1-Thank you for the clarification. I'm definitely committed to my teams, or I wouldn't be with the non-producers. They are very nice ladies though, and I love to help them out. I've been on some teams for over 2 years, so I'm not a flake. Some designers state on their requirements not to apply if you are on more than 5 teams, so you are not the only designer that takes that into consideration. I know the designers I work for would recommend me. Do you ever check with other designers about applicants?
2 said "Do you ever check with other designers about applicants?" ---- That's what I was going to ask, too. I'm on a team with a woman who is on quite a few teams. But she always has her LOs done on time. She's retired (so no kids running underfoot like a SAHM has, and no job to suck up her scrapping time like a working person). So, she may be on 3 times as many teams as I am, but in theory she probably has 5 times the amount of time to scrap. If I were a designer, I'd want her on my team.
I'm comment 1, and I do occasionally check with other designers about applicants. If I have two people who are totally equal to me in terms of everything I'm looking for, then I will often check with their other designers they CT for, just to double-check that they're active. I also do that if I have one person who is very talented but the only mark against her is that she's on quite a few teams as well as a person who is on fewer teams but doesn't blow my mind quite as much (also talented, though).
When I choose people, I usually make a list of applicants that really stand out to me first, then from there I figure out the pros and cons of each (comparing different attributes like photos, post-processing, use of kits, use of my product specifically, how often they have "dud" layouts, how well they match my style, their personality in their application, other teams they're on, jobs and outside commitments, etc)
However, it's also not uncommon for me to take on more CT members than I had planned on.
Having too many specific requirements on a CT call usually makes people not want to apply who would otherwise be qualified and likely accepted onto teams. I keep my short and sweet and keep the specifics of what I'm looking for to myself (shadowing, photo skills, etc). I want people who like my products and who can make 1 LO/kit 2-3 kits/month. If they can do that, I want to see their work. I usually get between 50-70 applications for a call and can eliminate at least half in 15 mins just by glancing at their galleries, so it's not really any more time consuming and I don't subject myself to any scrutiny by the community or my customers.
I also always send out a coupon to my store to everyone who applies, but wasn't accepted.
This CT conversation is interesting. I have been around more than a few years as a customer and I can count the number of CT people whose names I recognize on one hand. Maybe it's because most of the LOs I see come to my inbox in the form of a designer or store newsletter? To my recollection, most of them are neither linked to a gallery nor attributed.
Here's my question: Do most of your big customers, your loyal customers, belong to the community as a CT or another designer? Or are they people from whom you've never seen a Lo, or does it lie somewhere in the middles?
Do most of your big customers, your loyal customers, belong to the community as a CT or another designer?
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I have never seen a CT member become a customer. They just don't pay for their stuff, and I would never ask a big spending customer to become a CT member.
6-Personally, I usually buy kits of a designer before I become a CT member. (that is how I know I like the designer enough to be on a CT) Then I have a list of designers to apply for when I see a call. After my time is finished with that team, if I'm still in love with the designs, yes, I buy the kits. Leaving a team is always hard for me. Over the years, there have been several reasons to leave a team. One of the biggest reasons was too much drama on the team or the designer was not the person I thought she was. Two were not the type of people I cared to be associated with. After leaving their teams I actually took my layouts I made with their product out of my galleries. Some designers I learned to love from working with their kits at a store I CT'd for, then I waited for a call from that designer. That is the easiest way because working with the designers at a store you get to know their character a bit before applying to their team. If they cause trouble at a store, or are melodramatic there, or are late with releases with a lot of excuses, then at least you know what you're getting into. Character is very important to me when choosing a designer to work with. It's not all 'free kits' as some like to think. I like to enjoy my designers and working with their product. Other reasons for leaving a team are changes in requirements, moving to a store I don't like to participate at. One designer changed styles I had a hard time adapting to and I didn't like the layouts I was giving her, so I quit as to not make her product look bad. Even CT members have a conscious!
I have never seen a CT member become a customer. They just don't pay for their stuff, and I would never ask a big spending customer to become a CT member.
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If your stuff is good enough some will become customers. It depends on why they left the team in the first place.
I buy almost every new release from a designer that I CT'd for a long time ago. Other designers I know to avoid because I know their creations really aren't what I want to purchase.
I've been a CTM for several years and I buy from a few designers every time they release something I like and will use. I spent over $150 last month alone.
Not all CTMs are non-customers. Maybe most are, I don't know. Most of the other CTMs I chat with also buy from other designers.
I find most CTs very demanding and too many people on the team slack off and don't hold their own weight. I generally leave those teams if things don't shape-up after a month or two. I don't create for any designers who rarely release. I don't see how a CT even helps those designers at all.
I receive a bunch of products for free, sure, but I CT to keep my skills fresh and improve my scrapping and photography. I've been a loyal customer to a couple designers for many years and wont apply to their CT calls. I want to keep them in business by giving them my business.
12-I'm a CTM and I do purchase a lot. My dh can't figure out why I purchase since I have so much from my teams, but I like to purchase from the designers I love, and there are a lot of them.
I would think the CTs who don't purchase are the ones on a ton of teams. What could you possibly need if you're on 15+ CTs? I think those of us on a small handful of teams are the ones who will still purchase.
#16- ALOT of ladies! I think every scrapper I know is on at least 10-15 teams. Most freelance and mix that in with fulltime teams. So it adds up pretty quick.
I just went through SO's forums and only found one that was on more than 10 teams. I didn't see any at SSD. I don't understand how anyone can possibly get 15+ layouts done in one week and have a life.
I want to know specifics as to who as well. This generalizing is BS.
Who cares how many teams people are on? Maybe they don't have to do 15 layouts a week. All teams have different requirements to what has to be done monthly. If they can handle it or enjoy being on that many teams, good for them.
#21- Just because it isn't in their siggy doesn't mean they aren't on that many teams. Most ladies just use a name siggy in forums now. I know quite a few ladies that post there all the time that have 10-15 teams. So what?
A question #2 asked- Do you ever check with other designers about applicants?
How many of you designers do this? Or check with applicants current designers they CT for? I think it would be a good way to know what a scrapper can handle for teams.
Quite a few ladies in this thread have at least 10 teams. I would message them and ask them how they can scrap and have a life. Most of them can do both. http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68930
#28- I'm not here to pick apart scrappers who can handle that many teams or enjoy it. It sounds like you may be a tad jeaous of them. The amount of teams people are on have nothing to do with the way I scrap or CT for people.
Actually, 31. After thinking about it and browsing their galleries, I am jealous. I'm jealous that they have that much time to scrap. I just can't produce like that.
It sounds like you may be a tad jeaous of them. -----
really? The jealousy card? Again?
wow, so let me see, if I say
I don't like her skirt, I must be jealous I don't like his socks, I must be jealous I don't like that TV show, I must be jealous I don't like that flavor ice cream, I must be jealous I don't like chocolate cake, I must be jealous
I'm not jealous, and I don't care how many teams anybody is on, although I do like to look at the mix of designers in any given forum siggy.
I don't care if a designer CTs for another designer, even at another store - I figure they are friends. I do not like it when a store owner CTs or scraps with "outside material". That is wrong and a sign the store is closing or she is moving on.
I would message them and ask them how they can scrap and have a life -------
Probably just time management. I've found that the less time people have to do things, the more likely they are to make the time to do it. On the other hand, the more time someone has to do something, they are less likely to do it because they have the attitude of "I'll do it later". Not true of everyone, I know, but has been my experience.
#39- What's ridiculous is how it's your business how many teams people are on.
#40- What about designers who CT for stores they don't sell in? I am not sure how I feel about this. I know that SO doesn't allow their designers to CT for other stores.
What's ridiculous is how it's your business how many teams people are on. -----
Say what? I don't care how many teams someone is on. What's ridiculous is you assuming you know who posted what. I, however, can safely assume you are not psychic.
So you would take advice or base an application on a smack blog? If everyone took what is said on here worth anything, half the designers and stores would have little to no customers.
45-Well, a lot of them have closed over the past year. Maybe this blog is helping cull the stores out. I think some of the people here have also made life pretty hard on a few designers if I remember right.
Not all of them closed due to this blog. I think just one did.
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Nope, none of them did. They closed due to their own inadequacies or what not. Laying the blame on a third party, namely this blog, is just the easy thing to do. It means that someone doesn't have to take responsibly for their own actions.
Apostrophes can be used in plurals to avoid confusion such as mind your p's and q's. Damn, I hate this trend of posting inaccurate data. ---
Not relevant in this case. It's CTMs, otherwise CTM's would indicate that the CTM belonged to a designer or a store. No confusion in this case about plural and possessive.
