Each Wednesday, I write a post from my dissertation.

During the time of my interviews (2008), there was a clear distinction between the products that were available at local scrapbook stores and chain stores but the chain stores were encroaching on the local scrapbook stores’ product selection.

Once product becomes available at the chain stores it is more challenging for the local scrapbook stores to continue carrying it because they cannot get the volume discounts that the chain stores get and pass those savings onto consumers.

Some companies only want to do business with high volume retailers as can be seen by Martha Stewart’s entrée into the scrapbook industry. Originally Michaels and select local scrapbook stores were allowed to carry her scrapbooking products at the time of this debut. Michaels stores had to remodel their stores to her specifications in order to carry her product. One of the local scrapbook stores in this study was chosen to carry her products, but the store would have had to purchase a minimum of $10,000 in product. Most orders that came into the store were only a few hundred dollars, rarely ever an order over a thousand dollars. For this reason, this store could not afford to carry this line of products, though they would have been very popular.

Other scrapbook companies sign exclusive deals with chain stores so that local scrapbook stores cannot carry their product despite having carried it in the past. Today, local scrapbook stores are becoming harder and harder to find because it is not only difficult to compete with chains stores on price, but it can also be difficult to procure some products in the first place.

Local scrapbook stores face unique challenges with obtaining product making it more difficult to compete with chain stores.

Is there still a distinction between the types of products available at local scrapbook stores compared to chains? Join the conversation below or on facebook.

Photo by Sara Grafton. Sara can be found at 1200 Some Miles, @SaraGrafton on Twitter and on Pinterest.

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Stephanie

Each Wednesday, I write a post from my dissertation.

What Industry Workers Say…

Scrapbooking is perceived as an expensive hobby and can quickly become expensive, but industry workers are quick to point out that it does not have to be that way. There are less expensive and more expensive ways to scrapbook. Many scrapbook items are extras that do not have to be used at all.

On the other hand, as industry workers mention, shopping for scrapbook supplies can be a cheap thrill. A person can get their retail therapy without spending very much money at all and there are few other places a person could go to spend so little and get the same effect.

What Scrapbookers Say…

Scrapbookers also talk about the cost of scrapbooking. Some talk about it in terms of their husband’s and other’s opinions that the hobby was expensive or even a waste of money. Though many agreed that scrapbooking is expensive, some argue it actually is quite affordable, especially in comparison to other hobbies (e.g., quilting or stained-glass making).

Making it More Affordable

Respondents figure out ways to make the hobby more affordable for them. They use coupons, buy scrapbook kits , order off of QVC, volunteer for scrapbooking conventions (to get free admission, product, or both), and become industry workers to save money (i.e., employee discount) on their scrapbooking supplies. Others selectively purchase supplies that make scrapbooking more affordable. For example, one respondent explains how she uses alphabet stamps instead of alphabet stickers because a stamp can be used over and over again, whereas once the common letters are used from a sheet of stickers, the scrapbooker is left with x’s and z’s and has to go buy more stickers. Others mainly shopped at chain stores rather than local scrapbook stores because it is perceived to be more affordable.

Why is Scrapbooking Perceived as an Expensive Hobby?

Part of the reason scrapbooking gets the bad rap of being an expensive hobby comes from scrapbooking manufacturers producing items that can be had for much less money elsewhere. if a manufacturer labels an item as being for scrapbooking, then it can demand a premium price (this is probably less true today than at the height of the scrapbook boom). One respondent was quite adamant that she would never pay money for something she could do herself in her scrapbooking. For example, she will never buy a bottle cap from the scrapbooking because she can get a bottle cap off of something she is already drinking. The commercialization of everything by the scrapbooking industry turns off both scrapbookers and non-scrapbookers. Another scrapbooker’s partner was quite critical of the commercialization of nearly everything in the scrapbook industry.

Overall, scrapbooking is perceived as an expensive hobby and it can be expensive. Scrapbooking, however, can also be a very affordable hobby.

What do you think? Is scrapbooking an expensive hobby or a cheap thrill? Join the conversation below or on facebook.

Photo by Sara Grafton. Sara can be found at 1200 Some Miles, @SaraGrafton on Twitter and on Pinterest.

Did you know that you can subscribe by RSS?

Stephanie