I wrote the following letter to my newsletter subscribers as I was leaving the Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show last January of 2010.
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Something happened when Izzy and I were covering the Craft & Hobby Association trade show that inspired us to make a major business decision. It’s a decision that affects my relationship with you as a scrapbooker. We walked the thousands of booths, choosing which ones had products and demo’s I thought would be of most interest to you, sometimes having to turn down requests for video coverage because we only have time to share what we think you’ll want most. Many of the manufacturers handed me packets of their products, hoping they will end up on projects that appear in my tutorials. This is a common practice in the industry — I don’t mean to make it sound like I’m anything special.
I have mixed emotions whenever it happens. On the one hand there’s the rush that we all feel whenever we’re offered something free. Especially when it’s something we already wanted, right? On the other hand, there was a creeping discomfort I couldn’t explain and really didn’t take the time to try to identify.
I made a comment to Izzy about all the talk at the trade show by scrapbook designers and press members needing to ship all their freebies home. He had an idea that, at first, I didn’t like. . .not after My Mind’s Eye had just offered to send me some products from their new mini-book line, a line that almost made me salivate all over their floor. But as Izzy and I talked about the possible impact of his idea, I realized I wanted to do it for sure. And all that day, as packets stuffed with beautiful scrappy goodness slipped into my hand, I slipped them back to their rightful owners and explained our new business decision.
A Major Business Decision
I am no longer accepting free product for use in my scrapbooking and paper-crafting projects.
I am not aware of anyone else in the industry doing this. Let me tell you why I decided to do it and what it means for you. Those who have been with me long know that I am quite honest with my opinions about scrapbook products, stores, and magazines. But even I recognize that it’s hard not to be at least slightly biased about a product that you didn’t have to buy yourself, especially when you know that that company will probably want to give you even more if you give their products good coverage.
It’s important for you to know that the products I use and recommend are products I like enough to actually pay for them. Myself. You will always know that I cannot be bought or sold by any company. How is that for enabling Paperclipping to offer you the best recommendations in the industry? Several people told me this is crazy because it’s an expensive decision to make. But that’s a price I’m willing to pay and a price I’m willing to pay for you.
Once again, this is a case where the Paperclipping Members are the ones who are making all of this possible. Much appreciation to our Paperclipping Members.