If you hate inaccurate data, please provide more specific data next time :)
In other news, does anyone else feel like the prices at OSD are ridiculous compared to other stores? JM has what I would consider a mini for almost $6. At that price, I could get a full kit elsewhere. I mean, I know digi is much cheaper than paper and you can't put a value on designers hard work and yada yada, but when I buy a digi kit, I want to feel like I'm actually getting something more than 5 papers and a handful of elements.
#61 - Are you talking about the Block Party stuff? Yeah, some of it is way over priced. They might do better with some standardized pricing. There are others who have a reasonable amount of elements for $2.99. And some have 8 papers for $3.99 while others 12-18 papers for $2.99. Looking at the kits in general, the prices seem to be $5.99-7.99 which is normal IMO but there are a couple designers who's stuff is kind of lean for the price I think, JM and Peeps & Milo definately.
69- I'm OP. I meant the standard kits. The pricing is normal, but the kits have hardly anything-- some of the JM kits that were priced around $5.99 had less in it than most designers give away for free on facebook or blogs. They were more "mini" than anything. The prices aren't bad; the prices for what you're getting, not so great (compared to other shops).
Not the OP, but as their blog hasn't been updated since November, it would be pointless checking it for new designers. It would seem that they are the lazy ones.
Not the OP, but as their blog hasn't been updated since November, it would be pointless checking it for new designers. It would seem that they are the lazy ones.
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Either you are at the wrong site or you were too lazy to check before you posted this. They have posted almost daily in December.
So what's the story on Pixels and Co and DHD? Why did Gennifer and her harem decide to go do their own thing? Looks like almost every designer at DHD is popping up on their facebook page in weekly announcements.
#80 - whatever. You know best, although, I have to ask, why would I make up something like that? Er, I wouldn't. But I like I said, whatever. If it floats your boat to think I'm lazy and couldn't be bothered, have at it. I'd hate to deprive you of your moment of joy.
8 spots left and about as many designers left at DHD that were there when Gennifer left.....I think I see where this is going. Something big must have happened there. I feel bad for those who just came on as designers there, doesn't look like they are getting what they thought they were signing on.
81, I have to agree with 80. I'm not getting that when I click either and I didn't get it earlier today when it first came up. I don't think their link has an issue. I think you have an issue.
They had better all leave. That place just went from a top of the heap store to a bottom dweller in about a week's time. Last week I shopped there a ton. This week I almost can't believe my eyes. I will wager that almost all of them are going to P&co. There have already been too many of them to end up there. Something happened and the entire design team decided to band together elsewhere. Good for them, if that's the case. Whoever owns DHD now is in for a rude surprise when their sales dry up overnight. Just IMO. I have no inside scoop, just a customer who knows the inner workings of the design/shop world and this is an interesting one.
I can't imagine they would choose to not be there when Pixels opens in a couple of weeks, so I bet it wasn't a choice. If two are leaving every week, maybe that's what the store owner is scheduling.
81, I have to agree with 80. I'm not getting that when I click either and I didn't get it earlier today when it first came up. I don't think their link has an issue.
My question is what qualifies as a lower tier and higher tier store? I know the whole traditional vs tagger scrapping issue has been tossed around and tossed out, but there are a lot of what I guess you call lower tier stores popping up out there. Is there a reason why these stores are classified this way? Is it because they don't offer the same styles of kits, or do they offer too much variety being tagger and traditional, or what? I ask because I just found a few stores that offered both types of kits, and actually spent a nice little sum of money on designers I never heard of, and they had some really nice kits, but none of those stores are listed here. And for what it's worth, the quality of the kits I bought was very nice, and I'll be going back, but really am curious as to what makes a store top or bottom tier.
Popularity and sales make a top-tier store. I think that most of the designers have figure out their own "style" and make cohesive kits. I feel like the papers and the elements go together and it's not just a hodge of things in the same color scheme. Of course that is a generalization because there are some that are still not accomplishing that.
It doesn't mean that the mid-tiers aren't offering good products, though. Some of these designers could move into a top store at any time. I have never found anything worth buying at a low-tier store. Although the lines can be blurred based on what you like when it comes to mid-tier and low-tier and mid-tier and high-tier.
What matters is that you are buying what you like and can scrap with!
My question is what qualifies as a lower tier and higher tier store? ---------
Nothing. I've seen some stores mentioned as being top tier that I wouldn't consider to be top, while others are considered middle or bottom that I would rank higher.
#104 I shopped at Heartbeatz Creationz, DigitalScrapDesigns, Nuthouse Scraps, Bella Zingaro Studio and Mystical Scraps. Found some lovely kits and papers, and spent at least 25 in each store. I like the kits I bought, but hadn't heard of the designers, new to me, but nice products even though they had a lot of tagger sized kits, useless to me, but some of the designers had both sizes of kits available which was a nice option.
I don't like any of those stores because they look too digital and from 2005. Those are low-tier to me. But if that makes you happy, then great! The prices looked decent.
Ok, so the stores look dated, the prices are pretty decent looks like. Does the look of a store stop you from looking inside and seeing what they have to offer? I've found some nice hidden gems in some of those little stores. Brings me to the question of what makes a digital scrap store attractive enough to look inside of? I don't know how much these places cost to put up, I just shop, lol but I like browsing them all to see if anything or anyone catches my eye, and if they don't, I don't go back, but if someone looks promising, I might buy a kit or two, see what the quality is like, and then continue shopping if the quality is good.
115, the stuff inside looks dated too. I don't want to dig for gems. But even looking through (and I did TRY with 2 of the stores), there wasn't even one kit that I would put in my cart.
But I shop at stores like SSD, TLP, SM, & SO. I want my layouts to look like a paper layout and I choose kits from those store accordingly.
It was a good store back when Lori Giles owned it. Sadly, she recently closed her new store, Sophie N Lulu too. That place has been around a long time. I would say six or seven years.
See, that ^^ is what happens when you only frequent the so called high tier stores, you don't see what else is out there. Don't you people ever use google or read other blogs or browse scrap freebie sites? Tons of good stuff out there to be had, not just the same old same old everyone keeps bitching about. DST and other similar forums aren't all that is out there.
125, I just browsed the sites posted above and saw nothing that I like with the exception of a couple things at Nuthouse Scraps. I look at some of the sites posted on this blog that are getting smacked hoping for something new. Since you haven't noticed that stuff doesn't look anything like what the high tier stores sell.
I think that is because some of the so called lower tier stores cater to a different scrapping customer base. Under all the traditional print work many of us do, there is a whole digital world of forum sets, signature tags, digital quick pages, things that many of us here wouldn't bother with simply because we aren't part of that side of the digital design world. But for those who are a part of it, it is a lucrative business and in all reality, that is why there are so many stores you call low tier. I'm a designer in one of those stores mentioned above, and I sell anywhere from 200 to 500 a month, and I also do the coveted high tier paper style, which also brings me a nice paycheck. I have two design names, one of them is with my daughter and two different styles of design work. So it depends on the market and customer preference.
The store I sell at doesn't require exclusivity, but it does know I design as a duo with my daughter, so what would be the big deal on that? I'm just saying that what you call lower tier stores simply cater to a different design demographic than what you, yourself, enjoy. Different strokes for different folks you know. It's almost the same damned argument that has been had here before about how the signature tag community and the designers that cater to them aren't part of scrap booking. Just because it doesn't always go to print doesn't mean it isn't scrapping, it's just a different style. Anyway, I'd just like to see people realize the digi world is huge, and as such, there are places for all types of scrappers, and this higher/lower tier stuff is ridiculous, with the exception of some places like that low budget scrapper and the misspelled sensibility scrapping, lol those are simply horrid.
I guess by high-tier style, you didn't mean you were in a high-tier store? They are all exclusive.
And it isn't ridiculous to classify them. You do know the difference between Macy's and Dollar General, right? It's a matter of what the designers are striving for. You can't tell me that any designer at SSD would be willing to leave to design at that Bellazingo site posted above. There is a hierarchy whether they play along or not. As long as they are trying to offer products to digital scrappers, they have a hat in the game and that makes them low-tier in our corner of the world.
I'm glad they have their niche though and aren't wasting their time.
I don't hang out at the "Higher Tier" stores and I barely heard of those mentioned above. I guess just shopping at mid-tier or stores I happen to like makes me oblivious to the great haves out there too?
The stores with poser figures (which totally creep me out, sorry) turn me off instantly. I'm not a tagger so I prefer to shop at stores that cater to my tastes, ie: Scrapbooking. No matter what anyone says here is going to change that. I have shopped at stores that catered to both scrappers and taggers and honestly, I still don't see the appeal.
Not everyone is going to like what you may like, that is probably why there are so many stores out there. Who cares what tier you sell at, if a percentage of the people at this blog don't shop there anyway.
