. Not to mention that most of the AC Moores have went out of business and NOW Archivers, the ONLY major SB store will be closing ALL their doors by the middle-end of February. I also hear rumors that Hobby Lobby may not be far behind due to the legal battles of this insurance stuff. And all the other name brand stores have all MINIMIZED their stock and the type of products they carry to a very limited supply.

This is my question: Do you think that before long we will no longer have a physical artistic outlet? Do you think it will only be digital? Do you think the industry will every recover from the technological advances in the digital market? I quess overall I'm just curious where others think this is leading to?

Sorry so long... but I wanted to try to explain my thoughts as best I could. smiley Please share your thoughts on the subject no matter how small you think it is as I'm really interested in others opinions.

I think in general everything is going digital regardless of the fact that when people rely entirely on a system that is not always available and stable (as was found out yesterday at my daughter's IEP mtg where no one could get onto the program for the whole before). People are finding the ease of using whats available almost unending in the digi word and the community that is larger as a result of the digital world. I do hope it never completely goes away but even I find that when I have money to spend on crafts I go digi. I don't have the time or space to store the physical stuff.

One of the things that was so heartbreaking about the recent recession is the loss of local mom/pop places of all kinds. I think you're right in that the increase of digital scrapbooking has something to do with it, but I would guess that the economy has more to do with it than the transition to digital. People were looking harder for deals & coupons, and usually that means they go to the big chain stores for the lowest prices. I think there will probably always be paper scrapping, it's just that the options of stores will be reduced. Our local Wal-Mart has a decent-sized scrapbooking section, and it has grown with a recent renovation. I guess I see the issue as having the same general amount of supply but just the variety won't be there, since the box shops will largely carry the same brands.

I heard something on the radio this evening about how online retail offers small businesses the ability to undercut big box stores because they don't have the overhead costs of a physical shop. I can actually see this in the cloth diaper world. There are a lot of small businesses moms have out of their homes, and they can offer good deals because they don't have an actual physical shop draining their energy & resources. So, that might be an option for paper scrapping -- still offer physical products but open up online shops.

thanks for sharing your perspectives Amber and Phillippa! I worry in a sort of ways if I don't buy up a bunch of supplies that what we do may become a lost art of sorts. It seems odd that it would but who knows? smiley

i hear you about the mom and pop small biz' ...it is sad in one sense because there's now no competition in the market so it's getting pretty set at what you can get and how much (usually a lot more than it used to be) it will cost you to find something locally and that's if you're lucky. our walmarts here only have one aisle left for scrapbook stuff and it's not often things i would buy. it's very beginner basics type stuff. it's getting harder and harder to find the unique stuff that's more artistic like tim holtz products or mixed media products. i don't mind shopping online but usually it seems the shipping costs jack the price up higher than the normal retail price for an item would be. smiley

I defintely hear where you're coming from Shawna. And although things are shrinking right now, that also gives the industry the opportunity to grow back in a few years once the market and demand is shown to be growing again. The downturn caused a lot of this as well, not just the technology shift. As people are worried about how to cover their food and shelter bills, luxuries like art supplies have had to be put on the back burner.

One of the things that surprised me about all the recent facebook postings of the CHA trade show last week was how many digital designers were launching new paper kits and supplies. Someones got to be spending money on it for the companies to back these people. Those designers also already have brand recognition and loyalty exactly because of the strong digi-scrapping community. I don't feel that the volume in paper scraping will ever totally go away, but shift to newer, trendier suppliers at more mainstream outlets. I mean, JoAnne's is carrying Basic Grey now. I never thought I'd see that happen.

On a side note, I live in the suburbs of Atlanta and travel in the same areas that you do. One of my favorite places to find crafting supplies is Tuesday Morning. They cycle in so many great close-out scrapbooking kits, jewelry components and yarns. I know they're probably being sourced from those stores that are going out of business, but I also feel great when I get a good deal. Besides I have so many supplies in my stash already, I don't technically need anything, but if the price is right I can justify the want.

Just my two cents, take it for what it's worth...

