February2005 Newsletter
Happy New Year to you all. We are all looking forward to 2005 being a happy and prosperous year for us all. Impressive Stamps Australia is now 4 years old. Thank you to all who celebrated with us in January taking advantage of our special offer. 28 Impressive Stamps Australia parties were held across Australia in January. Several demonstrators were able to hold 2 and 3 parties over the month including:
Kylie Brown
Dianne Bryant
Tracie Burns
Diane Clark
Julie Hearn
Jenny Hubbard
Carol Lutz
Dawn Ver Maas
The rate of sales at these parties were quite high we had several parties in January with totals over $500. Well done everyone. The great idea about this is that hopefully it will give lots of you bookings for more parties for the next few months.
If you missed out on the January special, start planning now for next year. You will need to let everyone know about it in the months leading up to January 2006. Many demonstrators start taking bookings for January up to 6 months in advance so that their customers do not miss out on the great special.
Carl Punches
In the last few months Carl made some changes in their punches. Including introducing new hand punches CP5 and discontinuing some. Introducing 24 new Giant Punches CP11. Another new addition is Mini Alphabet Punch Kits available in either Upper or Lower Case. These will retail for $99.00 each.
CCP0930 Mini Punch Kit Upper Case Wholesale $74.25
CCP0960 Mini Punch Kit Lower Case Wholesale $74.25
I have adjusted the demonstrator order form. Vanessa is working on updating our Listing of Carl Punches for your Accessories Catalogue. I will upload this when finished so check the demonstrators only section, Accessories Catalogue regularly.
Punch Books
I received an updated listing from one of my suppliers about what punch books are available and current pricing.
BKC / Book Celebrate / Wholesale / $22.54 / Retail / $30.05BKCMC / Book Carl Mini Card / Wholesale / $9.90 / Retail / $13.20
BKLB / Book Lumpy Bumpy / Wholesale / $16.50 / Retail / $22.00
BKLP / Book Lets Punch / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKLPA / Book Let's Punch Again / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKLP3 / Book Let's Punch III / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKLPIV / Book Lets Punch IV / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKPA / Book Punchabilities / Wholesale / $23.93 / Retail / $31.90
BKPAF / Book Punch Art Fun / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKPAF2 / Book Punch Art Fun 2 / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKPAF3 / Book Punch Art Fun 3 / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKPIV1 / Book Punch-It Vol 1 / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKPIV2 / Book Punch-It Vol 2 / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $2.75
BKPLP / Book Paper Lacing & Punching / Wholesale / $16.50 / Retail / $22.00
BKPP / Book Punch Power / Wholesale / $20.63 / Retail / $27.50
BKTTS / Book The Textured Scrapbook / Wholesale / $16.50 / Retail / $22.00
Two DVD’s have also been released
DVDPA / DVD Punchabilities / Wholesale / $22.46 / Retail / $29.95DVDLPC / DVD Let's Punch with Carl / Wholesale / $22.46 / Retail / $29.95
2005 Catalogue
The 2005 Catalogue is well under way. Last year the hold up with the catalogue was technical difficulties, but we have solved those problems now. This time around the impediment is financial. It costs over $2 000 to produce our catalogue and unfortunately I do not have that amount of cash at the moment. When I do have the funds together I will be off to the printers. Anyone who can do their part and book extra parties now will be contributing toward bringing the catalogue out sooner.
Also just to let you know that there is no need to call or email to ask when the catalogue will be released. I can assure you I will be letting you all know when it will happen as soon as I know. If we have a couple of big weeks of orders it will be out before you know it. When you ask for a release date I cannot answer as I do not know in advance what orders will be placed. Just as you do not know before a party what the sales will be.
Deleted Stamps. We will not be giving a list of stamps that are deleted. You can reassure your customers that I will not be deleting any stamps that are popular. The ones we are deleting have sold only a very few in the last 5 years. If it turns out that we have deleted one that your customer wanted they can still order it. If we have the mold we will make it. If we do not have the mold we will let you know on your invoice.
I have also been asked if there will be an update released when the catalogue is. Yes there will be. We are not redesigning the catalogue this time, we are deleting stamps, integrating last years new stamps into the general catalogue and releasing new stamps. You and your customers will be able to buy an update to turn your 2004 catalogue into a 2005 catalogue.
Price Rises 2005
Don’t forget we will be increasing the prices of our stamps and MUMS with the release of our 2005 catalogue. Over the last 5 years we have not increased the prices of our stamps or MUMS despite increases in the cost of rubber and acrylic. The price of our mounted stamps will actually rise more than the unmounted stamps as the process to make mounted stamps is very time consuming and we have actually been loosing money on these for quite some time. Please feel free to let your customers know, to give them the opportunity to take advantage of our old pricing before the price rise. You could call them to let them know of the impending price rise and ask if they would like to place an order at the old prices.