I wouldn't call $200-500/month lucrative. Even $3000/month is a good living, but it's not lucrative unless you work 5 hours/month for that $3000, then that's pretty lucrative.
$200-500/month might be good spending money and pay for some groceries, but that's hardly lucrative. Hyperbole, yes.
Mine are steady, but I havent been able to do my new releases as planned this month because of some family issues. However, my shop (I am the co-owner) is having its best month ever.
As a customer, I have spent a ton of money this month. Bargain Bytes and Advent Sales are draining my account.
Yeah, I'm one of those high-tier shoppers that refuses to expand my horizons and buy kits with trampy posers. Just what I don't want for scrapping. A pouty-faced digital tramp with her boobs hanging out right next to a picture of my 3yo playing with his trucks. Gross. If I see that crap on the front page of a store, I hit the back button. If they want more business, they need to work on their image and stop offering trampy trailer trash.
142, What you said. I'm sorry, but if I see that crap on a website, I'm ditching it. One of those websites listed above had some shirtless thuggy guy on it. Total turn off. I would much rather spend my scrapping time actually scrapping, rather than trying to dig for "hidden gems" in a store I won't likely be returning to. I shop at the higher tiered stores because there's plenty of selection that is high quality and matches my photos, plus, I'm not spending money on kits I can't use for challenges at high tiered stores for when I have scrappers block and need a challenge to inspire me.
The signature tag stuff and posers and all of that? Disgusting, in my opinion. I don't need a lingerie "model" donning my stuff anytime soon.
I agree with you on tagger kits and poser stuff. I know there is a market for it, but it just doesnt appeal to me as a scrapper. But, many so-called lower tier stores have friendly forums, fun challenges and I dont feel like I dont matter to them. I dont worry so much about the size or popularity of the actual shop, but how I can use what I find and if I feel like its a good value. This week I have found things I love at STO and WLS and things at SBG and SO.
So 145, you like to be friends with the strippers and thugs? I don't care how nice they are, their creations border on sick fetishes. I just saw one with adult women in stripper clothes sucking pacifiers. Gross.
if any of the designer names I see off the bat end in a letter z instead of an s. Sorry. Those are both big red alert flags to me --- lol I hate that too & I don't even want to look at their designz.
A bad name will never get them very far. They need to think about what package they are presenting when they apply for stores. That includes their name.
I can think of some "odd/weird" designer names and they don't need to have a z at the end, and I always wondered what they could have thought of when they picked that name.
#110 those stores are lower than low tier stores. I think that's the lowest it gets. Their products remind me of freebies I used to download in 2007-2008 when I first discovered digital scrapbooking and most of the freebies then were better than the stuff sold there today. Maybe it' time you start a freebie hunt. You'll find much better digi stuff around the digiland than the products sold at those stores.
#142 Me too! It all started in October with a few retirement sales,then DSD,then Black Friday,Advent Calendars,Crazy Elfs,Bargain Bites... I can't breathe..I keep shopping and shopping... After the holidays for the first 2-3 months of 2013 I'll be organizing everything I bought.
#125 As for us "people" stuck with the top tier stores...there are soooo many great products in those stores and new stuff coming out everyweek that's there's no time to browse through everything already..why look at other stores or google to find new ones when these top tier-middle tier ones are so fullfilling?
152 here: No, I don't say it's their name. I think that their name usually represents their style, and they don't need to change that to suit me. If they went cr8tv, it was because they liked it.
I'm not the digiGod, I just don't want to portray that kind of image in my store.
I am 145 and I can't say I know any strippers or thugs. I am also turned of by the posers and tagger kits, but just because a store is "lower" doesn't mean it doesn't have positive qualities. The point I was trying to make (poorly) is that I found great things this week at stores that were not as popular. And I found cute things a the bigger stores too.
Still the bottom line is there is a digital market out there for all types of designers, and not everyone, myself included expect to put posers in my layouts. We don't have to look at them or buy them, and I think some of you use posers and low tier as an excuse not to shop around. If there wasn't a market for those types of things, then they wouldn't be there, and what many don't understand is that those things are made for a different demographic than us traditional scrappers. They are for chat groups, tagger forums, and the artist community, have you seen art work such as Al Rio, Zindy, Zlata_M, Janesko, Jenson, Garv and so on. I've shopped at some of those low tier stores above, and some of my favorite kits have come from lesser known designers, and one of them does adorable paper style and realistic kits, and for my digital or print needs, she suits me perfectly and I've been a customer of hers for three years. Personally, I like to dig, I overlook or look by things that I don't like. As for odd designer names, I'm not thrilled with some I've seen either, but that doesn't mean they don't have some nice kits, just means they don't have the best judgement in names, lol to me, they are trying to be creative, to stand out, be noticed, and of course, they do. As for store design, I don't like a shoddy looking store, I've seen some with horrid design, and some with simple design that are nice.
I think some of you use posers and low tier as an excuse not to shop around.
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I think that is reason enough. It's a waste of time to dig through all that crap to find something that I can even use, if it exists at all at the store. I'm very happy with the places I shop. I bounce between 6. That's not enough shopping around, really?
I have yet to see a tagger/poser store that isn't shoddy in design.
No, not at all, just saying that I feel there is a large digital market out there that caters to different styles than most of us use and that in some of these places are good finds. I just think it rather ridiculous people say they can't look past such and such and find something nice. Ever thought these designers in the so called low tier stores are just trying to make ends meet with a little extra cash for their families and they may not have the time it takes to be exclusive to a larger high tier store, much less meet the demands of said stores. As for tagger/poser stores being shoddy in design, which ones? I've seen some nice looking stores that have them, clean and neat.
#125 As for us "people" stuck with the top tier stores...there are soooo many great products in those stores and new stuff coming out everyweek that's there's no time to browse through everything already..why look at other stores or google to find new ones when these top tier-middle tier ones are so fullfilling?
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If they are so "fulfilling" then why do you all bitch about the sales, designs, designers and such? Doesn't seem very fulfilling to me.
Ever thought these designers in the so called low tier stores are just trying to make ends meet with a little extra cash for their families and they may not have the time it takes to be exclusive to a larger high tier store, much less meet the demands of said stores.
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WRONG! They don't have the design style to make it into those stores. Seriously, show me one that has the talent of the designers at TLP, SSD, or SBG.
I don't have to buy their stuff because they are trying to support their family. I have a family to feed as well and can't spend my money on supplies that I won't use. But you make it sound like they are so talented anyway. They should be ok then.
Here's a thought. If they aren't poser or tagger and want to appeal to digital scrapbookers, maybe they should go a store that doesn't have posers and other crap so that scrappers don't have to dig to find these fabulous designers you claim exist.
It's not on the customer to change. The designer needs to offer a reason for the customer to gladly hand over the money. And a few digital customers have posted here that they will not dig through stores with poser kits.
Very few cater to both as long as they remain in poser stores. And I'm not going to go pick out kits to pick apart individual designers at those stores. Generally their color schemes and elements are dated even if they do paper style.
No, it makes perfect sense. Color combinations and patterns that are popular with customers tend to follow color trends in fashion and home decor. Element choices tend to shift as well. 2 years ago you didnt see all the chevron, arrows, banners etc that you do right now. A designer who ignores trends will not be as profitable as one who adapts to her marketplace. It is important to be adaptable while staying true to who you are as a designer.
You keep saying I should dig to find these hidden gems, that it's really not that big of a deal. I've got limited scrapping time as it is. Do you really think I'm going to spend that precious time digging through stores to MAYBE find something I can use? Why would I not spend that time and energy picking a kit at a store I'm already familiar with, and then assembling a page, rather than wasting that time digging through another store. If they can't compete, they can't compete. They have to work hard to stay in style, and that's it. If they're at a store with posers and everything, they're not likely to be competitive in terms of current styles. Yeah, I may be able to score a kit for $1, but I can find dollar sales at the many stores I already frequent. I have a large handful of stores I love-- probably 7 or 8-- so why add more stores that may or may not have a hidden gem inside? Those designers need to make serious choices to leave the store they're in if they plan on catering to a different market.
Ever thought these designers in the so called low tier stores are just trying to make ends meet with a little extra cash for their families and they may not have the time it takes to be exclusive to a larger high tier store, much less meet the demands of said stores.
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If I can't browse the store with my 7yo sitting nearby, then it isn't going to get my money. If they really have something to offer to mainstream digital scrapbooking, then they can go to a store without the slutty posers. They do have a choice. Well, after they improve their designs. But there are low-tiered stores without the trashy posers.
