Manufacturers are reporting a trend I find alarming. A serious reductions of reorders on paper lines. Retailers are purchasing a great collection, blowing it out in a short period of time and then...not reordering a proven seller.

Why? Because we have trained our customers to want only what's new, new, new.  I believe this is causing the early demise of some great collections. Retailers are opting to risk sales in order to have something new rather than chosing the proven seller and running the risk of being seen as having "old" product.

Scrapbookers want to come into stores every week and see something new. That we can't control.

What we can control is what we give them that is new. New does not have to be product. It can be a new technique, a new use for a scrapbooking staple, a new way to use a great selling paper line.

1. Reorder a great seller- but when it comes in- display a new sample. The new sample will make the line look new.

2. For basics such as cardstock and writing tools, frequently refresh your samples. Rotate your stock so that one particular pen line is highlighted each week.

3. If you've got a great tool like the Crop-a-Dile show how it can be used in a new way.

We have a local resale store (they don't even call them thrift shops anymore) called New to You. Good name. The merchandise is going to be new to the customer,even though it isn't brand new.

Before you say goodbye to a collection that still has life in it- all in the spirit of  having what's new- please look at that product with a fresh eye.

We have all sold products to customers that we've had around for a while. How many times have you been asked "When did you get this in?" and the product has been there three months?--Beth