@ Tiffany:
We have two Tuesday Morning here and they are GREAT for bargains, although this year not as much SB stuff. When I asked about the SB product lines they said their supply is low because of the economy there's not as much "leftovers" for them to buy out from the vendors and sell cheap. smiley
I, too, like you don't really need anything probably for a couple years... LoL but I just worry about fresh items for new ideas... KWIM I hope you're right that once it all jumpstarts again that we will see a slight surge back in the market. I'll have to say hi and maybe have lunch with you next time I come to Atlanta! Have you been to the two Archivers yet to see if they are "really" clearancing out?? I'd love to come up (Buford's a tad closer) but it's still almost a 3 hour drive just for 25% off if you catch my drift. smiley I was thinking closer to the first week in Feb I might talk hubby into a weekend shopping getaway. LoL smiley

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On a side note, I live in the suburbs of Atlanta and travel in the same areas that you do. One of my favorite places to find crafting supplies is Tuesday Morning. They cycle in so many great close-out scrapbooking kits, jewelry components and yarns. I know they're probably being sourced from those stores that are going out of business, but I also feel great when I get a good deal. Besides I have so many supplies in my stash already, I don't technically need anything, but if the price is right I can justify the want.

I think there will always be a place for traditional scrapbooking...it may be harder to find but I hope it is like the ebook thing. I love ebooks and my ebook reader but I also love the feel of a book in my hand...thus I typically only get fluff books for my ereader but if I know I will love it then I buy a paper copy.
Hopefully that will be where paper scrapping ends up. People may become more specific about what they are willing to spend money on but it hopefully will feel better sometimes to get out the paper than just turn on the computer.

Speaking of eReaders... That's another thing I miss... NONE of my magazines are paper anymore, they are all digital now. smiley

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I hope it is like the ebook thing. I love ebooks and my ebook reader but I also love the feel of a book in my hand...thus I typically only get fluff books for my ereader but if I know I will love it then I buy a paper copy.

@ Shawna, if you hit Buford/ Mall of Georgia, they have the BEST and biggest Tuesday Morning I've ever been to on the other side of the Mall from the Target/Best Buy/Nordstrom Rack strip mall. When you get off the highway and head up towards the mall you take a right at the first light, where the Mimi's Cafe is. It's on the right side at the next light, attached to a carpet and tile store. There isn't much else over there, so you may not even know it's there. They always have a TON of crafting supplies. I get lost in there for hours. Even worse then Target. If you do ever make it over, let me know and we can try to meet up and enable/sale shop. I'm headed out to that area tomorrow, so I'll swing by the Archivers and see what's going on. I know where it is, but I've never been in. What are you in the market for?

Very Cool Tiffany!!! I just keep an eye out for stuff like Tim Holtz things or Stencils/Masks (for more mixed media type creations); embossing folders, any interesting tools to make techniques easier; Project Life stuff or clearanced out smash album stuff (for easy-fast paper scrapping); really cool or unique embellies (think amy tangerine or designers like that); just stuff that's different than the average stuff you find at hobby lobby or walmart. Our Jo-Ann's isn't as lucky as yours yet. We still get pretty basic stuff there and it's 35 mins from my house with no traffic. LoL but I'm sure you're used to that living in the big city.

We typically go through the Kennesaw stores since it's right off the interstate to Chattanooga up to Nashville. Hubby lets me shop and he sleeps if we end up driving late because of it. LoL -- I absolutely can't wait to check out that Tuesdays Mornings next time we're in Buford!!! We've been through there a few times and I had NO idea there was even one there. Hubby loves that place almost as much as I do. smiley Guess I better start saving up for an Atlanta RoadTrip. smiley b'wahahahaha -- I'll send you a copy of this as a PM so you have my email. smiley

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if you hit Buford/ Mall of Georgia

@Shawna and @Tiffany, I live in Lawrenceville!!

I'm still trying to talk the hubby into taking me for a trip next weekend... for an early Valentine's Day celebration. smiley

If we came down to Buford, we'd probably come I85 from SC as it would save us about 30 minutes drive time to the Buford area. I'll let y'all know hopefully in the next couple days. LoL

I think there will always be tangible scrapbooking, etc. It may be harder to find, and selections may not be as great as they once were, though. I know too many people that are card makers, etc that would never go digital.
That being said, it's less expensive to go digital. I can have hundreds of kits, papers, etc and use them unlimited times! It takes me so much less time to make a perfect page, and I love being able to change, and rearrange without damaging. I have almost completely moved from traditional scrapbooking to digital. While I do create things with my scrapbooking supplies on occasion, I'll probably never make an actual book again until my kids are grown. So much easier and less messy to go digital!