I'm so disappointed with DHD. Looks like they added two new designers. Both have TERRIBLE logos - yes I'm complaining about the logos because if you can't design a nice logo I don't think you'll be very good at designing product. That font Diane Rooney used is terrible. October Dawn's store header is atrocious, bad colors and no shadows. Appearance matters, at least to me as I'm very a very visual person. I did continue on and took a close look at the product - I agree with the poster who said it's very "2005". It's so sad to me to see a store that had such talent (and still has quite a bit in the old designers that haven't left yet)and now to see this stuff alongside the others - huge talent gap. Makes me wonder who is in charge over there now.... and who applied to their call. They must not have gotten a very good response and/or the owner does not have an eye for design.
That font Diane Rooney used is terrible. October Dawn's store header is atrocious, bad colors and no shadows. ________
YIKES! That header is a nightmare... could it get any darker and gloomier, and for that matter FLATTER? No dimension, poor layout, horrendous color choice... and I'm sorry, I would not pay $2 for this. I'm not a designer, just a shopper/scrapper, and I could make that in 2 seconds, with a better typeface and style. http://www.designhousedigital.com/digital-scrapbooking-kit/october-dawn/north-pole-city-rubons
I see an ad at the top that is really bad. I'm guessing that's what 178/179 are talking about. They seem to rotate through a few different ones when you go to a different page.
I'm the OP. This morning I went to check out the new DHD designers and the first thing I saw was Diane Rooney's ad at the top of the page. When I clicked over to October Dawn's store it changed to her ad, which I wrongly assumed was a store header. Anyway, my point is that was my first impression of the new designers at it wasn't a good one. It's not just the designs either - I was checking out the blog and found these two recent posts. The layouts are terrible! Did their whole CT quit too?
I bet you still have a mullet and think it's cool. -------------
Why do you have to be like this? Yes, I get it's a smack blog but people are having a civil conversation where someone is trying to understand why stores that do both paper and tagger kits aren't appealing to the paper scrappers.
I congratulate the OP who is asking, as there have been some rude and side comments thrown her way, which she is gracefully ignoring.
It's not just the designs either - I was checking out the blog and found these two recent posts. The layouts are terrible! Did their whole CT quit too? ---
It's like I've entered a time warp to when I started scrapping 7 years ago. A time when shadowing was exclusive to actual paper, and I had no concept of where to put things on a page. All I see are flat flat pages, stretched photos, poor color choice, awful layout choices... not the work of a CT. It looks like the work of a novice scrapper, but a CT member? No way. I'd never let any of those pass one of my calls. I know that people want to "grow" but they can grow in the forums, not on a CT.
I have nothing personal at all against October Dawn or DHD. I just think that it's overpriced junk for what is there. Used to be a good store, clearly they've lost their minds a bit, and it's sad that the store is going to probably die out or drop to a low-tier store at some point because of it. No one is going to pay $5 for a list of words about Santa in a different font and color... just not happening.
I like DHD fine, and I've got nothing personal against October Dawn, whoever she is. I had never heard of her until I saw her products at DHD. I was just surprised and disappointed to see that quality of product at DHD, a store I have come to expect a high level of quality from. Just makes me wonder what is going on there.
I never considered DHD a high tier store. It was between middle leaning towards low for me. Now if I shop it will only be $1 deals. #173 Paper looked dated when it has no texture at all. A great digital paper is a paper that looks real.
Sorry guys but what does OP mean. My mind is stuck and I can't remember.
I've spent sooo much money these last three months on digi supplies... I think I have an addiction. I can't resist a great sale. Anyone else want to join Addicted Digi Scrappers Anonymous?
I agree that DHD is definitely looking kind of different lately! I heard that their best designers & CT are all leaving for Pixels & Co. I'm curious to see when that store opens? Does anyone know if they are having intro sales for the new site?
I used to consider DHD a high-tier store but lately the quality has dropped, BADLY. Does anyone know what happened?? Why are all their designers leaving?
1332 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 801 – 1000 of 1332 Newer› Newest»1-Thank you for the clarification. I'm definitely committed to my teams, or I wouldn't be with the non-producers. They are very nice ladies though, and I love to help them out. I've been on some teams for over 2 years, so I'm not a flake. Some designers state on their requirements not to apply if you are on more than 5 teams, so you are not the only designer that takes that into consideration. I know the designers I work for would recommend me. Do you ever check with other designers about applicants?
2 said "Do you ever check with other designers about applicants?"
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That's what I was going to ask, too. I'm on a team with a woman who is on quite a few teams. But she always has her LOs done on time. She's retired (so no kids running underfoot like a SAHM has, and no job to suck up her scrapping time like a working person). So, she may be on 3 times as many teams as I am, but in theory she probably has 5 times the amount of time to scrap. If I were a designer, I'd want her on my team.
I'm comment 1, and I do occasionally check with other designers about applicants. If I have two people who are totally equal to me in terms of everything I'm looking for, then I will often check with their other designers they CT for, just to double-check that they're active. I also do that if I have one person who is very talented but the only mark against her is that she's on quite a few teams as well as a person who is on fewer teams but doesn't blow my mind quite as much (also talented, though).
When I choose people, I usually make a list of applicants that really stand out to me first, then from there I figure out the pros and cons of each (comparing different attributes like photos, post-processing, use of kits, use of my product specifically, how often they have "dud" layouts, how well they match my style, their personality in their application, other teams they're on, jobs and outside commitments, etc)
However, it's also not uncommon for me to take on more CT members than I had planned on.
Having too many specific requirements on a CT call usually makes people not want to apply who would otherwise be qualified and likely accepted onto teams. I keep my short and sweet and keep the specifics of what I'm looking for to myself (shadowing, photo skills, etc). I want people who like my products and who can make 1 LO/kit 2-3 kits/month. If they can do that, I want to see their work. I usually get between 50-70 applications for a call and can eliminate at least half in 15 mins just by glancing at their galleries, so it's not really any more time consuming and I don't subject myself to any scrutiny by the community or my customers.
I also always send out a coupon to my store to everyone who applies, but wasn't accepted.
This CT conversation is interesting. I have been around more than a few years as a customer and I can count the number of CT people whose names I recognize on one hand. Maybe it's because most of the LOs I see come to my inbox in the form of a designer or store newsletter? To my recollection, most of them are neither linked to a gallery nor attributed.
Here's my question: Do most of your big customers, your loyal customers, belong to the community as a CT or another designer? Or are they people from whom you've never seen a Lo, or does it lie somewhere in the middles?
Do most of your big customers, your loyal customers, belong to the community as a CT or another designer?
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I have never seen a CT member become a customer. They just don't pay for their stuff, and I would never ask a big spending customer to become a CT member.
6-Personally, I usually buy kits of a designer before I become a CT member. (that is how I know I like the designer enough to be on a CT) Then I have a list of designers to apply for when I see a call. After my time is finished with that team, if I'm still in love with the designs, yes, I buy the kits. Leaving a team is always hard for me. Over the years, there have been several reasons to leave a team. One of the biggest reasons was too much drama on the team or the designer was not the person I thought she was. Two were not the type of people I cared to be associated with. After leaving their teams I actually took my layouts I made with their product out of my galleries. Some designers I learned to love from working with their kits at a store I CT'd for, then I waited for a call from that designer. That is the easiest way because working with the designers at a store you get to know their character a bit before applying to their team. If they cause trouble at a store, or are melodramatic there, or are late with releases with a lot of excuses, then at least you know what you're getting into. Character is very important to me when choosing a designer to work with. It's not all 'free kits' as some like to think. I like to enjoy my designers and working with their product. Other reasons for leaving a team are changes in requirements, moving to a store I don't like to participate at. One designer changed styles I had a hard time adapting to and I didn't like the layouts I was giving her, so I quit as to not make her product look bad. Even CT members have a conscious!
I have never seen a CT member become a customer. They just don't pay for their stuff, and I would never ask a big spending customer to become a CT member.
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If your stuff is good enough some will become customers. It depends on why they left the team in the first place.
I buy almost every new release from a designer that I CT'd for a long time ago. Other designers I know to avoid because I know their creations really aren't what I want to purchase.
I've been a CTM for several years and I buy from a few designers every time they release something I like and will use. I spent over $150 last month alone.
Not all CTMs are non-customers. Maybe most are, I don't know. Most of the other CTMs I chat with also buy from other designers.
I find most CTs very demanding and too many people on the team slack off and don't hold their own weight. I generally leave those teams if things don't shape-up after a month or two. I don't create for any designers who rarely release. I don't see how a CT even helps those designers at all.
I receive a bunch of products for free, sure, but I CT to keep my skills fresh and improve my scrapping and photography. I've been a loyal customer to a couple designers for many years and wont apply to their CT calls. I want to keep them in business by giving them my business.