ISA Stamp Camps 2005
Can I ask again for volunteers to help plan and organise the two stamp camps we would like to hold in the first half of 2005. I would like to form a committee of 2-3 demonstrators for the QLD stamp Camp and also 2-3 NSW demonstrators, for the NSW Stamp Camp.
We would like to hold the NSW stamp camp in April and the QLD Stamp Camp in May. They both would be a 3 day, two night weekend. With lots of time for stamping and scrapbooking and demos throughout. I will provide a shop of selected stamping and scrapping products. We can also have competitions and giveaways for added fun.
I am not asking for a lot of your time but help with creative input so that we can organise a fun time for everyone. Please let me know if you can help with this as I am sure once the planning is out of the way we will enjoy ourselves at stamp camp. If you have said to me last year that you would like to help please let me know again so I can formalise the committees.
I am also open to input about either stamp camp even if you cannot help with the organisation. Do you want them to be demonstrators only or will we invite customers too. Are there any products, techniques etc that you would like to learn about at stamp camp. Let us know if you are planning to attend, so we can start to gauge numbers etc.
Demonstrator Competition
Since we had so much fun with the competition last year I would like to hold another straight off this year. This competition will run for 6 weeks in March and April, 2005. I will ask for those wanting to join in the competition to pre-register as I will take only 20 participants. Registration will close on Monday 28th February, 2005.
The competition will be a little bit like an obstacle course. There will be different stages with different tasks to be met at each stage. Those wanting to participate will need to commit to 15-30 minutes of “tasks” per day for the time of the competition. I plan to make this quite a bit of fun but also should increase your business over the competition and for the future.
Punch Class
I have been negotiating with Debra Clark a local celebrity punch artist to come and hold a punch class here at ISA. You may have seen Debra on the Geoff Penney stand at Paper Arts Festivals. She also has released a book on Punch Art. Debra will teach abasics class on all the "ins and outs" of punching. Youwilllearn all the punch art "how tos" including tips and techniques as well as make two cards to take home. All materials needed will be supplied including class kits for each participant, punches, cardstock, stationery, glue etc. The class will run for approx 2 and a half hours - (there's a lot to fit in!).
Date: Thursday 14th April, 2005
Time: 10.30am please arrive early so that we can start on time.
Cost: $10.00
Bookings: Please book and pay by Tuesday 5th April, 2005. No refunds if you cancel after Tuesday 5th April, 2005
Numbers limited to 10 so get in early if you would like to participate in this class.
New Products
Concord Craft Tweezers
Ergonomically designed, ideal for craft use. Reverse-action handles, these tweezers will do all the holding for you. Perfect for use with punch art, stamping and scrapbooking.
CCT0101 Concord Craft Tweezers Wholesale $6.83 Retail $9.10
Welcome to our team
Impressive Stamps Australia would like to welcome the following new demonstrators. Welcome to our team!!!
Recruiter / New DemonstratorISA / Rhonda Bevington, North Richmond , NSW
Clare Haynes-Sheath / Beverley Rose Borey, Toowoomba, QLD
Specials
Special for February and March 2005
Brayer and Kaleidacolor ink pads.
There’s a rainbow for every season with Kaleidacolor Stamp Pads. Twenty four striking rainbow combinations mean you’ll never run out of ideas. Kaleidacolor Dye Ink pads are a rainbow stamp pad with five colours in each pad. They have a patented sliding palette which means that your rainbow pads will stay vibrant and clean project after project. Simply slide the palette together to stamp and slide it apart to store.
Normally $23.10 each now on special for $19.95 each.
Speedball removable roller Brayer normally $31.00 now on special for $24.95 each.
These two product work so well together why not show them off at a party to advertise the special. There are notes in the class section of the demonstrators webpage giving lots of ways to use your brayer especially with your Kaleidacolor ink pads.
Card Challenge
February Challenge:
Valentines Card
March Challenge:
Easter Card
For those new demonstrators who do not know how the Card Challenge works please call or email for details. Don’t forget that it is also open to customers.
Please help with ideas for what you would like in the card challenge. Please email or let me know what you would like to do for a card challenge this year. It may be a card that you are good at so you can “show off” or it may be something that you need inspiration on. Please let me know and I will collate all ideas and do up the schedule for the rest of the year.
Bye for now,
Berni
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