Within the past month, paper crafters have heard and seen some hard news—well-known industry names have announced bankruptcy or removed their scrapbooking lines. It may leave many wondering what the future is for our beloved pursuit of memory keeping and creativity. As the CEO and Founder of Close To My Heart, I have many thoughts on the topic and wanted to share a few with you.
First off, preserving our memories is NOT a fad. It's one of the most important things we do in our journey here on earth, and it's as key as breathing and as sustainable as family. In the past few years, we have seen scrapbooking come into the spotlight and many flocked to set up shop and design products to capitalize on it. While we at Close To My Heart have welcomed the focus on scrapbooking over the past few years, we know that even when the hubbub fades, the core and relevance underneath the hype remains. I have been in the industry for nearly 30 years—LONG before it was "trendy"—and plan to be in this essential industry for decades to come.
Because Close To My Heart will be here for the long-term, we have run our business differently than many others. We are not leveraged to the hilt or financed by outside investors. I have always believed in organic, cash-based growth, and the simple provident rule of spending less than I earn. It's a principle I've applied to business and it's ensured that Close To My Heart operates profitably. We have been profitable month after month, year after year. Our credit rating is excellent, and this protects our commitment to delivering a wealth of diverse, beautiful products at competitive prices while providing secure commission checks for our Consultants, employees, and vendors.
Second, yes, the industry is changing. I welcome and embrace that! In my 30 years in business, I have seen many changes and they almost always yield fresh directions, new products, and a new crop of crafters. Change always brings opportunity! I have long said that as long as little girls are born with hands, they will want to create. I am grateful to be a part of such an important contribution to society and know that this will continue.
Ultimately, I invite everyone—whether you are an existing Consultant or customer, a past purchaser, or even if you have never purchased a Close To My Heart product—to get to know us again for the first time. Close To My Heart is strong. Papercrafting, memory keeping, and creativity are more important than ever before and we provide unique, diverse products for every style and ability of crafter. Close To My Heart is committed to scrapbooking, and if it's a passion you share, then YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Creativity: Now and Always
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Huzzah and hats off to you!
ReplyDeleteClose To My Heart benefits from extraordinary leadership and vision which propels it to shine as an exemplary model of business.
As a proud Consultant for 13 plus years CTMH has been a source of personal happiness, friendship and income that I appreciate greatly.
It is just plain FUNN.
Thank you for all you do to "make ladies (and gents) happy and the world cuter."
May the next 30 just be the beginning!
Thank you, Jeanette! It's great to hear your perspective and reassurance in light of the announcements of financial hardships being faced by other companies. It is appreciated! You continue to engender my contentment in knowing I made the right choice to join as a consultant six years ago.
ReplyDeleteWell said! I love CTMH and wish you all the best!!!
ReplyDeleteI am celebrating my 3 year Anniversary with this company tomorrow and I continue to be so very proud of this company and being a part of it!
ReplyDeleteI just wrote the following on a Consultant only board on Tuesday when an announcement was made of a company filing bankruptcy. "It makes me glad to say I'm with CTMH because we are a strong debt free company that is surviving while the others are filing bankruptcy and such! Love Jeanette & her choices she makes for this company! I might not like them initially sometimes, but this company is still here and strong, so I trust what she is doing!"
Thank you so much for your insight on the scrapbooking industry and where Close to my Heart stands in the industry!
Thank you Jeannette for your honesty, integrity and continuous support and creative direction. You and your staff are amazing and so very helpful, even for the smallest questions. You have set an example for everyone to follow and live up to. The consultants are also very willing to help, suggest, and share their creative projects and I appreciate each one. Thank you again for being who you are.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I choose CTMH! Thank you for all you do :)
ReplyDeleteI'm very proud of this company you have created. I've dabbled with other paper crafting products through the years, but when I found CTMH, everything fit perfectly with my lifestyle and taught me so much more than I was ever able to learn from buying in a box store. This is what sets CTMH apart from others. Thanks for your hard work and commitment to his wonderful company. You have such a clear vision of what works, and your heart is truly golden. This is why your employees and consultants adore you. God bless.
ReplyDeleteCelebrating two years with Close To My Heart this month and I am happy I chose this company for so many reasons! This is a BIG one :)
ReplyDeleteI am celebrating my 15th year with you, Jeanette and each year keeps getting better and better. You are not only an amazing individual but an amazing and smart business woman. THANK YOU for CTMH!
ReplyDeleteYOU and CTMH mean the world to me!
I had the pleasure of hearing you speak last year at convention and could tell that you are the heart and soul of CTMH, and you are the reason why it is such a strong company. You truly are an inspirational women. I look forward to convention in a couple of months,and hope to hear your beautiful voice again.