Guess I better quit buying products, then, lest I be passed up for a coveted CT spot. :rolls eyes: Oh, brother.
In my experience, my CTM's aren't really the purchasing type. I've no doubt that varies, but it holds true for me.
12-I'm a CTM and I do purchase a lot. My dh can't figure out why I purchase since I have so much from my teams, but I like to purchase from the designers I love, and there are a lot of them.
^^^
ditto
I would think the CTs who don't purchase are the ones on a ton of teams. What could you possibly need if you're on 15+ CTs? I think those of us on a small handful of teams are the ones who will still purchase.
Who the hell is on 15+ teams?
I have never seen a CT member become a customer. They just don't pay for their stuff,
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Maybe your CTMs never pay for their stuff, but that doesn't mean other CTMs don't. I know I do. I always have.
#16- ALOT of ladies! I think every scrapper I know is on at least 10-15 teams. Most freelance and mix that in with fulltime teams. So it adds up pretty quick.
#15- Wrong! Alot of CTM's still buy stuff.
#16- Check SSD, you will see quite a few!
I just went through SO's forums and only found one that was on more than 10 teams. I didn't see any at SSD. I don't understand how anyone can possibly get 15+ layouts done in one week and have a life.
I want to know specifics as to who as well. This generalizing is BS.
Who cares how many teams people are on? Maybe they don't have to do 15 layouts a week. All teams have different requirements to what has to be done monthly. If they can handle it or enjoy being on that many teams, good for them.
#21- Just because it isn't in their siggy doesn't mean they aren't on that many teams. Most ladies just use a name siggy in forums now. I know quite a few ladies that post there all the time that have 10-15 teams. So what?
It's not a matter of judging them. I just don't believe it. I'm also curious to see their galleries. They have to be scrappin' machines!
#24- Again who cares?
What do you guys think of SDD closing? It seems like so many stores are closing.
A question #2 asked- Do you ever check with other designers about applicants?
How many of you designers do this? Or check with applicants current designers they CT for? I think it would be a good way to know what a scrapper can handle for teams.
#24- Again who cares?
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I do and 1 other poster asked as well. Go away if you don't have something to offer.
Quite a few ladies in this thread have at least 10 teams. I would message them and ask them how they can scrap and have a life. Most of them can do both.
http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68930
What do you guys think of SDD closing? It seems like so many stores are closing
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I don't care. I really didn't like that store. Some lower tier store will take its place.
#28- I'm not here to pick apart scrappers who can handle that many teams or enjoy it. It sounds like you may be a tad jeaous of them. The amount of teams people are on have nothing to do with the way I scrap or CT for people.
Thank you, #29. They truly are scrapping machines!
Since we pick apart scrappers who have alot of teams, how do you feel about designers who CT for other people in general?
31, I'm not jealous. I'm just curious how they do it and what they scrap.
Designers are scrappers too, 33. If the designer they CT for doesn't care, why should we?
#32- Their galleries are pretty good aren't they? It's all about balance. Some ladies mass scrap on the weekends, some do it a little everyday.
Actually, 31. After thinking about it and browsing their galleries, I am jealous. I'm jealous that they have that much time to scrap. I just can't produce like that.
What do you guys think of SDD closing? It seems like so many stores are closing.
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And so many are not.
It sounds like you may be a tad jeaous of them.
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really? The jealousy card? Again?
wow, so let me see, if I say
I don't like her skirt, I must be jealous
I don't like his socks, I must be jealous
I don't like that TV show, I must be jealous
I don't like that flavor ice cream, I must be jealous
I don't like chocolate cake, I must be jealous
See how ridiculous it sounds?
I'm not jealous, and I don't care how many teams anybody is on, although I do like to look at the mix of designers in any given forum siggy.
I don't care if a designer CTs for another designer, even at another store - I figure they are friends. I do not like it when a store owner CTs or scraps with "outside material". That is wrong and a sign the store is closing or she is moving on.
I would message them and ask them how they can scrap and have a life
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Probably just time management. I've found that the less time people have to do things, the more likely they are to make the time to do it. On the other hand, the more time someone has to do something, they are less likely to do it because they have the attitude of "I'll do it later". Not true of everyone, I know, but has been my experience.
#39- What's ridiculous is how it's your business how many teams people are on.
#40- What about designers who CT for stores they don't sell in? I am not sure how I feel about this. I know that SO doesn't allow their designers to CT for other stores.
What's ridiculous is how it's your business how many teams people are on.
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Say what? I don't care how many teams someone is on. What's ridiculous is you assuming you know who posted what. I, however, can safely assume you are not psychic.
I wouldn't mind seeing a blog similar to this one that talks about CTM's. As a designer, I have frequently wondered about the history of applicants.
So you would take advice or base an application on a smack blog? If everyone took what is said on here worth anything, half the designers and stores would have little to no customers.
44-There really isn't much interest in the individual CTM's--just apparently CTM's in general.
How many of you that post here actually CTM for someone? Just curious.
Did anyone dl the dsc blog train?
45-Well, a lot of them have closed over the past year. Maybe this blog is helping cull the stores out. I think some of the people here have also made life pretty hard on a few designers if I remember right.
Not all of them closed due to this blog. I think just one did.
There is no apostrophe in CTMs. It's a plural, not a possessive.
Damn, I hate this trend of apostrophe plurals.
Not all of them closed due to this blog. I think just one did.
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Nope, none of them did. They closed due to their own inadequacies or what not. Laying the blame on a third party, namely this blog, is just the easy thing to do. It means that someone doesn't have to take responsibly for their own actions.
This blog doesn't have that much power. #52 is spot on.
There is no apostrophe in CTMs. It's a plural, not a possessive.
Damn, I hate this trend of apostrophe plurals.
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Apostrophes can be used in plurals to avoid confusion such as mind your p's and q's. Damn, I hate this trend of posting inaccurate data.
54-Do you think anybody cares what you think about apostrophes? Geeze.
Are you speaking to 51 as well?
55, I care.
Apostrophes can be used in plurals to avoid confusion such as mind your p's and q's. Damn, I hate this trend of posting inaccurate data.
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Not relevant in this case. It's CTMs, otherwise CTM's would indicate that the CTM belonged to a designer or a store. No confusion in this case about plural and possessive.
If you hate inaccurate data, please provide more specific data next time :)
Do you think anybody cares what you think about apostrophes? Geeze.
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Do you think everybody cares about half the crap that gets posted here? No, they don't.
Geeze.
#39- What's ridiculous is how it's your business how many teams people are on.
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um, pretty much every single thing discussed here is none of our business, so what makes this topic so special?
In other news, does anyone else feel like the prices at OSD are ridiculous compared to other stores? JM has what I would consider a mini for almost $6. At that price, I could get a full kit elsewhere. I mean, I know digi is much cheaper than paper and you can't put a value on designers hard work and yada yada, but when I buy a digi kit, I want to feel like I'm actually getting something more than 5 papers and a handful of elements.
I just got the DHD newsletter that announces the new designers. What a mess. Really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
I don't get the newsletter. Who are they?
go check the site.
I don't know who was there before, to be able to tell who is new.
Then it doesn't matter. They are all new to you.
(they have a blog, lazy)
Karla Dudley and someone else.
Karla left.
#61 - Are you talking about the Block Party stuff? Yeah, some of it is way over priced. They might do better with some standardized pricing. There are others who have a reasonable amount of elements for $2.99. And some have 8 papers for $3.99 while others 12-18 papers for $2.99. Looking at the kits in general, the prices seem to be $5.99-7.99 which is normal IMO but there are a couple designers who's stuff is kind of lean for the price I think, JM and Peeps & Milo definately.
#68- My mistake I thought they were talking about who left DHD for Pixels and Co.
Who owns Gotta Pixel? Does anyone here know?
69- I'm OP. I meant the standard kits. The pricing is normal, but the kits have hardly anything-- some of the JM kits that were priced around $5.99 had less in it than most designers give away for free on facebook or blogs. They were more "mini" than anything. The prices aren't bad; the prices for what you're getting, not so great (compared to other shops).
#71 Stacy Carlson owns GP
(they have a blog, lazy)
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Not the OP, but as their blog hasn't been updated since November, it would be pointless checking it for new designers. It would seem that they are the lazy ones.
Yes, it has. I was just there reading about the new designers.
Not the OP, but as their blog hasn't been updated since November, it would be pointless checking it for new designers. It would seem that they are the lazy ones.
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Either you are at the wrong site or you were too lazy to check before you posted this. They have posted almost daily in December.
Diane Rooney?
So what's the story on Pixels and Co and DHD? Why did Gennifer and her harem decide to go do their own thing? Looks like almost every designer at DHD is popping up on their facebook page in weekly announcements.
