FOURTH QUARTER NEWSLETTER

 ON THE PERSONAL SIDE

 Well, the entire summer went way to fast, the store was very busy, Rosie and Grace are getting so big and it’s less than 90 days till Christmas!!  Yes, I know that’s just what you wanted to hear.  Grace is in grade 1 this year, so it’s nice to have Rosie for the day while Grace is in school.  Interesting, how good she is when her big sister isn’t there to fight with.  They love each other for sure, but holy smokes can they fight. 

Picture Rosie, (she was 2 on April 29th) who can talk quite clearly now, standing in front of me, telling me with her little finger pointing at me to “just stay here, I’ll be right back”.  So hard not to laugh as she’s so serious.  She told me just today when I wouldn’t let her have something, quote “don’t be so mean to me” unquote.

Gracie has a boyfriend but admits he doesn’t like her.  I asked her, then how can he be your boyfriend and her reply was simply quote “because I like him” unquote.  Grace can skip now and rides her 2 wheeler on the side of the road with her mom and dad.

On Tuesday, Oct 5th, I have to go in for minor surgery on my right hand.  It’s called Trigger thumb and the tendons get knotted so my thumb locks at the joint and hurts really bad.  Luckily, it’s not my dominant hand, so although I’ll be taped up for a couple weeks and will be a little clumsy in whatever I do, I’ll be fine. 

I have lots to share with you in regards to the store so get your favourite drink and get comfy in your favourite chair and let me tell you… 

WHAT’S NEW IN THE STORE

This summer has been an exciting one for us with many new customers, a new line of classes and new products coming in often.  It’s hard to keep up with the new products as we no sooner get some samples done and before the ink is dry the product is sold and has to be reordered again.  The sweet deals have been popular.  We just finished having Northwoods and still have some lovely Christmas stamps in the store with amazing samples to view and for October we are featuring “Endless Creations”.  You can enjoy a 25% discount on anything you order from their line.  Our site under “programs”, “sweet deals”, will show you some samples and will give you the address to view their catalog.

Our fall fling was a big success and with that weekend came a lot of excitement about the products Ecstasy Crafts and the teachers featured at our event. New embossing grids, 3D designs, Pergamano, embossing folders and punches were just some of the products that were a big hit.  Their poinsettia punches and light metal sheets are something you just have to see demoed to see their potential.  You can check them out on the site under new products but by all means when you come in ask for a demo.  As well, visit our site to view our fall fling pictures and read some stories about our event.  Check out the further down on the home page to find out how I broke Janice’s car on that same weekend.

WHAT’S COMING IN THE FUTURE

First, I have to tell you that Brenda and I just came back from a retailer convention in Orlando.  (Poor Sue had a prior commitment that she couldn’t get out of.)  For 4 days, we both took 9 different classes with companies such as Bo Bunny, Hero Arts, Layers of Colour, Robin’s Nest, Ranger (I got to have Tim Holtz as my teacher and now I’m smitten like Brenda) Paper Cut, Impression Obsession, Sizzix, My Little Yellow Bicycle, Hampton Arts, as well as some others I can’t remember at the moment.  We also had 3 workshops together and although they were all amazing, Creative Imagination was by far overwhelming with their projects and products.  We came home with some awesome ideas for new classes, exciting website ideas, new initiatives for all our customers and the store, as well as exciting new products to pursue. 

Check out Brenda’s Blog and our site to read more about our 5 crazy busy days.  We have some pictures there as well. 

Here’s a little information to encourage you to visit our store in the next couple weeks.   New UK embossing folders have arrived in the store, Christmas ones.  You can view them on the site under new products.

Our Christmas classes are now available for viewing on the site and in the store and remember you book the class when it’s convenient to you.  The 4 Christmas classes are, Christmas Stitched Cards, One Sheet Wonder Christmas, Winter Wonderland (using the Cuttlebug bundle that everyone is excited about) and also Red and Gold Christmas.

We ordered at least 300 new patterned scrapbook papers which is why we still have our 50% discount on all our existing 12 x 12 papers.

For Harry Potter and Star Wars fans we have Scrapbook paper and stickers packs coming in the near future.  Brenda and I went to the Ontario Science Centre this summer to see the Harry Potter exhibit so we have that to scrapbook.  Unfortunately we didn’t have time to go to Universal Studio while in Florida.

We also have some lovely new family tree papers coming in for those of you who do genealogy. These are distributed by Bazzill.  Bazzill also has amazing embossed 12 x 12 papers that I worked with in a class I took.

We have a new initiative we are setting up, if you refer a friend and she is a NEW customer to our store, both customers will benefit.  We will bring you up to date as things are settled.

How about having a card that you can present that entitles you to a free make and take whenever you come in?  Sounds interesting??  Stay tuned.

To peak your interest, for ATC enthusiasts, Brenda and I had a class in Orlando and got totally excited about all the possibilities to pursue this avenue.  Stayed tuned and keep an eye on the website for more information from Brenda on this, she’s got some great ideas.

We have some great ideas for classes that will give you more value for your money.  Stay tuned, for as we develop our initiatives we’ll be sending out informative newsflashes.

Brenda is working on a facebook for our website.  I am not very versed on this facebook thing and have no idea really how it works therefore Brenda has reassured me she will take care of it as well as her blog.  I will leave it in her very capable hands…stay tune for more news on this. 

All of the above will be worked on while I am home for a few days recuperating from my hand surgery. 

If you visit the store after the first October weekend you will see some changes.  We have Keith working on our class display wall to make it more exciting.  Wait till you see all the projects we’ll have on display from our Orlando weekend.

 The Stamplicity Gang!