ReplyDeleteAMEN! I have been a customer for over 10 years and I believe you have the best stamps out there!! I love all things CTMH!!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said Jeanette! I have been stunned by some of the recent news, but never worried about CTMH. It is still nice to hear the reassurance from you though. Your experience & commitment to this company & your product is very motivating. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteYears ago, when I first looked into joining a scrapbooking company, I found DOTS and Close to my Heart on the internet. I was interested in the scrapbooking side of things at the time, and not so interested in the stamping stuff. So, I ended up joining a different company that focused on a scrapbook philosophy that put the memories, not the "pretty pretty pages" first. I was there only 6 months and an ordering glitch, on a Friday and the last day of a quarter, got me dropped as a consultant by Monday morning. **sigh**
ReplyDeleteI rejoined the company a few years ago and was appalled by the changes I found. No longer were photos and memories the number one reason for scrapbooking or the focus of the business. They made a lot of stupid decisions during the time I was with them and when I decided I could no longer trust them as a company as a consultant for nor as a customer, I left.
I felt so free once the weight of the rules for consultants was off me. (I had spent a few years with a rubber stamp company in the meantime, left them when I became convinced they were going out of business in less than 2 years -- they did, in under 18 months. **Sigh**)
I was sure I would never get involved in direct sales again. Then I rediscovered Close to My Heart (through one male consultant's Facebook ad) -- and joined (just in early April before the 2 companies announced their Chapter 11 procedings)! I love this company and its philosophy and products. Reading this blog post convinces me I made the right decision to be part of CTMH. That other company I first joined, once had a similar philosophy and I hope and pray that CTMH keeps hold of the vision it has today!
As for the store that filed Chapter 11, I feel bad for them. For such a small "chain," it surprises me that there are 2 of their stores int he metro area closest to me (still an hour and a quarter away, so I need a really good reason to travel there.) The industry has just too much "stuff and clutter" in it. No store can carry it all. Customers want access to it all. I figured the "stuff and nonsense" side of scrapbooking would implode long before this because of all the "stuff" ... so much of it does not belong in a scrap album and honestly, a page with too much squishy 3-d elements can't last long in an album on the shelf.
While watching the training videos while waiting for my kit to arrive, I was so excited to see the CTMH philosophy of scrap albums -- photos, stories, memories FIRST! YAY! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Thanks for being such a great company. Wish I was going to be at this year's Convention. Next year ... :D
I discovered Close to my Heart years ago when it first came to Canada and I attended a booking at a friend's home. As soon as I saw the stamps, I was hooked!! They were clear! You could actually ssee where you were putting the image! What a concept!! I joined CTMH as a consultant 2 years ago and LOVE the company, the people, the product, and everything in between! This is an amazing company started by an amazing lady! Thank you, Jeanette, for your vision and guidance.
ReplyDeleteI am proud to work for such a wonderful company. I love our product and love sharing it with people that I come in contact with.
ReplyDeleteI also love working for Jeanette and her staff. Thanks for providing such a wonderful company fo all of us.
First joined when you came to Canada, but life got in the way of everything then and for quite a few years. Finally last year, looked for a consultant near here and signed up again. Just because of the stamps. Love them so much. As a card maker seeing where stamping is essential, and that just adds to using the stamps. Now am having fun, enjoying making them, and my only thing is that with loving colouring need more stamps for that please.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you for this amazing company and products that are just going to keep on going. Lovely way to enjoy retirement.
Jeanette -
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to address this issue and confirm once again what a smart leader, financially wise CEO and creative person you are! I absolutely adore your saying that as long as there are little girls born with hands there is a need for creativity!
I'm in my 5th year as a consultant and I'm still loving it! The products you give us are fabulous and the company always treats its consultants and customers with honesty and integrity.
I'm looking forward to riding along for the next 30 years!
Paige
This is one of the many reason I LOVE Close to My Heart! Thank you Jeanette for making this the great business that it is and continues to be.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeanette Thank you. This industry needs the stability and Integrity that you emanate. I am proud to say that CTMH is my top choice for papercraft, off tge page, card making, stamping and scrapbooking supplies.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read of another's Company's filing Bankruptcy, I knew CTMH was in the clear due to the sound business practices of Jeanette. It's nice to read it in black and white. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHat's off to you! I love CTMH and the products! I cant see me going any where! I love to scrapbook and all kinds of Paper crafting! And CTMH has something for every Paper craft project and the tools to do them with!
ReplyDeleteCTMH has great business sense and a Smart, heart Smart Woman,Mom,Friend running CTMH! God Bless you, your family and the whole CTMH business Team!
What a great feeling to be part of a company that makes sound business decisions that will keep it around long after many of its competitors are gone. A great product line doesn't hurt either!
ReplyDeleteI am a happy customer that is so glad I discovered CTMH at a stamp and scrap show three years ago.
ReplyDeleteI go to crops with a great consultant and appreciate the continued diversity CTMH offers in products and techniques. I learned to stamp and enhance my scrapbooks like never before.
I appreciate you taking the time to let us know your business status and philosophy. I will continue to recommend CTMH to all my scrapbooking friends, and wish continued success for you and your company.