Either you are at the wrong site or you were too lazy to check before you posted this. They have posted almost daily in December.
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Whatever. I was at Design House Digital and when I clicked the blog link on their home page, I was taken to November. Bad linking on their part.
So, yeah, totally lazy for sure. Absolutely. You got that right.
That's not what happen when I clicked. You probably didn't even bother.
#80 - whatever. You know best, although, I have to ask, why would I make up something like that? Er, I wouldn't. But I like I said, whatever. If it floats your boat to think I'm lazy and couldn't be bothered, have at it. I'd hate to deprive you of your moment of joy.
8 spots left and about as many designers left at DHD that were there when Gennifer left.....I think I see where this is going. Something big must have happened there. I feel bad for those who just came on as designers there, doesn't look like they are getting what they thought they were signing on.
81, I have to agree with 80. I'm not getting that when I click either and I didn't get it earlier today when it first came up. I don't think their link has an issue. I think you have an issue.
82, I think they can put two and two together and figure out that it is going a different direction.
But I also don't think all those designers are leaving for P&Co.
I wish they would remove that watermark from the previews. It's distracting.
Where do you think they're going, 84?
I don't think they are all going to leave.
They had better all leave. That place just went from a top of the heap store to a bottom dweller in about a week's time. Last week I shopped there a ton. This week I almost can't believe my eyes. I will wager that almost all of them are going to P&co. There have already been too many of them to end up there. Something happened and the entire design team decided to band together elsewhere. Good for them, if that's the case. Whoever owns DHD now is in for a rude surprise when their sales dry up overnight. Just IMO. I have no inside scoop, just a customer who knows the inner workings of the design/shop world and this is an interesting one.
Why are they drawing it out to make it such a prolonged death? That's just cruel to the store.
I can't imagine they would choose to not be there when Pixels opens in a couple of weeks, so I bet it wasn't a choice. If two are leaving every week, maybe that's what the store owner is scheduling.
I think you have an issue.
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Thank you Dr Phil for the insight. You are a genius, clearly.
#88 - if that's true, it smacks of shades of Shabby Pickle and 9th & Bloom and we all know how that turned out.
You are a genius, clearly
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Yes, I am.
81, I have to agree with 80. I'm not getting that when I click either and I didn't get it earlier today when it first came up. I don't think their link has an issue.
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worked just fine for me also.
I get an outdated blog when I click the blog link, as well.
Then clear your cookies.
Bunch of liars on this blog.
If there blog is outdated, where did this post come from?
http://www.designhousedigital.com/content/blog/1-kit-many-ways-george-collection/
It's on the front page of the blog link.
Good try, 98. Some people just want to tell lies because otherwise they would just be lazy.
I get a December blog.
I smell a troll.
I guess I wonder why anyone WANTS to see December. Ick.
they wanted to know who the new designers are.
My question is what qualifies as a lower tier and higher tier store? I know the whole traditional vs tagger scrapping issue has been tossed around and tossed out, but there are a lot of what I guess you call lower tier stores popping up out there. Is there a reason why these stores are classified this way? Is it because they don't offer the same styles of kits, or do they offer too much variety being tagger and traditional, or what? I ask because I just found a few stores that offered both types of kits, and actually spent a nice little sum of money on designers I never heard of, and they had some really nice kits, but none of those stores are listed here. And for what it's worth, the quality of the kits I bought was very nice, and I'll be going back, but really am curious as to what makes a store top or bottom tier.
#103 What stores did you shop at? I would like a wider variety of stores to shop at.
Popularity and sales make a top-tier store. I think that most of the designers have figure out their own "style" and make cohesive kits. I feel like the papers and the elements go together and it's not just a hodge of things in the same color scheme. Of course that is a generalization because there are some that are still not accomplishing that.
It doesn't mean that the mid-tiers aren't offering good products, though. Some of these designers could move into a top store at any time. I have never found anything worth buying at a low-tier store. Although the lines can be blurred based on what you like when it comes to mid-tier and low-tier and mid-tier and high-tier.
What matters is that you are buying what you like and can scrap with!
I smell a troll.
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So take a bath.
FFS, why would anyone want to lie about an outdated blog link? What's to be gained by it? Absolutely nothing.
No bashing was done or anything, just a mention that the link was outdated and suddenly they are lazy and trolls.
My question is what qualifies as a lower tier and higher tier store?
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Nothing. I've seen some stores mentioned as being top tier that I wouldn't consider to be top, while others are considered middle or bottom that I would rank higher.
Some people just want to tell lies because otherwise they would just be lazy.
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And some people just want to be bitchy because they have nothing better to do.
#104 I shopped at Heartbeatz Creationz, DigitalScrapDesigns, Nuthouse Scraps, Bella Zingaro Studio and Mystical Scraps. Found some lovely kits and papers, and spent at least 25 in each store. I like the kits I bought, but hadn't heard of the designers, new to me, but nice products even though they had a lot of tagger sized kits, useless to me, but some of the designers had both sizes of kits available which was a nice option.
I don't like any of those stores because they look too digital and from 2005. Those are low-tier to me. But if that makes you happy, then great! The prices looked decent.
And some people just want to be bitchy because they have nothing better to do.
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Just like YOU!
What a boring blog DHD has! (And, yes, I see December - but it doesn't matter because it's horrible!)
It's always been that way. That's nothing new.
Ok, so the stores look dated, the prices are pretty decent looks like. Does the look of a store stop you from looking inside and seeing what they have to offer? I've found some nice hidden gems in some of those little stores. Brings me to the question of what makes a digital scrap store attractive enough to look inside of? I don't know how much these places cost to put up, I just shop, lol but I like browsing them all to see if anything or anyone catches my eye, and if they don't, I don't go back, but if someone looks promising, I might buy a kit or two, see what the quality is like, and then continue shopping if the quality is good.
115, the stuff inside looks dated too. I don't want to dig for gems. But even looking through (and I did TRY with 2 of the stores), there wasn't even one kit that I would put in my cart.
But I shop at stores like SSD, TLP, SM, & SO. I want my layouts to look like a paper layout and I choose kits from those store accordingly.
Just like YOU!
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Nope, not like me. I was never bitchy.
If you are reading or posting on this blog, you are bitchy.
Some people just want to tell lies
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About a blog? You must be insane to think that someone would tell lies about something so inconsequential.
If you are reading or posting on this blog, you are bitchy.
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Oh, fer reals? Are you sure?
About a blog? You must be insane to think that someone would tell lies about something so inconsequential.
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What's insane is that you keep responding to this topic.
Another one bites the dust, Digital Scrapn is closing. They used to be filled with great designers, been around about six years.
http://digitalscrapnshop.com/
They used to be filled with great designers, been around about six years.
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Like who? I didn't even know this shop existed.
It was a good store back when Lori Giles owned it. Sadly, she recently closed her new store, Sophie N Lulu too. That place has been around a long time. I would say six or seven years.
Like who? I didn't even know this shop existed.
______
See, that ^^ is what happens when you only frequent the so called high tier stores, you don't see what else is out there. Don't you people ever use google or read other blogs or browse scrap freebie sites? Tons of good stuff out there to be had, not just the same old same old everyone keeps bitching about. DST and other similar forums aren't all that is out there.
125, I just browsed the sites posted above and saw nothing that I like with the exception of a couple things at Nuthouse Scraps. I look at some of the sites posted on this blog that are getting smacked hoping for something new. Since you haven't noticed that stuff doesn't look anything like what the high tier stores sell.
I think that is because some of the so called lower tier stores cater to a different scrapping customer base. Under all the traditional print work many of us do, there is a whole digital world of forum sets, signature tags, digital quick pages, things that many of us here wouldn't bother with simply because we aren't part of that side of the digital design world. But for those who are a part of it, it is a lucrative business and in all reality, that is why there are so many stores you call low tier. I'm a designer in one of those stores mentioned above, and I sell anywhere from 200 to 500 a month, and I also do the coveted high tier paper style, which also brings me a nice paycheck. I have two design names, one of them is with my daughter and two different styles of design work. So it depends on the market and customer preference.
127, generally the high-tier stores require designers to be exclusive. How'd you get around that?
128, probably by using two different names and lying through her teeth on the contract. Or lying here, which isn't exactly unheard of...
The store I sell at doesn't require exclusivity, but it does know I design as a duo with my daughter, so what would be the big deal on that? I'm just saying that what you call lower tier stores simply cater to a different design demographic than what you, yourself, enjoy. Different strokes for different folks you know. It's almost the same damned argument that has been had here before about how the signature tag community and the designers that cater to them aren't part of scrap booking. Just because it doesn't always go to print doesn't mean it isn't scrapping, it's just a different style. Anyway, I'd just like to see people realize the digi world is huge, and as such, there are places for all types of scrappers, and this higher/lower tier stuff is ridiculous, with the exception of some places like that low budget scrapper and the misspelled sensibility scrapping, lol those are simply horrid.
I guess by high-tier style, you didn't mean you were in a high-tier store? They are all exclusive.
And it isn't ridiculous to classify them. You do know the difference between Macy's and Dollar General, right? It's a matter of what the designers are striving for. You can't tell me that any designer at SSD would be willing to leave to design at that Bellazingo site posted above. There is a hierarchy whether they play along or not. As long as they are trying to offer products to digital scrappers, they have a hat in the game and that makes them low-tier in our corner of the world.
I'm glad they have their niche though and aren't wasting their time.
I don't hang out at the "Higher Tier" stores and I barely heard of those mentioned above. I guess just shopping at mid-tier or stores I happen to like makes me oblivious to the great haves out there too?
The stores with poser figures (which totally creep me out, sorry) turn me off instantly. I'm not a tagger so I prefer to shop at stores that cater to my tastes, ie: Scrapbooking. No matter what anyone says here is going to change that. I have shopped at stores that catered to both scrappers and taggers and honestly, I still don't see the appeal.
Not everyone is going to like what you may like, that is probably why there are so many stores out there. Who cares what tier you sell at, if a percentage of the people at this blog don't shop there anyway.
Maybe they saw that first kit and THOUGHT it was an outdated blog. That kit looks like it's from 2005.
I wouldn't call $200-500/month lucrative. Even $3000/month is a good living, but it's not lucrative unless you work 5 hours/month for that $3000, then that's pretty lucrative.
$200-500/month might be good spending money and pay for some groceries, but that's hardly lucrative. Hyperbole, yes.
Is everyones sales down this time of year?
No. Mine are up. They will probably go down after Christmas. January is slow.
Mine are up this month, too... in fact, I don't know any designers personally whose sales are down right now.
Mine are steady, but I havent been able to do my new releases as planned this month because of some family issues. However, my shop (I am the co-owner) is having its best month ever.
135, Sounds like someone needs to up their game. Time for a $1 sale!
I do the "kit for $2 today only" sale when mine start to go down.
Offering a short-term sale is a great way to boost sales. Selling 5 kits at $2 is going to make you more than selling 1 kit at $6, obviously.
#139- I'm not a designer, I was just curious. So I really don't need to do a $1 sale.
As a customer, I have spent a ton of money this month. Bargain Bytes and Advent Sales are draining my account.
Yeah, I'm one of those high-tier shoppers that refuses to expand my horizons and buy kits with trampy posers. Just what I don't want for scrapping. A pouty-faced digital tramp with her boobs hanging out right next to a picture of my 3yo playing with his trucks. Gross. If I see that crap on the front page of a store, I hit the back button. If they want more business, they need to work on their image and stop offering trampy trailer trash.
142, What you said. I'm sorry, but if I see that crap on a website, I'm ditching it. One of those websites listed above had some shirtless thuggy guy on it. Total turn off. I would much rather spend my scrapping time actually scrapping, rather than trying to dig for "hidden gems" in a store I won't likely be returning to. I shop at the higher tiered stores because there's plenty of selection that is high quality and matches my photos, plus, I'm not spending money on kits I can't use for challenges at high tiered stores for when I have scrappers block and need a challenge to inspire me.
The signature tag stuff and posers and all of that? Disgusting, in my opinion. I don't need a lingerie "model" donning my stuff anytime soon.
I'm sure topless bars occasionally serve a good meal, too, but I'm not about to go to one in hopes of finding the hidden gem on the menu.
I agree with you on tagger kits and poser stuff. I know there is a market for it, but it just doesnt appeal to me as a scrapper. But, many so-called lower tier stores have friendly forums, fun challenges and I dont feel like I dont matter to them. I dont worry so much about the size or popularity of the actual shop, but how I can use what I find and if I feel like its a good value. This week I have found things I love at STO and WLS and things at SBG and SO.
So 145, you like to be friends with the strippers and thugs? I don't care how nice they are, their creations border on sick fetishes. I just saw one with adult women in stripper clothes sucking pacifiers. Gross.
STO? WLS? (not in abbr. list)
STO=Scrap Take Out, right?
145: I wouldn't consider STO, SBG, and SO "lower-tier" by any means. Am I misunderstanding you?
STO and WLS are pretty good. I would consider them mid-tier. I think mid-tiers have nice forums.
Does the look of a store stop you from looking inside and seeing what they have to offer?
Yes. Also, if any of the designer names I see off the bat end in a letter z instead of an s. Sorry. Those are both big red alert flags to me.
It's because I *have* bought from those places and have gotten burned that I won't any more.
if any of the designer names I see off the bat end in a letter z instead of an s. Sorry. Those are both big red alert flags to me
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lol I hate that too & I don't even want to look at their designz.
lol I hate that too & I don't even want to look at their designz
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:snort: You made me spit coke.
I'm a store owner, and I have turned designers down for my shop based on their design name.
#152 Even if they were a good designer?
A bad name will never get them very far. They need to think about what package they are presenting when they apply for stores. That includes their name.
#152
Have you told them that it is because of their name?
I can think of some "odd/weird" designer names and they don't need to have a z at the end, and I always wondered what they could have thought of when they picked that name.
#110 those stores are lower than low tier stores. I think that's the lowest it gets. Their products remind me of freebies I used to download in 2007-2008 when I first discovered digital scrapbooking and most of the freebies then were better than the stuff sold there today.
Maybe it' time you start a freebie hunt. You'll find much better digi stuff around the digiland than the products sold at those stores.
#142 Me too! It all started in October with a few retirement sales,then DSD,then Black Friday,Advent Calendars,Crazy Elfs,Bargain Bites... I can't breathe..I keep shopping and shopping... After the holidays for the first 2-3 months of 2013 I'll be organizing everything I bought.
#125 As for us "people" stuck with the top tier stores...there are soooo many great products in those stores and new stuff coming out everyweek that's there's no time to browse through everything already..why look at other stores or google to find new ones when these top tier-middle tier ones are so fullfilling?
What's insane is that you keep responding to this topic.
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As do you, or someone else. You think it's just me, but it's not.
So 145, you like to be friends with the strippers and thugs? I don't care how nice they are, their creations border on sick fetishes.
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Not the OP, but that is harsh!
That's like saying someone is friends with drug dealers and crooks because they like police dramas.
152 here: No, I don't say it's their name. I think that their name usually represents their style, and they don't need to change that to suit me. If they went cr8tv, it was because they liked it.
I'm not the digiGod, I just don't want to portray that kind of image in my store.
Here's a "what were they thinking". Sugar Butt Designs. Really?
IKR?
I am 145 and I can't say I know any strippers or thugs. I am also turned of by the posers and tagger kits, but just because a store is "lower" doesn't mean it doesn't have positive qualities. The point I was trying to make (poorly) is that I found great things this week at stores that were not as popular. And I found cute things a the bigger stores too.
Still the bottom line is there is a digital market out there for all types of designers, and not everyone, myself included expect to put posers in my layouts. We don't have to look at them or buy them, and I think some of you use posers and low tier as an excuse not to shop around. If there wasn't a market for those types of things, then they wouldn't be there, and what many don't understand is that those things are made for a different demographic than us traditional scrappers. They are for chat groups, tagger forums, and the artist community, have you seen art work such as Al Rio, Zindy, Zlata_M, Janesko, Jenson, Garv and so on. I've shopped at some of those low tier stores above, and some of my favorite kits have come from lesser known designers, and one of them does adorable paper style and realistic kits, and for my digital or print needs, she suits me perfectly and I've been a customer of hers for three years. Personally, I like to dig, I overlook or look by things that I don't like. As for odd designer names, I'm not thrilled with some I've seen either, but that doesn't mean they don't have some nice kits, just means they don't have the best judgement in names, lol to me, they are trying to be creative, to stand out, be noticed, and of course, they do. As for store design, I don't like a shoddy looking store, I've seen some with horrid design, and some with simple design that are nice.
I think some of you use posers and low tier as an excuse not to shop around.
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I think that is reason enough. It's a waste of time to dig through all that crap to find something that I can even use, if it exists at all at the store. I'm very happy with the places I shop. I bounce between 6. That's not enough shopping around, really?
I have yet to see a tagger/poser store that isn't shoddy in design.
I feel like the poser lobby has joined us.
I feel like the poser lobby has joined us.
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No, not at all, just saying that I feel there is a large digital market out there that caters to different styles than most of us use and that in some of these places are good finds. I just think it rather ridiculous people say they can't look past such and such and find something nice. Ever thought these designers in the so called low tier stores are just trying to make ends meet with a little extra cash for their families and they may not have the time it takes to be exclusive to a larger high tier store, much less meet the demands of said stores. As for tagger/poser stores being shoddy in design, which ones? I've seen some nice looking stores that have them, clean and neat.
#125 As for us "people" stuck with the top tier stores...there are soooo many great products in those stores and new stuff coming out everyweek that's there's no time to browse through everything already..why look at other stores or google to find new ones when these top tier-middle tier ones are so fullfilling?
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If they are so "fulfilling" then why do you all bitch about the sales, designs, designers and such? Doesn't seem very fulfilling to me.
We are not the people that bitch about it. That's other posters.
Ever thought these designers in the so called low tier stores are just trying to make ends meet with a little extra cash for their families and they may not have the time it takes to be exclusive to a larger high tier store, much less meet the demands of said stores.
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WRONG! They don't have the design style to make it into those stores. Seriously, show me one that has the talent of the designers at TLP, SSD, or SBG.
I don't have to buy their stuff because they are trying to support their family. I have a family to feed as well and can't spend my money on supplies that I won't use. But you make it sound like they are so talented anyway. They should be ok then.
Here's a thought. If they aren't poser or tagger and want to appeal to digital scrapbookers, maybe they should go a store that doesn't have posers and other crap so that scrappers don't have to dig to find these fabulous designers you claim exist.
It's not on the customer to change. The designer needs to offer a reason for the customer to gladly hand over the money. And a few digital customers have posted here that they will not dig through stores with poser kits.
What about those that cater to both genres of scrapping? Those that do paper style and that other stuff?
Show me some kits of those other designers that sell in poser stores. I'd like to see them and what you think is wrong.
Very few cater to both as long as they remain in poser stores. And I'm not going to go pick out kits to pick apart individual designers at those stores. Generally their color schemes and elements are dated even if they do paper style.
How do paper kits look dated? makes no sense when all paper kits are well, paper. lol
No, it makes perfect sense. Color combinations and patterns that are popular with customers tend to follow color trends in fashion and home decor. Element choices tend to shift as well. 2 years ago you didnt see all the chevron, arrows, banners etc that you do right now. A designer who ignores trends will not be as profitable as one who adapts to her marketplace. It is important to be adaptable while staying true to who you are as a designer.
You keep saying I should dig to find these hidden gems, that it's really not that big of a deal. I've got limited scrapping time as it is. Do you really think I'm going to spend that precious time digging through stores to MAYBE find something I can use? Why would I not spend that time and energy picking a kit at a store I'm already familiar with, and then assembling a page, rather than wasting that time digging through another store. If they can't compete, they can't compete. They have to work hard to stay in style, and that's it. If they're at a store with posers and everything, they're not likely to be competitive in terms of current styles. Yeah, I may be able to score a kit for $1, but I can find dollar sales at the many stores I already frequent. I have a large handful of stores I love-- probably 7 or 8-- so why add more stores that may or may not have a hidden gem inside? Those designers need to make serious choices to leave the store they're in if they plan on catering to a different market.
How do paper kits look dated? makes no sense when all paper kits are well, paper. lol
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I bet you still have a mullet and think it's cool.
Ever thought these designers in the so called low tier stores are just trying to make ends meet with a little extra cash for their families and they may not have the time it takes to be exclusive to a larger high tier store, much less meet the demands of said stores.
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If I can't browse the store with my 7yo sitting nearby, then it isn't going to get my money. If they really have something to offer to mainstream digital scrapbooking, then they can go to a store without the slutty posers. They do have a choice. Well, after they improve their designs. But there are low-tiered stores without the trashy posers.
I'm so disappointed with DHD. Looks like they added two new designers. Both have TERRIBLE logos - yes I'm complaining about the logos because if you can't design a nice logo I don't think you'll be very good at designing product. That font Diane Rooney used is terrible. October Dawn's store header is atrocious, bad colors and no shadows. Appearance matters, at least to me as I'm very a very visual person. I did continue on and took a close look at the product - I agree with the poster who said it's very "2005". It's so sad to me to see a store that had such talent (and still has quite a bit in the old designers that haven't left yet)and now to see this stuff alongside the others - huge talent gap. Makes me wonder who is in charge over there now.... and who applied to their call. They must not have gotten a very good response and/or the owner does not have an eye for design.
That font Diane Rooney used is terrible. October Dawn's store header is atrocious, bad colors and no shadows.
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YIKES! That header is a nightmare... could it get any darker and gloomier, and for that matter FLATTER? No dimension, poor layout, horrendous color choice... and I'm sorry, I would not pay $2 for this. I'm not a designer, just a shopper/scrapper, and I could make that in 2 seconds, with a better typeface and style. http://www.designhousedigital.com/digital-scrapbooking-kit/october-dawn/north-pole-city-rubons
I don't see store headers for any of the designers.
Me either. I'm starting to think there are 2 versions of DHD. LOL
I see an ad at the top that is really bad. I'm guessing that's what 178/179 are talking about. They seem to rotate through a few different ones when you go to a different page.
If you use the link 179 provided you should see the header.
oh nevermind. 182 is right, the ad at the top rotates as you click around the store.
I don't see a header or any ads even using the link provided. Sorry.
i don't see the ads either but I have an ad block installed, or, I could be lying :)
I bet you still have a mullet and think it's cool.
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I bet you are still the playground bully.
I'm the OP. This morning I went to check out the new DHD designers and the first thing I saw was Diane Rooney's ad at the top of the page. When I clicked over to October Dawn's store it changed to her ad, which I wrongly assumed was a store header. Anyway, my point is that was my first impression of the new designers at it wasn't a good one.
It's not just the designs either - I was checking out the blog and found these two recent posts. The layouts are terrible! Did their whole CT quit too?
http://www.designhousedigital.com/content/blog/1-kit-many-ways-george-collection/
http://www.designhousedigital.com/content/blog/1-kit-many-ways-north-pole-city/
I bet you still have a mullet and think it's cool.
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Why do you have to be like this? Yes, I get it's a smack blog but people are having a civil conversation where someone is trying to understand why stores that do both paper and tagger kits aren't appealing to the paper scrappers.
I congratulate the OP who is asking, as there have been some rude and side comments thrown her way, which she is gracefully ignoring.
It's not just the designs either - I was checking out the blog and found these two recent posts. The layouts are terrible! Did their whole CT quit too?
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It's like I've entered a time warp to when I started scrapping 7 years ago. A time when shadowing was exclusive to actual paper, and I had no concept of where to put things on a page. All I see are flat flat pages, stretched photos, poor color choice, awful layout choices... not the work of a CT. It looks like the work of a novice scrapper, but a CT member? No way. I'd never let any of those pass one of my calls. I know that people want to "grow" but they can grow in the forums, not on a CT.
http://www.designhousedigital.com/digital-scrapbooking-kit/october-dawn/north-pole-city-santa-words
$5 for THIS?? No, thanks.
Someone here really doesn't like October Dawn and/or DHD. What gives?
I have nothing personal at all against October Dawn or DHD. I just think that it's overpriced junk for what is there. Used to be a good store, clearly they've lost their minds a bit, and it's sad that the store is going to probably die out or drop to a low-tier store at some point because of it. No one is going to pay $5 for a list of words about Santa in a different font and color... just not happening.
I like DHD fine, and I've got nothing personal against October Dawn, whoever she is. I had never heard of her until I saw her products at DHD. I was just surprised and disappointed to see that quality of product at DHD, a store I have come to expect a high level of quality from. Just makes me wonder what is going on there.
Someone here really doesn't like October Dawn and/or DHD. What gives?
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It's called honesty. Sometimes it's harsh. It has nothing to do with liking or disliking something.
I never considered DHD a high tier store. It was between middle leaning towards low for me. Now if I shop it will only be $1 deals.
#173 Paper looked dated when it has no texture at all. A great digital paper is a paper that looks real.
Sorry guys but what does OP mean. My mind is stuck and I can't remember.
Does anyone know when the Bargain Bites at SSD change or does each designer decide for themselves are their products?
I've spent sooo much money these last three months on digi supplies...
I think I have an addiction. I can't resist a great sale.
Anyone else want to join Addicted Digi Scrappers Anonymous?
I agree that DHD is definitely looking kind of different lately! I heard that their best designers & CT are all leaving for Pixels & Co. I'm curious to see when that store opens? Does anyone know if they are having intro sales for the new site?
I used to consider DHD a high-tier store but lately the quality has dropped, BADLY. Does anyone know what happened?? Why are all their designers leaving?
I'm with 198~ I buy way too much stuff! But I can't resist, esp. this time of year...I love scrapping Christmas pictures!
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